Elder WILLIAM ANDERSON KNIGHT is the forefather of the large and influential Knight family connection of Berrien, Lanier and Cook counties Georgia), and was in the Primitive Baptist ministry for many years prior to his death. He was born in North Carolina, February 16, 1778, and as about ten years old when his parents moved to Georgia. In 1798 he
married Miss SARAH CONE, daughter of HONORABLE WILLIAM CONE, who rendered distinguished service to his adopted state during the Revolutionary War.
The Cone family was also from North Carolina originally and had sojourned in South Carolina a short time during the war. The two families, Knight's and Cone's, were originally residents of Effingham County but in the creation of Bulloch county out of Effingham in 1796 were placed in
the new county. Mrs. Knight was born in South Carolina October 16,1780. To Elder Knight and his wife were born nine children.
Mr. Knight was among the very first settlers of Wayne County after it was created, moving there about 1803. His home was in present Brantley County. He was named in a legislative act of 1803 as one of five commissioners to locate the public-site of the new county. It was several years before it was permanently fixed and when it was done it was located on lands owned by Mr. Knight and by WILLIAM CLEMENTS, a neighbor,and the county-seat was name "Waynesville".
Mr. Knight served as Representative from Wayne County 1810-1811 and again in 1813. He served as State Senator from Wayne County 1815, 1816,1817, 1819, 1820. He was a Justice of Peace in the 334th District, 1813-1817, and a Justice of Wayne Inferior Court 1820-1824.
In the winter of 1824-1825 Mr. Knight and his family, with others of the family connection, moved to th esouthern part of what was then Irwin County, where they located. Mr. Knight settled on Land Lot No. 516, 10th Land District, near Grand Bay on present State Highway No. 11, in what is
now Lanier County.
A year after moving to his new home, his portion of Irwin County was made into Lowndes County and Mr. Knight was elected the first Senator from the new county, serving 1826-1828. He was a delegate from Lowndes County to the 1833 State Convention and in 1839 to the state tariff
convention. In 1856, the elder Knight's home was placed in Berrien County when it was created partly out of Lowndes County.
He was leading spirit in the organization of the first Baptist Church in Irwin or Lowndes counties; it was organized October 1, 1825, at Carter's Meetinghouse located on the west bank of the Alapaha River, and the church was named "Union" and became the "mother" of all Baptist
churches, both missionary and primitive, of this section. Mr. Knight and his wife became charter members, moving their letters from Kettle Creek Baptist Church in Wayne County. He became the first church clerk,serving from 1825 until he was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by his
church March 10, 1832. He had previously been licensed to preach, November 13, 1830. In the years that followed, elder Knight became very active, and zealous in the spread of the Gospel over the then frontier country, organizing several new churches. He and his pastor, elder Matthew Albritton, often went together on trips that required days and many miles from home. Mr. Knight stayed busy holding special services in the homes of the settlers, visiting the sick, conducting funerals,organizing churches, and assisting in constituting new churches over an area 100 miles or more in extent. After the death of Elder Albritton in 1850, Elder Knight succeded him as pastor of Union Church and served until his own death December 8, 1859. He became the first pastor of Wayfare Church in present Echols County (GA), serving 1841-1854 and again 1856-1858. His missionary labors precluded him from serving as pastor of
many of the churches that wanted him.
Mrs. Knight died November 28, 1859. Her aged husband could not long survive her passing, dying ten days later. They were buried at old Union Church. The whole section for miles around felt keenly the passing of this aged and saintly couple whose hospitality and goodness to others
were known to others far and wide.
married Miss SARAH CONE, daughter of HONORABLE WILLIAM CONE, who rendered distinguished service to his adopted state during the Revolutionary War.
The Cone family was also from North Carolina originally and had sojourned in South Carolina a short time during the war. The two families, Knight's and Cone's, were originally residents of Effingham County but in the creation of Bulloch county out of Effingham in 1796 were placed in
the new county. Mrs. Knight was born in South Carolina October 16,1780. To Elder Knight and his wife were born nine children.
Mr. Knight was among the very first settlers of Wayne County after it was created, moving there about 1803. His home was in present Brantley County. He was named in a legislative act of 1803 as one of five commissioners to locate the public-site of the new county. It was several years before it was permanently fixed and when it was done it was located on lands owned by Mr. Knight and by WILLIAM CLEMENTS, a neighbor,and the county-seat was name "Waynesville".
