Son of Andrew McKnight (July 20,1753 Virginia-March 20, 1825 Laurens County, South Carolina) and Elizabeth Nash (1751 Virginia-April 18, 1838 Laurens County, South Carolina). Married Jan 7, 1783 Caswell County, North Carolina.

Andrew served 1781 1st Corporal, Dixon's Company, 10th Regiment, Virginia or North Carolina Revolutionary War Pension Application # R. 6773. "La Fayette 22nd March 1854 Sir John McKnight Esquire has just handed me a letter received enclosed from you from Mr. Waldo Commissioner of Pensions, respecting some papers you had sent to the Pension Office for Esquire McKnight. The Commissioner has entirely mistaken the character of the papers, He supposes the application is made on behalf of Elizabeth McKnight widow of Andrew McKnight & A . W. Nixon whose name is on the papers as agent; When the facts are Andrew McKnight was a Soldier of the revolution & entitled to a Pension under the Act of 2nd of March 1818. That he died about the 25th of March 1825, his widow Elizabeth McKnight who lived a widow up to her death died about March 1838. Neither Andrew McKnight nor his wife ever applied for any pension & no papers have ever been filed in that office for that purpose except those you have filed. This application is made by John McKnight as the legal heir of Andrew McKnight deceased, Andrew & Elizabeth McKnight both died in Laurens District in the State of South Carolina. John McKnight (the applicant) lives in Chambers County Alabama. A. W. Nixon is not an agent but a witness who proves the death of Andrew & Elizabeth McKnight and also the heirship of this applicant all of which you will see by an examination of said papers. You will please examine the papers & I doubt not but you will find them as I have stated them above.I suppose there can be no other application necessary than the one he has made. If you find upon application anything further, it is necessary for Esquire McKnight to do find all the papers you have already filed properly attested and proved.Yours respectfullyHon. J. H. DowellS/ E. G. Richards for Richards & Falkins [p 25]South Carolina Laurens District
Personally came before me the subscribing Justice Mary Nesbit who said upon oath that she was personally acquainted with Andrew McKnight son of James McKnight of Caswell County North Carolina, during the Revolution War and that he the said Andrew McKnight enlisted and served two or three tours in the North Carolina line, and that some of the Reverend Jonathan Deweese Brothers was with him some part of the time, and that she was acquainted with him until his death which took place in 1825 in Laurens district South Carolina and at the time of this deposition She saw in the hands of Elizabeth McKnight his lawful wife a certified Copy of his last Will & Testament with Letters of administration with the Will annexed signed by David Anderson Ordinary of Laurens District and further that she never knew nor heard of any other man by that name in the Revolution War. Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 8th day of August 1835S/ Alfred Perrett, J. Q. S/ Mary Nesbit, X her mark[p 44]June 18, 1907Mrs. William Percy29 Spruce St. Atlanta, Ga.Madam:In reply to your letter without date, received on the 31st ultimo, you are advised that in the papers on file in this Bureau (R#6773) it is alleged that one Andrew McKnight of Caswell County, North Carolina (son of James McKnight), served 2 or 3 tours in the North Carolina troops during the War of the Revolution -- no dates or names of officers stated -- that he died March 24, 1825, in Laurens District, South Carolina, where his widow, Elizabeth, died April 18, 1838. Their son, John McKnight, was a resident of Chambers County, Alabama, in 1853. No pension was allowed, for the reason that no proper declaration or claim whatever file, and no proof of soldiers service, marriage and death was ever furnished, as required."

Laurens County, South Carolina Wills 1784-1840 Page 171
Transcript
Laurens Co., S.C., Will Book "E" 2 Oct. 1824: Deed of Andrew McNight. Property should not be sold, etc. Names sons, Hiram and Andrew; wife not to forget Nelly (no last name) Test: William and Andrew Helms. 30 April 1825 Andrew Helms swore to above deed; John Cunningham, J. P. 4 July 1825 Will (deed) proven. 4 July 1825: Administration of estate of Andrew McNight, deceased, to Elizabeth McNight; surety: Andrew McNight and W. F. Downs 16 July 1825: Appraisal of estate of Andrew McNight, deceased, by James Durrah, Abraham Bolt, and Bailey Mahan.

