Key Facts

Snapshot:	farmer, cooper
Parents:	128Sylvanus Knight 129Sarah ___
Born:	circa 1808 Georgia
Last known record:	Voter registration oath signed 9 July 1867 Washington County, Georgia
Buried:	unknown

64Jesse's parents are 128Sylvanus Knight and 129Sarah ___, as explained below.

Problem: Resolved Who are 64Jesse's parents? 129Sarah died in October 1859. Her obituary, copied at right,1 proves that:     1) 129Sarah had eight children, all of whom seem to have survived to adulthood.     2) One of the eight was a son named Lewis Knight. 129Sarah seems to have been married to 128Sylvanus Knight. (See his profile for further explanation, especially the sections about 128Sylvanus and 129Sarah joining a church together and 128Sylvanus' estate returns.) One may reasonably conclude, therefore, that Lewis is a son of 128Sylvanus and 129Sarah. Other supporting evidence includes Lewis' service as executor for 128Sylvanus' estate2 and repeated mentions of Lewis (and 129Sarah) in 128Sylvanus' estate records.3 Lewis was born circa 1804,4 so we'd expect 129Sarah's seven other children to have been born roughly in that same time period... So who are these seven other children? In 1850, 129Sarah was living with Allen H. Knight,5 who was born 20 June 1812.6 Allen is named twice in 128Sylvanus' estate records.3 This evidence strongly suggests that Allen was a son of 129Sarah and 128Sylvanus. Of 129Sarah's six other children, five seem to have been daughters. In 1800 128Sylvanus' family included three girls under age 10.7 In 1820 he had one young woman age 16-25 (probably one of the same girls from the 1800 census) and also two new girls age 10-15.8 So we've now accounted for seven of 129Sarah's eight children... but what about the eighth? 128Sylvanus' 1820 census listing8 also shows a boy under 10 years old (This is Allen, who was born in 18126 as explained above.) and another boy age 10-15 (i.e., born between 1805 and 1810).8 We know from later records that 64Jesse B. Knight was born circa 1808.9,10 He lived in Washington County's militia district 92 most of his life,11-16 while 128Sylvanus and 129Sarah lived ~15 miles away in militia district 95 (map).17,18 The long-standing proximity suggests a familial relationship. Furthermore, I can find no Knight men in the area who could have been (with reasonable plausibility) the 10-15 year old boy from 128Sylvanus' 1820 census listing: • A review of all Knight men in Washington and its surrounding counties in 1830 shows only one possible candidate: John Knight, age 20-29, in Wilkinson County.19 He isn't a particularly plausible candidate, however, since he lived a considerable distance from 128Sylvanus and 129Sarah: Wilkinson County lies west of Washington County, and 128Sylvanus lived longterm along Washington County's eastern border. Furthermore, I can't identify this John in any other records whatsoever, so he may have had few ties to the area. • There is also an Elijah L. Knight, born circa 1812 in South Carolina,20 but he's probably unrelated since 129Sarah moved to Georgia in 1800.1 Although I have found no evidence to show any explicit connection between 64Jesse and 128Sylvanus and 129Sarah, the totality of the evidence explained above very strongly suggests that 64Jesse is indeed their son.

In 1820 128Sylvanus lived in Washington County, Georgia. In the census excerpt shown below, the second "1" is for a boy aged 10-15 years and probably refers to 64Jesse,8 as explained above.

1820: 64Jesse's household (including slaves) in Washington County, Georgia. Full page.8

By 1828 64Jesse owned 200 acres of pine land along/near Nealy Creek in militia district 92 (map), Washington County, Georgia. Washington County's 1828 tax digest is the first record that actually mentions 64Jesse by name. Like all other records I've found for 64Jesse, it shows that he did not own slaves.12

1828: 64Jesse's property taxed in Washington County. Full page.12

By 1830 64Jesse had started a family. The census shows him, his wife (Her identity is uncertain, as previously discussed.), a young boy (32Russell Knight), and an unidentified man in his late teens.21

1830: 64Jesse's family in Washington County, Georgia. Full page.21

64Jesse was sued, and in May 1835 his 200 acres along Nealy Creek were sold at auction to settle his debt.22

A newspaper announcement for the auction of 64Jesse's land, which he lost due to a lawsuit. Full page.22

