Ancestors of Mandy Willard

John KNIGHT (1844-?)

and Sarah WOODHATCH (1843-?)

John Knight and Sarah Woodhatch married on 6 May 1865 in Rudgwick, Sussex.  John was then a 20 year old bachelor and labourer from Rudgwick.  Sarah was a 22 year old spinster also from Rudgwick.  Their fathers were named as Stephen Knight a brickmaker and John Woodhatch a labourer.  The witnesses to their marriage were William Woodhatch and Elizabeth Woodhatch.  (They were not my direct ancestors.  One of their grandsons married my mother's twin sister.)

John Knight was baptised on 8 September 1844 in Wisborough Green, Sussex.  He was the son of Stephen Knight (1808-1889) and Sarah Burrage (1811-1894).

Sarah Woodhatch was baptised on 20 August 1843 in Rudgwick, Sussex.  She was the daughter of John Woodhatch (1819-1857) and Elizabeth Frances (c1825-?).

When the 1871 census was recorded the couple, together with 3 of their children, widowed mother 46 year old Elizabeth Knight and 17 year old George Knight who was described as wife's brother, were all living at Weyhurst in Rudgwick.  John was then a 27 year old agricultural labourer and Sarah was 25.  In 1881 the couple and 4 of their children were living in Howick Cottage in Rudgwick.  John was then a 36 year old farm labourer and Sarah was 37 years old.  The 1891 census records the couple and 3 of their children were living at Smithers in Rudgwick.  John was a 46 agricultural labourer and Sarah was 47.  At the time of the 1901 census, John and Sarah were living in Wisborough Green along with their youngest daughter.  John was a 58 year old agricultural labourer and Sarah was 59.

John Knight and Sarah Woodhatch had 8 known children:

1. William Knight or Woodhatch was baptised on 9 April 1865 in Rudgwick.  The baptism register recorded that he was the base born son of John Knight a labourer and Sarah Woodhatch a domestic servant, who were from Manly Lane.  The 1871 census records that he was a 6 year old scholar and living with his parents.

2. Miriam Knight was born on 22 October 1866 in Rudgwick and baptised there on 2 December 1866.  Her birth was registered by her mother, Sarah, who signed her name with a cross.  Her birth certificate noted that her father was an agricultural labourer whilst the baptism register just said he was a labourer.  In 1871 she was 3 years old and she was 14 years old in 1881.

   Before her marriage Miriam had 2 sons:

   1. William Jacob Knight was born in the second quarter of 1888 in Rudgwick.  The 1891 census records that he was 2 year old William Hampshire.  In 1901 he was 12 years old and living with his parents.

   2. Albert George Knight was born in the fourth quarter of 1890 in Rudgwick.  He was 5 months old at the time of the 1891 census and the census records his name as Albert George Hampshire.  In 1901 he was 10 years old and living with his parents.

   Miriam married Albert George Hampshire on 19 January 1891 in the Horsham registration register office.

   Albert George was born on 26 December 1867 in Thakeham, Sussex and was the son of Mary Ann Puttick/Hampshire (1849-1873).  The 1871 census recorded that he was 3 years old and living with his maternal grandparents George Hampshire and Mary Puttick, at Stile House in Pulborough.  He was still living with his maternal grandparents in 1881 at Cray Hill Lane in Pulborough, and he was then a 13 year old agricultural labourer and carter boy.  The 1871 census recorded that he was born in Chiltington and in West Chiltington in 1881.

   When the 1891 census was recorded, the Albert, Miriam and their 2 sons were living at Workhouse in Rudgwick, a property situated between Frankton Hook and Alms Cottage.  Albert and Miriam were both said to be 23 years old and he was a general labourer.  In 1901, the couple and their 3 sons were living at Hazelwood Cottages in Cranleigh, Surrey.  Albert was then a 33 year old brickwork engine and he gave his place of birth as Thakeham, Sussex.  Mirian was then 34 years old and said she was born in Rudgwick.

   Albert George and Miriam had the following children:

   3. John Henry Hamshere was born on 24 June 1892 in Bucks Green, Rudgwick.  In 1901 he was 8 years old.

      John Henry married Caroline Daisy Girling on 14 August 1915 in the Hambledon registration district.

   4. Ivy Olive Hamshere was born on 22 November 1905 in Hambledon, Surrey.

3. James Knight was baptised on 8 November 1868 in Rudgwick, at which time his father was a labourer.  He married Fanny Ross Clark in 1896.  (They have their own page.)  He was 2 years old in 1871 and living with his parents.

4. John Knight was baptised on 29 October 1871 in Rudgwick, at which time his father was a labourer from Weyhurst.  He was a 9 year old scholar in 1881.  In 1891 he was a 19 year old agricultural labourer and living at home with his parents and younger siblings.

5. Stephen Knight was baptised on 1 March 1874 in Rudgwick and was buried there aged 11 months on 30 December 1874.  At the time of his baptism his father was a labourer from Weyhurst.

6. Mary Ann Knight was baptised on 28 November 1875 in Rudgwick, at which time her father was a carter from Weyhurst.  She was a 5 year old scholar in 1881.

7. Abraham Knight was born about 1879 in Rudgwick.  He was 2 years old at the time of the 1881 census.  In 1891 he was a 12 year old scholar.  The 1901 census records he was an unmarried 22 year old boarder and cattle stockman living at Tismans Common, Rudgwick.

8. Maria Knight was born about 1882 in Rudgwick.  In 1891 she was a 9 year old scholar.  In 1901 she was 19 years old and the only one of her siblings living at home.

KNIGHT