FAMILY MATTERS
James was the second son of William and Jone Knight from Bicknor
He married twice: (1) Elyine Edwards; (2) Our Ancestor Anne Coullen (buried Sept 14 1638 in Bicknor) in Bicknor on June 30 1606. Though James was illiterate (he signed his will with a mark) parish records show that he was Church Warden in 1601 and 1612/13.
HIS WILL
His will, written 31 May 1632 and probated 10 Nov 1636, named his wife Anne and son William named as executors. James Knight was to be buried in churchyard of Bicknor. Anne was to be given the two parcels of land called Petscroft for the rest of her life, at which point they passed to the eldest son William. (All these references to Anne proved unnecessary, as she actually preceded William.) Their children:
- William Knight Our Ancestor (c 25 Mar 1607 - buried 11 April 1677, Hollingbourne)
- Robert Knight (c 25 Mar 1610 - bur. 3 Oct 1678, Bicknor) married Elizabeth Rayner on 17 Feb 1644. "1665- Oct 3 James s/o Robert Knight & Elizabeth buried unbaptized " Robert was Bicknor's Church warden in 1670/71. His will (Kent, Archdeaconry of Canterbury Wills 1678, A-Z Image 259 of 420 for Robert Knight) written 1 February 1674/5: Robert Knight of the parish of Bicknor, names wife Elizabeth and children Henry, Elizabeth, Anne, William, Richard & Robert. Will proved 10 December 1678)
- James Knight (c 28 Feb 1612, Bicknor - entry was in Latin) married Margaret Baker in Stockbury 9 July 1662
- Anne Knight (about 1616) named under the full age of 22 in her father's will married Stephen Brockwell in Stockbury 27 Oct 1636
- Joan Knight (c 4 Apr 1619 Bicknor) named under the full age of 22 in her father's will. married William Morgan on 25 May 1640 (or 1641, 0or 1642)
- Richard Knight (c 4 Jan 1623 - bur Apr 11 1684, Bicknor) named under the full age of 24 in his father's will. Appears to have been a bachelor. In his will, (PRC/17/76/144 (PRC/16/310 K/2 1684, Kent, Archdeaconry of Canterbury) Richard Knight of Bickner, Kent, Husbandman named his sister Anne, wife of Steven Brockwell of Bickner, executor and left her 4 acres being in Stockbury, parsell of woodland commonly called Saywelles in Bicknor. If she predeceases him, Richard's lands were to go to his brother James Knight of Stockburey, Kent husbandman.