Mr. Knight served as Representative from Wayne County 1810-1811 and again in 1813. He served as State Senator from Wayne County 1815, 1816,1817, 1819, 1820. He was a Justice of Peace in the 334th District, 1813-1817, and a Justice of Wayne Inferior Court 1820-1824.
In the winter of 1824-1825 Mr. Knight and his family, with others of the family connection, moved to th esouthern part of what was then Irwin County, where they located. Mr. Knight settled on Land Lot No. 516, 10th Land District, near Grand Bay on present State Highway No. 11, in what is
now Lanier County.
A year after moving to his new home, his portion of Irwin County was made into Lowndes County and Mr. Knight was elected the first Senator from the new county, serving 1826-1828. He was a delegate from Lowndes County to the 1833 State Convention and in 1839 to the state tariff
convention. In 1856, the elder Knight's home was placed in Berrien County when it was created partly out of Lowndes County.
He was leading spirit in the organization of the first Baptist Church in Irwin or Lowndes counties; it was organized October 1, 1825, at Carter's Meetinghouse located on the west bank of the Alapaha River, and the church was named "Union" and became the "mother" of all Baptist
churches, both missionary and primitive, of this section. Mr. Knight and his wife became charter members, moving their letters from Kettle Creek Baptist Church in Wayne County. He became the first church clerk,serving from 1825 until he was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by his
church March 10, 1832. He had previously been licensed to preach, November 13, 1830. In the years that followed, elder Knight became very active, and zealous in the spread of the Gospel over the then frontier country, organizing several new churches. He and his pastor, elder Matthew Albritton, often went together on trips that required days and many miles from home. Mr. Knight stayed busy holding special services in the homes of the settlers, visiting the sick, conducting funerals,organizing churches, and assisting in constituting new churches over an area 100 miles or more in extent. After the death of Elder Albritton in 1850, Elder Knight succeded him as pastor of Union Church and served until his own death December 8, 1859. He became the first pastor of Wayfare Church in present Echols County (GA), serving 1841-1854 and again 1856-1858. His missionary labors precluded him from serving as pastor of
many of the churches that wanted him.
Mrs. Knight died November 28, 1859. Her aged husband could not long survive her passing, dying ten days later. They were buried at old Union Church. The whole section for miles around felt keenly the passing of this aged and saintly couple whose hospitality and goodness to others
were known to others far and wide.
Elder WILLIAM ANDERSON KNIGHT is the forefather of the large and influential Knight family connection of Berrien, Lanier and Cook counties Georgia), and was in the Primitive Baptist ministry for many years prior to his death. He was born in North Carolina, February 16, 1778, and as about ten years old when his parents moved to Georgia. In 1798 he
married Miss SARAH CONE, daughter of HONORABLE WILLIAM CONE, who rendered distinguished service to his adopted state during the Revolutionary War.
The Cone family was also from North Carolina originally and had sojourned in South Carolina a short time during the war. The two families, Knight's and Cone's, were originally residents of Effingham County but in the creation of Bulloch county out of Effingham in 1796 were placed in
the new county. Mrs. Knight was born in South Carolina October 16,1780. To Elder Knight and his wife were born nine children.
Mr. Knight was among the very first settlers of Wayne County after it was created, moving there about 1803. His home was in present Brantley County. He was named in a legislative act of 1803 as one of five commissioners to locate the public-site of the new county. It was several years before it was permanently fixed and when it was done it was located on lands owned by Mr. Knight and by WILLIAM CLEMENTS, a neighbor,and the county-seat was name "Waynesville".
Mr. Knight served as Representative from Wayne County 1810-1811 and again in 1813. He served as State Senator from Wayne County 1815, 1816,1817, 1819, 1820. He was a Justice of Peace in the 334th District, 1813-1817, and a Justice of Wayne Inferior Court 1820-1824.
In the winter of 1824-1825 Mr. Knight and his family, with others of the family connection, moved to th esouthern part of what was then Irwin County, where they located. Mr. Knight settled on Land Lot No. 516, 10th Land District, near Grand Bay on present State Highway No. 11, in what is
now Lanier County.
A year after moving to his new home, his portion of Irwin County was made into Lowndes County and Mr. Knight was elected the first Senator from the new county, serving 1826-1828. He was a delegate from Lowndes County to the 1833 State Convention and in 1839 to the state tariff
convention. In 1856, the elder Knight's home was placed in Berrien County when it was created partly out of Lowndes County.
