Knight's son, George Madison “Mat” (by Serena), married his step-daughter, Frances 'Fannie' (Rachel’s daughter from a previous union).Some of Newt’s children by Serena and Rachel married or had bi-racial children together. John Howard Knight (1871-1922) m: Candace Martha Jane 'Carrie' Smith.Knight (1894-1944) m1: William Alonzo Bounds m2: John Riley Lewis m3: Leslie Robertson Children by George Ann (Rachel's daughter).

John Madison 'Hinchie' Knight (1875-1939) m: Mary Florence Magdalene Smith.Augusta Ann Ann 'Gustan' Knight (1872-1951) m: William S.John Floyd Knight (1871-1941) m1: Sophronia Cox m2: Lucy Jane Ainsworth.Martha Ann Knight (1866-1933) m: Samuel Knight (son of Daniel Thomas Knight - Newt’s 1st cousin).Cora Ann Knight (1872-1950) m1: Jeffrey 'Jeff' Early Knight m2: William Jasper Andrews.Keziah 'Kizzie' (1871-c1955) m: Joseph Ray Welborn.Susan Ada (1868-1947) m: Ulysses Grant Welborn.Martha Ann Eliza 'Molly' Knight (1864-1917) m: Jeffrey 'Jeff' Early Knight.Thomas Jefferson Knight (1861-1956) m: Mary E.George Madison 'Mat' Knight (1859-1911) m: Frances 'Fannie' Knight.This was in spite of a Mississippi law that barred the interment of whites and blacks in the same cemetery. Newton Knight died of natural causes at the age of 92 on and even though it was illegal for blacks and whites to be buried together, he left instructions, that he was to be buried next to Rachel, on a hill in Jones County overlooking their farm, in what is now called the Knight Family Cemetery. īy the 1910 census Serena and Newt were living separately - they never divorced. Īfter Rachel’s death in 1889, Newton is supposed to have fathered at least two children by George Ann (Rachel's daughter). However, Cleo Garraway (Howard’s granddaughter) said that she never heard anyone say that Newton was the father of her grandfather, Howard, or her Aunt Anna.Ĭleo was so ashamed of the circumstances of her birth, she did not care to know from whom she was descended. During the early 1870s, George Ann gave birth to two children that many believe were fathered by Newton. Newton ran his home in a harem-like fashion having simultaneous relationships with Serena, his wife, Rachel, and George Ann, Rachel’s daughter. Rachel traveled out to Utah, but found it was too cold, and she returned to Mississippi. Newton gave Rachel and her children a house next to him and Serena.īy entering a common-law marriage with Rachel and proudly claiming their mixed-race children, Newton Knight caused a scandal that still reverberates. Īccording to Martha Wheeler (a former slave of Newton's grandfather) Newt and Rachel were never married, but 'she was known as his woman'. The two families lived in different houses on the same 160-acre farm. While still married, after the Civil War, Newton took up with his grandfather’s former slave, Rachel, and they had five children together. He fathered 9 children with his white wife, Serena. The nature and extent of the Knight Company's opposition to the Confederate government is disputed among historians. Local legends tell of Knight and his men forming the 'Free State of Jones' in the area in and around Jones County, Mississippi, at the height of the war. He was best known as the leader of the Knight Company, a band of Confederate army deserters who resisted the Confederacy during the Civil War. Newt was an American farmer, soldier and Southern Unionist in Mississippi, USA. Newt married about 1858 to Serina Turner and they moved to Jasper County, Mississippi, USA. However there is no proof or solid source for this story which has her as being from Tennessee and we know from other stories that she came from North Carolina (per census info and a former slave of Newton's grandfather). There are stories that Newton's mother's real name is Rebecca Griffith and that she was given the name Mason because she was either found by or brought to the family by Masons on a rainy night. In accordance with its teachings, Newton forswore alcohol, unlike his father and grandfather. His son, Tom, wrote that Newton was morally opposed to the institution due to his Primitive Baptist beliefs. However, Newton and his father, Albert, neither owned slaves nor inherited any. His grandfather John 'Jackie' Knight (1773–1861) was one of Jones County's largest slaveholders. Newton Knight was born on and his parents were Mason and Albert Knight (1799-1864).

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