From that I gather that at least some Knight descendants were proud to be “renegades”.

Hello, Vikki,

Corinne Ainsworth was the daughter of Napoleon Bonaparte Ainsworth (not to be confused with Napoleon B. Ainsworth listed on the Dawes Roll and Choctaw Leader). Napoleon B Ainsworth was born in Smith County, MS in Jun 1874 to Jefferson “Jesse” Napoleon Ainsworth and Sophia Tillson. Jesse’s father was Sampson Jefferson “Jeff” Ainsworth who was the father of my great grandmother Martha’s children: Charity (Shelby), Annie (Heidelberg), Lewis, Susan (Shelby), Lucy (Smith/Knight) and Josephine (died in infancy).

Sampson Jefferson’s father was Thomas/Tom Ainsworth born in the Cheraw District, SC. His wife, Sarah Finch, is believed to be descended from Native American tribe in SC. In 1815, it appears that Thomas moved his family to the Mississippi Territory shortly after his discharge from service. Records show that he paid a poll tax in Wayne County, MS Territory. It is believed that he went off to live with the Choctaw after he arrived in Mississippi taking the name of Philamahaya. His name shows up again in Smith County, MS on the 1840 Census.

Jesse Napoleon was the father of a mulatto child born to his servant, Caroline Duckworth Buckhalter. The child’s name was Andrew Buckhalter.

My Grand mother was Corrine Ainsworth and lived in Taylorsville, MS and her sisters Ruby and Daisy and she had a brother named Rill (not sure of spelling) I looked at the Coon Ainsworth tree and it looks like we would fit in there some how but i do not see any family names that are familiar. I understand it to be that my GM had relations with a Blakeney that was married and had children and i also have heard that we cross the Black and possibly the Choctaw. Daisy married Claude Robinson and my Aunt had a boutiqe called 5-K’s in Taylorsville. No one will ever break their scilence on this. Please help;
James Hamilton——–jamesglbsd@yahoo.com

The question you asked about “anyone anywhere who has a photo of Robert “Bob” Knight that is in good condition?” might be better answered amongst family members at the family reunion in Soso on 8-10 Jul 11. I am sure that someone there, especially his descendants, will have a photo or know where to obtain one of him.

You also mentioned that Bob and Melvina had 18 children, I can only account for nine (Lanzie, Charlie, Davis, John Lavada, Curtis, Clarence II, Mary L and Udell M), but other family members might know of other children which is another good reason to attend the family reunion in July. I remember meeting two of them Udell and John Knight. Udell is also the father to Janice Knight who is married to my nephew, Dennis Beaver. John and his wife Regina “Redd” had 12 children (Lavern, Aniece, Robbie, Hertisene, Earl, Billy, Deavours, Floristine, Anthony Paul, Orlando, Johnetta and Otis) that I can account for. I remember back in December 1974, upon my return from Germany, John assisted me with installing a gas tank on my car that I had left at my mother’s house in Soso so that my relatives in Houston would not abuse the car (that’s another story) while I was away oversea for two years.

In my previous reply to you, I made three mistakes on the year of birth for Joan, Mary and Emeline. The correct years are shown below:

1880 Census (Jones County, MS record for Fillis Knight, page 12 of 26, line #1)
Clabe (Graves) abt.1859
Jackson abt.1864
Lewis abt 1863
Andy (Knight) abt.1861
Joseph (Broomfield) abt.1865,
Joan (Knight) abt. 1870
Mary (Knight) abt. 1874
Emeline (Knight) abt. 1876
Bell (Ward) abt. 1878

If you look under my name on Ancestry.com, yesterday I posted a pamphlet on Mount Pleasant MB Church. You might find some information on your ancestors from the many pictures shown.

If you send me your personal email address, I can forward the family reunion flyer and a few other bits of information on the family. Let’s hope that at the family reunion we can collective shed more light on Robert Knight and our other ancestors.