He was leading spirit in the organization of the first Baptist Church in Irwin or Lowndes counties; it was organized October 1, 1825, at Carter's Meetinghouse located on the west bank of the Alapaha River, and the church was named "Union" and became the "mother" of all Baptist
churches, both missionary and primitive, of this section. Mr. Knight and his wife became charter members, moving their letters from Kettle Creek Baptist Church in Wayne County. He became the first church clerk,serving from 1825 until he was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by his
church March 10, 1832. He had previously been licensed to preach, November 13, 1830. In the years that followed, elder Knight became very active, and zealous in the spread of the Gospel over the then frontier country, organizing several new churches. He and his pastor, elder Matthew Albritton, often went together on trips that required days and many miles from home. Mr. Knight stayed busy holding special services in the homes of the settlers, visiting the sick, conducting funerals,organizing churches, and assisting in constituting new churches over an area 100 miles or more in extent. After the death of Elder Albritton in 1850, Elder Knight succeded him as pastor of Union Church and served until his own death December 8, 1859. He became the first pastor of Wayfare Church in present Echols County (GA), serving 1841-1854 and again 1856-1858. His missionary labors precluded him from serving as pastor of
many of the churches that wanted him.
Mrs. Knight died November 28, 1859. Her aged husband could not long survive her passing, dying ten days later. They were buried at old Union Church. The whole section for miles around felt keenly the passing of this aged and saintly couple whose hospitality and goodness to others
were known to others far and wide.
married Miss SARAH CONE, daughter of HONORABLE WILLIAM CONE, who rendered distinguished service to his adopted state during the Revolutionary War.
The Cone family was also from North Carolina originally and had sojourned in South Carolina a short time during the war. The two families, Knight's and Cone's, were originally residents of Effingham County but in the creation of Bulloch county out of Effingham in 1796 were placed in
the new county. Mrs. Knight was born in South Carolina October 16,1780. To Elder Knight and his wife were born nine children.
Mr. Knight was among the very first settlers of Wayne County after it was created, moving there about 1803. His home was in present Brantley County. He was named in a legislative act of 1803 as one of five commissioners to locate the public-site of the new county. It was several years before it was permanently fixed and when it was done it was located on lands owned by Mr. Knight and by WILLIAM CLEMENTS, a neighbor,and the county-seat was name "Waynesville".
Mr. Knight served as Representative from Wayne County 1810-1811 and again in 1813. He served as State Senator from Wayne County 1815, 1816,1817, 1819, 1820. He was a Justice of Peace in the 334th District, 1813-1817, and a Justice of Wayne Inferior Court 1820-1824.
In the winter of 1824-1825 Mr. Knight and his family, with others of the family connection, moved to th esouthern part of what was then Irwin County, where they located. Mr. Knight settled on Land Lot No. 516, 10th Land District, near Grand Bay on present State Highway No. 11, in what is
now Lanier County.
A year after moving to his new home, his portion of Irwin County was made into Lowndes County and Mr. Knight was elected the first Senator from the new county, serving 1826-1828. He was a delegate from Lowndes County to the 1833 State Convention and in 1839 to the state tariff
convention. In 1856, the elder Knight's home was placed in Berrien County when it was created partly out of Lowndes County.
He was leading spirit in the organization of the first Baptist Church in Irwin or Lowndes counties; it was organized October 1, 1825, at Carter's Meetinghouse located on the west bank of the Alapaha River, and the church was named "Union" and became the "mother" of all Baptist
churches, both missionary and primitive, of this section. Mr. Knight and his wife became charter members, moving their letters from Kettle Creek Baptist Church in Wayne County. He became the first church clerk,serving from 1825 until he was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by his
church March 10, 1832. He had previously been licensed to preach, November 13, 1830. In the years that followed, elder Knight became very active, and zealous in the spread of the Gospel over the then frontier country, organizing several new churches. He and his pastor, elder Matthew Albritton, often went together on trips that required days and many miles from home. Mr. Knight stayed busy holding special services in the homes of the settlers, visiting the sick, conducting funerals,organizing churches, and assisting in constituting new churches over an area 100 miles or more in extent. After the death of Elder Albritton in 1850, Elder Knight succeded him as pastor of Union Church and served until his own death December 8, 1859. He became the first pastor of Wayfare Church in present Echols County (GA), serving 1841-1854 and again 1856-1858. His missionary labors precluded him from serving as pastor of
many of the churches that wanted him.
Mrs. Knight died November 28, 1859. Her aged husband could not long survive her passing, dying ten days later. They were buried at old Union Church. The whole section for miles around felt keenly the passing of this aged and saintly couple whose hospitality and goodness to others
were known to others far and wide.
Inscription
SACRED
to the memory of
WILLIAM A. KNIGHT
Family Members
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