Grandson of James McKnight (1730 Ireland-1804 Laurens County, South Carolina) and Mary Clements (1732 Augusta County, Virginia-1796). Married 1752 Augusta County, Virginia. From: The scrapbook : a compilation of historical facts about places and events of Laurens County, South Carolina By: Laurens County Historical Society and Laurens County Arts Council James McKnight notation Page 73 Transcript
From the notes of Wm. D. Sullivan, Sr. now in the possession of his grandson, D. H. Sullivan "My old friend Andrew Flournoy McKnight, who married Permelia Meares and has lived for the last 75 years on Peachland Creek. His father was Andrew McKnight from the Panhandle of Virginia. He moved to NC during the Old War and on to S.C. in 1790 and settled at the Sam Meares place on Raburn Creek. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War-was with General Green at 96 and other fights. His father was James McKnight from Ireland, he came over to Maryland, was a weaver by trade. Paid the bounty money for his wife, that is bought her by paying her passage money over the sea. He served under Genl. Braddock in the Indian War in Virginia. John Arnold the ancestor of Henry Arnold in our settlement was in the same company in that war."
James McKnight's service records that have been located in William Preston's papers, gives dates of pay as May 1 1757, June 8 1757, July 27, 1757, Oct 5 1757, Nov 29, 1757. Stationed at Fort George on the Bullpasture River in Virginia, which was built by Captain William Preston by orders of Major Andrew Lewis who reported to George Washington.
James McKnight served as a soldier in William Preston's company in the Indian Wars. Fort George on Bullpasture River. Dates listed: May 1 1757, June 8 1757, July 27, 1757, Oct 5 1757, Nov 29, 1757
Letter from Andrew Lewis to George Washington Sep 1757 quotes "I have Stationed Capt. Preston in the Bull-pasture." William Preston seems to have been stationed at this time at Fort George on the west bank of Bullpasture River. Earlier in the year Preston built the fort on the orders of Andrew Lewis. The fort, located on the land of Capt. Wallas Estill (Astin) of the Augusta militia, was 80 feet square. For a description of the fort, see Preston to Lewis, 7 April 1757.

James McKnight's wife, Mary Clements, was the daughter of Jacob Clements (June 9, 1709 Augusta, Virginia-Sept 1, 1759 Augusta, Virginia). 1 Sep 1759
Will of Jacob Clemens
In the name of God Amen, I Jacob Clemens of the County of Augusta & Colony of Virginia considering the uncertainty of this mortal life & being of sound & perfect mind & memory blessed be Almighty God for the same but being now indisposed do make and publish this my last will & Testament in manner & form as follows. That is to say First of all I leave & bequeath unto my well & beloved wife Clemens her saddle mare and Furniture also her Bed & Furniture Also Twenty Pounds due by Felix Gilbert after paying what Debts are due by me out of it (if she does not marry) or else to Fall to the youngest Children, viz Ruth, Isabella Clements, like wise she is to have the Plantation during her widowhood. Also I leave and bequeath unto my Three Daughters Ann Barnet & Mary McNight & Rachel Barnet one shilling to each it is also my will that the above legacy be payed or tendered the day of my Burial. I also leave & bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah Clemens the young Roan mare and Coalt [sic] & side saddle. I also leave and bequeath unto my Five Daughters viz: Margaret Clemens, Elizabeth Clemens, Rebeccah Clemens, Ruth Clemens & Isabel Clemens the remainder moveable Estate to be sold & equally divided betwixt my Five Daughters above mentioned and I do hereby appoint Thomas GILHAM and James Campbell my Sole Executrix and Executors of this my last Will & Testament. Hereby revoking all former Wills by me made. In Witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this first day of September One Thousand seven hundred and fifty nine.
Signed Sealed and Delivered
Jacob (I) Clemons

in the presence of
Andrew Hamilton
Thomas Lloyd
Robert Lockridge

At a Court held for Augusta County Novem'r the 21st day 1759 This last Will & Testament of Jacob Clemens dec'd was proved by Robt Lockridge & Andrew Hamilton two of the witnesses thereto & admitted to record & on the motion of Thomas GILHAM & James Campbell Executors who made oath according to law Certificate is granted for obtaining a probate in due form they having with Andrew Hamilton & Robert Lockridge their securities entered into & acknowledged their Bond.