Thank you and Mr. Lewis for the family tree information you provided on Harriet Ward Carter and her son Andy Knight. It was very informative. However, of all Great Grandfather’s Andy Knight’s children, a cloud of mystery still hovers over Robert “Bob” Knight. He married Melvina Knight and together they had eighteen (18) or more children. Is there anyone anywhere who has a photo of Robert “Bob” Knight that is in good condition? I have very old uncles and aunts who would be most appreciative if one could be located.

Thanks
Dale

According to the Census from 1870–1910, Harriet had 16 known children. In the 1870 Census they were enumerated with Harriet’s mother, Phillis Carter, hence all of their last names were listed as Carter. The names in parenthesis are known last names that were used by her children. They were listed as follows:

1870 Census (Jones County, MS record for Phillis Carter, page 14 of 28, line #1)

Claiborne (Graves) abt.1859
Isaac abt.1860
Andy (Knight) abt.1861
Lewis abt 1863
Jackson abt.1864
Joseph (Broomfield) abt.1865,
Samuel (Knight) abt.1867

In the 1880 Census, they were again enumerated with Harriet’s mother, but her last name has changed from Carter to Knight and everyone in her household were listed as Knight’s. Isaac and Samuel were not listed under Phillis household in 1880. They were listed as follows:

1880 Census (Jones County, MS record for Fillis Knight, page 12 of 26, line #1)

Clabe (Graves) abt.1859
Jackson abt.1864
Lewis abt 1863
Andy (Knight) abt.1861
Joseph (Broomfield) abt.1865,
Joan (Knight) abt. 1880
Mary (Knight) abt. 1884
Emeline (Knight) abt. 1886
Bell (Ward) abt. 1878

The 1900 Census shows Harriet had married Ike Ward. Their household consisted of the following children:

1900 Census (Jones County, MS record for Ike Ward, page 32 of 53, line #61)

Bell Ward Oct 1878
Frank Ward Jul 1884
Hattie Apr 1886
Jessie May 1888
Phillis Aug 1889
Nellie Jane Jul 1891
Barnes, William May 1880 (Ike & Harriet’s Grandson)

1910 Census (Jones County, MS record for Ike & Harriette Ward, page 49 of 52, line #22)

Jessie May 1888
Phillis Aug 1889
Nellie Jane Jul 1891
John Knight abt. 1891 (Ike & Harriet’s Grandson)
Tim Knight abt. 1892 (Ike & Harriet’s Grandson)

My GGF, Joseph S. Broomfield, was the brother to your GGF, Andy Knight. Not only did Harriet’s off springs play an important role in establishing Mount Pleasant Church, some of them (Luther & Viola Knight) donated land for the building of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and the M.T.P. and S.D.A. Cemetery where Rachel Ann Knight established her school in Soso.

Harriet’s off springs of Soso village also obtained land grants from the federal government and brought the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge to Soso, MS. The lodge, located in the right rear of Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, still flourishes today. Rev. Percy Moore was pastor at the church in December 1985 when I recorded the following information from a plaque to the entrance of the lodge:

MT. Lebanon Lodge No. 269
Organized 1902 Joe Broomfield W.M.
R.B. 1962 R. Mc Cullen W.M.
John Knight S.W.
A.D. Shelby J.W.
C. Knight Sect.
J.W. Ward T.Y.
Other Shelby Treas.
John Keys Com.
S. Buckley Com.

It seems to me that these people enjoyed their freedom and prospered after slavery and the beyond the reconstruction period to became self reliant which is a far cry from where we as a people are today.

I have many documents about Harriet’s descendents and photos of many of their headstones for those who are buried in M.T.P./S.D.A. Cemetery and the Mount Vernon Church Cemetery where Harriet & Ike are buried. Does anyone know if there is any significant to having the shed over Harriet’s grave? The reason I am asking is because it is slowly falling apart and I would like to replace it (with family approval) with a metallic shed that can stand the elements a little better.

Finally, I am all about inclusion and I totally agree with Yvonne about getting over the obstacles, imagined or real.

Jimmy Doyle Kervin