THOMAS (Tom) KNIGHT
(1848 - ca. 1920)

Wife: Cora (maiden name unknown) (1849 - ca. 1920)

BREIF BIO
Thomas (Tom) Knight was born a slave in Virginia, perhaps in 1848, according to the federal census. He may have been sold or traded at least once. According to his grandson Tommie Knight, Tom Knight last worked on the "plantation of Newton Knight in Soso, MS." Newton Knight, a white resident of Soso in Jones Co., MS and center of historical controversy, was never reported as a slave owner. However, some of Newton's nearby family members (grandfather, uncles and aunts) did own slaves. Consequently, Thomas's slave life in Mississippi remains ambiguous. Thomas's story continues with his escape from the MS plantation. Thomas took with him his wife Cora (a North Carolina native, born ca. 1849), used cold dark caves as shelter along the way, and finally settled in North Carolina. How long their journey lasted is uncertain.

By 1870 Thomas Knight (age 22), wife Cora (age 21), and daughter Maggie (born Oct. 1869) were living in the town of Sparta in Edgecombe Co., NC (house #63). Their 1870 African-American Knight neighbors, Anica Knight (age 31) and Adaline Knight (age 28) could be relatives, but this has yet to be determined (house #62, Mitchell). In 1877, thier daughter Abbie was born, followed by daughter Mary Etta (1886) and son John (1887).

By 1910, the Knight family made a home in Bolivar Co., MS. The family may have arrived ca. 1894, when Thomas and Cora's daughter Narcissa was born (MS). Abbie Knight had married Doc Martin in 1899 (Sharkey Co., MS). Thomas and Cora may have died in MS sometime between 1910 and 1920. Their children and grandchildren resided in MS for some time and some eventually migrated to Tennessee, Michigan, and Missouri.