Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Knight, The Family
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Southampton Township


   THE KNIGHT FAMILY are among the oldest residents of this 
part of the state.  Giles and Mary (English) Knight came 
from England in the ship with Penn, in 1682, and settled on 
two hundred and fifty acres of land in Byberry.  Giles had a 
son Joseph in England, and eleven more children were born 
here.  Their son Daniel was the ancestor of the Knight 
family living in this township.  He was born in Byberry, in 
1697, and was three times married; first in 1719 to 
Elizabeth Walker, and in 1728 to the widow of Joseph Walton, 
and in 1777 to Mary Wilson.  He died in 1782.  His son, 
Jonathan, whose mother was Elizabeth, was born 8th mo., 5th, 
1722, was married to Grace Croasdale, and died in this 
township 3rd mo., 30th, 1772.  His wife died 3rd mo., 20th, 
1799.  He had six sons and one daughter:  John, Abraham, 
Absalom, Grace, Samuel, David and English.   Of these 
children, Absalom was born 9th mo., 17th, 1754, was married 
to Ann, daughter of John Winder, of Lower Makefield 
township, and died 7th mo., 23rd, 1818.  Ann was born 1st 
mo., 4th, 1756, and died 8th mo., 30th, 1824.  Their 
children were:  Amos, Aaron, born 8th mo., 29th, 1781, 
married Catharine, daughter of Nicholas Larzalere, of 
Bensalem, and died 9th mo., 16th, 1835; Grace, born 12th 
mo., 30th, 1782, married Joshua Paul, of Warminster 
township, in 1822, died 9th mo., 13th, 1869, (she had one 
daughter, Ann, who married S. Lukens Shoemaker, of Abington 
township); Benjamin; John, born 3rd mo., 13th, 1792, married 
Esther Knight, of Byberry, and died without issue 9th mo., 
12th, 1847; and Moses, born 8th mo., 13th, 1796, married 
Rhoda, daughter of Jesse and Sarah Tomlinson in 1819 (by 
whom he had one daughter, Sarah Ann) and died 6th mo., 30th, 
1823 (after his death his widow married Joseph Walton of 
Chester county, Pa.).  Absalom Knight lived and died on the 
farm now occupied by his grandson, Samuel P. Knight.  He was 
a blacksmith, and accumulated a competence.  Benjamin Knight 
was born 4th mo., 16th, 1785, and died 7th mo., 9th, 1862.  
He lived and died on the place of his birth.  He was a 
farmer, and like all his ancestors a Friend, and was a man 
of excellent character.  On 8th mo., 25th, 1825, he married 
Mercy Y., daughter of Amos and Martha, Martindale, of a very 
old and prominent family in Philadelphia county. She was 
born in Solebury township, 5th mo., 6th, 1806, and lives on 
the old homestead. Their children were:  J. Paul, Absalom, 
born 1st mo., 21st, 1830, died 10th mo., 15th, 1851, Ross 
M., Aaron R. W., Samuel P., Rebecca W., born 4th mo., 3rd, 
1841; and Martha Ann, born 12th mo., 15th, 1845. J. Paul 
Knight was the oldest child of Benjamin Knight, and was born 
1st mo., 8th, 1828.  He received a good education and 
afterward taught school three years, then stayed on the farm 
until the death of his father, when he bought that part of 
the farm which has since been his home.  On 11th mo., 12th, 
1857, he married Elizabeth R., daughter of Benjamin and 
Sarah Vansant, of Bensalem township.  She was born 7th mo., 
3rd, 1884.  They have three children:  Anna Rebecca, wife of 
David H. Stout, of Philadelphia; Samuel P., at home, and 
Harriet S., wife of Harvey E. Scott, of Northampton 
township.  Mr. Knight has held several positions of honor 
and trust, and has for two years represented his county in 
the legislature.  He is known and respected as a 
representative citizen.  In politics he is a republican. 
Ross M. Knight was born in Southampton township, 7th mo., 
9th, 1832, and married Sarah Rebecca, daughter of Aden and 
Martha Worthington, of Southampton township, at Trenton, N. 
J., 11th mo., 18th, 1858.  She was born in Wrightstown 
township 12th mo., 31st, 1836.  He was a farmer in Byberry 
and afterward for several years a merchant in the same 
place. Their children were:  Julia S., born in Byberry, 8th 
mo., 24th, 1859, married Edward S. Crippe, 10th mo., 19th, 
1880; Aden B., born 8th mo., 27th, 1861, a merchant at 
Byberry; Martha Rebecca, born 5th mo., 8th, 1865; Sarah 
Evelyn, born 10th mo., 5th, 1867; and Ross M., Jr., born 9th 
mo., 27th, 1876. Aaron R. W. Knight was born 6th mo., 13th, 
1835.  In his youth he worked at the trade of machinist, in 
Bristol township, then attended school near Woodstown, Salem 
county, N. J., and the next year at London Grove, Chester 
county, Pa.  The following year he went into his father's 
mill, and in 1862 began mercantile business where he is now, 
removing a few years later to Langhorne.  From there he went 
for two or three years to a farm at Somerton, and thence 
back to his first place of business.  On 2nd mo., 28th, 
1865, he was married at Warwick, Orange county, N. Y., to 
Anna Eliza, daughter of Henry and Mary A. Stout.  She was 
born in Montgomery county, on 8th mo., 3rd, 1843.  Mr. 
Knight was drafted during the war, and put a substitute in 
the army.  By his straightforward and honorable dealing he 
has required the confidence of his customers and friends. 
Samuel P. Knight is the youngest son of Benjamin Knight.  He 
was born 11th mo., 29th, 1838, on the place where he has 
spent all his life.  His education was completed at 
Langhorne, after which he worked for his father until the 
death of the latter.  He has always been a farmer, is 
unmarried, and bears the repute of an upright man.  His 
mother and sister Rebecca live with him.  His mother is a 
woman of marked characteristics, of great industry, an 
excellent manager, and much of her husband's success was 
owing to her foresight and care.  She has proved herself a 
good wife, an equally good mother, and as a consequence has, 
in a marked degree, the respect and love of her children.  
During the war Samuel P. was drafter for nine months' 
service, and before the expiration of the term was again 
drafted for three years, thus having two substitutes in the 
army at the same time. Martha Ann Knight was married in 
Trenton, N. J., 1st mo., 20th, 1876, to Franklin K. Depew, 
of Moreland, Montgomery county, Pa., a son of Benjamin and 
Sarah Depew.  They have one child, Harry K., born in 
Moreland township, 11th mo., 19th, 1881.  Mr. Depew is a 
farmer and ice-cream manufacturer.