Abstract of Will of Jacob Clements
Wife; youngest children, Ruth, Isabella Clements; three daughters, Ann Burnet, Mary McKnight, Rachel Barnet; daughter, Sarah Clements; five daughters, Margaret, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Ruth, Isabel Clements. Executors, Thos. GILLHAM, James Campbell.
Teste: Andrew Hamilton, Robert Lockridge, Thomas Lloyd.
Proved, 21st November, 1759, by Lockridge and Hamilton.
Executors qualify, with Andrew Hamilton and Robert Lockridge. page 337

Family Members
Parents: Ezekial Clements
Spouse: Mary Campbell Clements, 1706–1759
Children:
Sarah Clements Gillham, 1740 – unknown
Rebecca Clements Haws Forgy, 1746–1822

****One of the most interesting characters on the Big Calfpasture River in these early days was Jacob Clements. Of him and from whence he came nothing is known, but it is surmised that he was a kinsman of some degree of Christian and Ezekiel Clements--the name is also Cleamons is is evidently of German derivation--who were early settlers in Augusta County. Jacob Clements' wife was named Mary and to them were born at least nine children, all girls....the above comes from p. 116 of "Rockbrige County, Virginia Notebook" --articles by Dr. George Diehl/compiled by A. Maxim Coppage.

Sources of information include: John McKnight's father, Andrew's Revolutionary War pension application, Historical Facts About Laurens County South Carolina page 73, Laurens County South Carolina Court records, The Preston and Virginia Papers of the Draper Collection of Manuscripts: Pages 23, 32, 43, and 49, Chalkley Chronicles from Augusta Virginia page 528.

Siblings: William, Thomas #26344942, James, Hiram, Mary Caroline, Andrew F #8156172, Eleanor #65842203, and Elizabeth.

Married Martha Sims 1812, Laurens County, South Carolina. Martha was the sister of John's brother, Thomas' wife, Mariah Sims.

Father of: Andrew M. McKnight, Mariah McKnight Bentley, Nancy McKnight Causey, Hiram Lee McKnight, Thomas McKnight, Larissa McKnight Welch, Lewis Newton McKnight, John W. McKnight, Martha Elizabeth McKnight Sims, Mary McKnight Standfield, Elvira Minerva McKnight Spraggins Monkress, Christopher Pusilamus Columbus McKnight, and Gilbert Motier Lafayette McKnight.

In the year 1825 John and Martha moved to Coweta County, Georgia. There he lived with his family until December 1835 when the family moved to Chambers County, Alabama. They arrived at their new home December 25, 1835.

Feb 10, 1829 the first record of the Burns Masonic Lodge meeting. Also, served as Worshipful Master for the Burns Masonic Lodge, Coweta County, Georgia. * I attempted to locate Masonic records for John with the help of the Grand Lodge of Texas. Unfortunately, no records could be found. It is theorized that John's records are among the many that were burned by the Union Army during the War between the States.

1830 Assigned to committee to build a meeting house for the Newnan Baptist Church

Elected State Senator from Coweta County, Georgia in October 1830. See http://genealogytrails.com/geo/coweta/pioneers.html
and the book titled "Coweta County chronicles for one hundred years : with an account of the Indians from whom the land was acquired, and some historical papers relating to its acquisition by Georgia, with lineage pages" by Mary G. Jones published in 1928.

John can be found with his wife and some of his children on the 1850 census in Chambers County Alabama. His age is listed as 61, estimated birth year 1789, birth place South Carolina, profession farmer.

On the same census in Chambers County, Alabama John's grown children and their families Mariah McKnight Bentley and Thomas McKnight are neighbors.

On Ancestry.com's Alabama Marriages 1809-1920 Selected Counties list, I find where John McKnight performed marriages as a Justice of the Peace from 1836-1855 in Chambers County, Alabama.

I contacted a professional genealogist for the Clan Macnaughton regarding this James, Andrew, and John Lee McKnight line. She reviewed all of the facts presented and deems this McKnight line verified to the best of her research.