Despite the loss, 64Jesse remained in militia district 92 longterm. Tax records show him as a resident thereof in 1830, 1836, 1850, and 1851.13,14,16,23 He eventually acquired more land in Washington County: In 1838 he received a 200-acre headright, and in 1854 he received an additional 350 acres.24

1838: 64Jesse receives 200 acres in Washington County. Full page.24

1853: 64Jesse receives another 350 acres in Washington County. Full page.24

The government also granted 64Jesse land in north Georgia. In the early 1800's, Georgia, unlike any other state, distributed Indian lands to white citizens by a lottery system. Perhaps the most infamous of these was the 1832 land lottery, which greatly contributed to the Trail of Tears. 64Jesse was one of the winners in that lottery. His lot (section 2, district 10, lot 223) is marked on the master map. Today this land lies in rural northern Gilmer County. 64Jesse probably never even set foot on the land, although he did pay tax on it in 1836.14

64Jesse won land from Georgia's 1832 Cherokee land lottery.25

The next several censuses show his family grow. Intriguingly, the 1840 census shows an older woman in his household,15 perhaps a mother, but her identity is unknown. The 1860 agriculture schedule shows that 64Jesse owned/produced a horse, pigs, wheat, Indian corn, cotton, peas/beans, sweet potatoes, and hay, and had slaughtered $25 worth of livestock in the past year. (You can see the schedule for yourself here: 1, 2.26)

1840: 64Jesse's family in militia district 92 (map), Washington County, Georgia. Full page.15

1850: 64Jesse's family in Washington County, Georgia. Full page.9

1860: 64Jesse's family still in Washington County. Full pages: 1, 2.10

The American Civil War began the following year. During the war, many of Georgia's soldiers were sent to fight in more vital locations, e.g. to defend Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital. As a result, few soldiers were available to defend Georgia, and slaves were becoming less obedient and more likely to attempt escape. Governor Joseph Brown, worried about the state's predicament, had the state legislature order a special census to list all white males age 16-60 not already in Confederate service, along with militarily significant facts like whether the men owned any guns or horses. This census would help the state government allocate its few home guard soldiers more efficiently. This census is formally called the 1864 Census for Re-organizing the Georgia Militia but is sometimes nicknamed the Joe Brown census. In this census we find J. B. Knight, aged 56 years and 6 months, a cooper, born in Georgia, resident of the 92nd militia district in Washington County. He owned a shotgun but not a horse.11 (Recall that the 1860 agriculture schedule showed that 64Jesse owned one horse.26)

Above: 64Jesse B. Knight's listing in the 1864 Joe Brown census. Full page.11

In 1867 the U.S. Congress passed several Reconstruction Acts. These Acts divided the former Confederacy into several military occupation zones, which were ruled by Union military commanders. The Acts also directed the commanding officers to register Southerners who wanted to vote in upcoming elections. One registration requirement was to swear an oath of loyalty to the United States; the obvious intent was to disfranchise any lingering Confederate resistance. 64Jesse B. Knight of Washington County, Georgia swore his oath on 9 July 1867.27

1867: 64Jesse signs a Reconstruction-era voter registration oath.27

64Jesse's voter registration oath is the last record I have found of him. He's not in the indices of Washington County's wills book B (1852-1903), nor inventories & appraisements book B (1863-1901). He also isn't mentioned in Elizabeth Pritchard Newsom's book Washington County Georgia Tombstone Inscriptions. (However, the book does mention the grave of 64Jesse's brother Allen H. Knight; see the notes with citation #6 below.)

Sources Cited:

1: “OBITUARY,” The Central Georgian (Sandersville, Georgia), 26 October 1859, page 3, column 1, top of the page. Georgia Historic Newspapers, <https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn85034105/1859-10-26/ed-1/seq-3/>

2: Washington County, Georgia. Letters of administration, guardianship, and apprenticeship, book A (1829-1876), page 271. FamilySearch, <https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-30464-10436-90?cc=1999178&wc=MM1Q-8JW:n860265910>, accessed 9 June 2013.

3: Washington County, Georgia. Returns book B (1843-1852), pages 74, 75, 130, 334, 360, and 361, Sylvanus Knight's returns. FamilySearch, <https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-30491-810-57?cc=1999178&wc=MM1Q-8JZ:1667224830>, etc., accessed 9 June 2013. A. H. Knight is named on pages 75 and 334.

4: 1850 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Division 91, Washington County, Georgia. Page 211A, dwelling 112, family 112, Lewis Knight household. NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 87. Internet Archive, <http://archive.org/stream/7thcensus0067unix#page/n278/mode/1up>, accessed 27 May 2014.

5: 1850 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Division 91, Washington County, Georgia. Page 214B, dwelling 162, family 162, Allen H. Knight household. NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 87. Internet Archive, <http://archive.org/stream/7thcensus0067unix#page/n285/mode/1up>, accessed 13 August 2011.

6: Elizabeth Pritchard Newsom, Washington County Georgia Tombstone Inscriptions (published by the author, 1967), page 139. The text reads, "MATHIS-KNIGHT FAMILY CEMETERY ON ETHERIDGE PLACE (Transcribed by Jesse & E.P. Newsom 2-20-63) Location: From Sandersville go N. on Rte 15, turn L. after passing residence of Schley Moore. Go to end of road and turn R., at next opportunity, turn L. Cemetery is on right," and then "Allen H. Knight Jun 20, 1812 - Jul 12, 1891."

7: 1800 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Page 215, Silvanus Knight household. NARA microfilm publication M32, roll 30. Ancestry.com, accessed 8 December 2010. I used Ancestry.com, but the same record is available on Internet Archive: <https://archive.org/stream/populationsc18000030unit#page/n212/mode/1up>.

8: 1820 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Washington County, Georgia. Page 128, Sylvanus Knight household. NARA microfilm publication M33, roll 9. Ancestry.com, accessed 8 December 2010. Although I used Ancestry.com, the same record is available on the Internet Archive: <https://archive.org/stream/populationsc18200009unit#page/n195/mode/1up>.

9: 1850 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Division 91, Washington County, Georgia. Page 253, dwelling 755, family 755, Jesse B. Knight household. NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 170. Internet Archive, <http://archive.org/stream/7thcensus0067unix#page/n364/mode/1up>, accessed 23 May 2013.

10: 1860 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Washington County, Georgia. Pages 241 and 242, dwelling 632, family 614, Jesse B. Knight household. NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 140. Internet Archive, <https://archive.org/stream/populationschedu140unit#page/n243/mode/1up> (page 241) and <https://archive.org/details/populationschedu140unit/page/n244/mode/1up?view=theater> (page 242), accessed 14 October 2021.

11: 1864 Census for Re-Organizing the Georgia Militia. Militia district 92, Washington County, Georgia. Page 1, entry 15, J. B. Knight. Georgia Virtual Vault, <http://vault.georgiaarchives.org/cdm/ref/collection/1864/id/3526>, accessed 16 February 2013.

12: Washington County, Georgia. Tax digest for 1828, Captain Smith's district, page 37, entry for Jesse B. Knight. Ancestry.com (&“Georgia Property Tax Digests, 1793-1893” / Washington County / 1828 / image 35 of 106), accessed 17 February 2013. Although I used Ancestry.com, the same record can be seen on FamilySearch: <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H3-7HV5?i=106&cc=4130006&cat=307097>.

13: Washington County, Georgia. Tax digest for 1830, Captain Miller's 92nd company district, entry for Jesse B. Knight. Ancestry.com (&“Georgia Property Tax Digests, 1793-1893” / Washington County / 1830 / image 23 of 107), accessed 17 February 2013. Although I used Ancestry.com, the same record can be seen on FamilySearch: <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H3-7HNZ?i=165&cc=4130006&cat=307097>.

14: Washington County, Georgia. Tax digest for 1836, Captain Whitefield's 92nd district, entry for Jesse B. Knight. Ancestry.com (&“Georgia Property Tax Digests, 1793-1893” Washington County / 1836 / image 27 of 80), accessed 12 June 2013. Although I used Ancestry.com, the same record can be seen on FamilySearch: <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H3-783N?i=299&cc=4130006&cat=307097>.

15: 1840 U.S. Federal Census. Militia district 92, Washington County, Georgia. Page 53, J. B. Knight household. NARA microfilm publication M704, roll 229. Ancestry.com, accessed 17 October 2010. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYTB-9S7R?i=4&cc=1786457&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXHBN-BDQ>, accessed 23 October 2021.

16: Washington County, Georgia. Tax digest for 1850, militia district 92, page 17, entry for Jesse B. Knight. Ancestry.com (“Georgia Property Tax Digests, 1793-1893” / Washington County / 1850 / images 35 and 36 of 131), accessed 16 February 2013. Although I used Ancestry.com, the same record can be seen on FamilySearch: <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H3-7HRZ?i=580&cc=4130006&cat=307097>.

17: Washington County, Georgia. Tax digest for 1830, Captain Howard's 95th district, page 80, entry for Silvanus Knight. Ancestry.com (“Georgia Propery Tax Digests, 1793-1893,” Washington County, 1830, image 40 of 107), accessed 10 March 2013. Although I used Ancestry.com, the same record is also available on FamilySearch: <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H3-78FY?i=175&cc=4130006&cat=307097>.

18: 1840 U.S. Federal Census. Militia district 95, Washington County, Georgia. Page 53, Silvanus Knight household. NARA microfilm publication M704, roll 199. Ancestry.com, accessed 8 December 2010. I used Ancestry.com, but the census image is also available on Archive.org: <https://archive.org/stream/populationsc18400053unit#page/n108/mode/1up> and <https://archive.org/stream/populationsc18400053unit#page/n109/mode/1up>.

19: 1830 U.S. Federal Census. Wilkinson County, Georgia. Page 355, Jno. Knight household. NARA microfilm publication M19, roll 21. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYY1-6YN?i=49&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXHGB-5CF>, accessed 22 May 2023.

20: 1850 U.S. Federal Census (Population Schedule). Division 91, Washington County, Georgia. Page 246A, dwelling 640, family 640, Elijah L. Knight household. NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 87. Ancestry.com, accessed 15 June 2013. I used Ancestry.com, but the census image is also available on Archive.org: <http://archive.org/stream/7thcensus0067unix#page/n349/mode/1up>.

21: 1830 U.S. Federal Census. Washington County, Georgia. Page 241, Jesse Night household. NARA microfilm publication M19, roll 21. Ancestry.com, accessed 14 August 2011. I used Ancestry.com, but the census image is also available on Archive.org: <https://archive.org/stream/populationsc18300021unit#page/n477/mode/1up> and <https://archive.org/stream/populationsc18300021unit#page/n478/mode/1up>.

22: “WASHINGTON'S SHERRIFF'S SALES,” Federal Union (Milledgeville, Georgia), 14 April 1835, page 1, column 1. Georgia Historic Newspapers, <https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn86053071/1835-04-14/ed-1/seq-1/>, accesse 23 October 2021.

23: Washington County, Georgia. Tax digest for 1851, militia district 92, page 18, entries for J.B. Knight and R.W. Knight. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H3-74PF?i=654&cc=4130006&cat=307097>, accessed 14 October 2021.

24: Jesse B. Knight's headright and bounty land records. FamilySearch ("Georgia, Headright and Bounty Land Records, 1783-1909" / Patrick Kneal - William Lambeth section / Jesse B. Knight folder / images 56 and 58 of 583), <https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-25270-47033-91?cc=1914217&wc=MMYG-GC9:610322281> and <https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-25270-47196-77?cc=1914217&wc=M61W-MWL:200659901>, respectively, accessed 1 June 2013.

25: Georgia Surveyor General. Land Lottery Grants. Cherokee, 1832. Section 2, districts 10-11, page 65, Jesse B. Knight. Copied from Georgia Archives microfilm 53/36. This record is indexed in: James F. Smith, The Cherokee Land Lottery: Containing a Numerical List of the Names of the Fortunate Drawers in Said Lottery (Harper & Brothers, 82 Cliff Street, NY, NY, 1838), page 113.

26: 1860 U.S. Federal Census (Agriculture Schedule). Washington County, Georgia. Page 25iii and 25iv, line 9, owner Jessee Knight. NARA microfilm publication T1137, roll 6. Ancestry.com, accessed 16 June 2013. To reduce the file size, I have cropped the images linked above.

27: Georgia's 1867-1868 Voter Registration Oath Books. Volume 122 (Washington County Book A), page 220, entry 439, Jesse B. Knight. Ancestry.com, accessed 27 May 2012. Although I copied the image from Ancestry.com, the corresponding microfilm at the Georgia Archives is microfilm 296/44.