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UK National Archives hold these documents.
- Supreme Court of Judicature and former Superior Courts: Central Office and predecessors: Documents Exhibited or Deposited in Court J 90/1535
- Cause: Wood v Boughton (1875 W.85) Correspondence of John Knight of Henley Hall Ludlow, SALOP with members of his family and others; and his photograph portrait. Deposited [1 Dec. 1876] by Theodore Thorowgood. Date range: 1849 - 1873.
- Source: The Catalogue of The National Archives
- Knight, John (1803-1872) of Henley Hall Shropshire 135558
- of Henley Hall Shropshire John Knight corresp with family etc
- Date range: 1803 - 1872.
- Source: National Register of Archives (NRA, local and private archives)
John Knight (married Catherine Leveson)
Letter Transcriptions
1849 from Frederick Winn Knight (cousin)
1871 Dec from James Knight (son)
1872 Jun from James Knight (son)
1872 May from James Knight (son)
Letter Originals
1849 from Frederick Winn Knight (cousin) -1- -2- -3- -4-
1871 Dec from James Knight (son) -1- -2- -3- -4-
1872 Jun from James Knight (son) -1- -2- -3-
1872 May from James Knight (son) -1- -2- -3-
Other Feature Pages
Humphrey's Black Box
Henley Hall
John Knight 1803-1872
April? 26th 1849
My dear John
On my return from Worcestershire I found that my brother Lewis had had an interview with you in which he had expressed a great affection for your daughter and a wish to marry her. I also understand that you had refused to give your consent of the match on account of the insufficiency of my brother's fortune, but I could not find that any explanation had been given you of what his incomes are likely to be.
My brother's fortune will be about £25,000 after my father's death.
His present income does not exceed £300 per annum, but if he commissions in the army it will be enough to keep a wife of Henrietta's economical habits in comfort, until his fortune improves. With respect to settlement, it is, I believe, frequently fixed at double the income of the wife's fortune. In this case, if you should reconsider the matter, I can only say that I will undertake to (?) (?) (?) settlement of £300 per annum for life. (?) you will consider this proposal uncle, as I sincerely attached to my brother. I know it to be impossible that your daughter could be married to a kinder or more honourable man. I believe him to have a strong affection for Henrietta. I can confidently (?) that he has never been engaged to be married to any other person.
If you will appoint any time that would suit you, I shall be happy to call upon you and (?) (?) any further particulars.
I am, John
(?) (?) (?)
F W Knight
A very interesting letter from Frederick Winn Knight, aged about 37 and about to get married himself.
John Knight's father (Thomas )was the younger brother of Frederick's father (John). So John and Frederick were cousins. John was a bit older than Fred and Henrietta was 19 years old. Lewis (Edward Lewis Knight) was 32.. So Lewis wanted to marry his cousin's daughter.
Frederick's letter was to no avail. Lewis married Elizabeth Harris of Canada 2 years later and had two sons. In 1854 Lewis's wife and two sons were lost at sea. (his wife's name was reported as Charlotte Mary)
Lewis married Henrietta Sanford in 1858. Another 4 children followed. Henrietta died in 1876. Lewis married finally Emma Butler.
He died in 1882.
Lewis did receive an army commission, a Captain.
22 December 1871
My dear Father
It is now so long since I have heard from you, and your last letter was such an angry one that I fear you will not much care to receive a letter from me.
However this may be I cannot allow this season of mutual congratulations to pass without offering you my best wishes for your health and that the coming year may be a happy one and followed by many others equally so.
My next wish is that before this time next year we may all be friends again, forgetting the past which has certainly not been a happy one and looking forward to a brighter future.
Do not I pay you reject my offer of reconciliation. I make it not in a selfish and interested spirit for I ask for nothing more than that Friendliness and affection subsist between a father and his children. Is this an impossibility. Why should these long years of estrangement be indefinitely prolonged, has so grave an offence been committed that this painful state of things should continue.
For my part it would be a source of great happiness if my words could effect a reconciliation between us all.
I do not think that I have any news that would prove of interest to you. John you are no doubt aware had ruptured another blood vessel last month, but when I saw him soon after I am very glad to say, he was very much better, in fact he looked healthier than I had seen him for a long time. Of Charles I have had no news for some months.
For myself I am still where I was several years ago and altho my work has considerably increased there has been no change in my position, nor does there appear any chance of improvement. The labour market is considerably overstockeded and numbers of men who are starving would be only too glad to find employment at a moderate salary. This must naturally be felt by those who are employed already and promotion with us has become nil of late years.
However I must be satisfied that it is no worse. I need not tell you my dear Father how glad I should be to hear from you, telling me how you are and that it is your wish also that bygones shall be bygones.
Your affectionate Son
James Knight
The first in a series of letters between James and his father John. John was to be dead within a year.
James refers to his two brothers, John and Charles. Their sister, Henrietta had been dead for ten years.
We know very little about brother John who died in 1878.
27 June 1872
My dear Father
Your letter received this morning has profoundly distressed me more particularly as I was not aware that you were even in indifferent health. I sincerely trust however that your fears may prove groundless and that you may yet be spared to us many years.
Have you got a good physician to attend you? I am afraid that in Ludlow the Doctors are indifferent and would think a London Doctor would do you more good. Could you not come and live here for a little time? Moreover you should not make up your mind that your case is so desperate one. With skillful treatment I believe Dropsy is curable.
The paper you sent me I now return after having taken a copy of it. It is perfectly in order and agrees with the former statement you sent me. The wording is in every respect sufficient and similar to that in the receipts we give to clients who deposit their securities in our hands.
I shall call upon Mrs Mansfield tonight and ask for the information you require. I do not think Aunt Maria died of Dropsy. If I remember right it was Bram Firn (?)
I should very much wish to run down and see you if you cared for my visit.
Meanwhile I must ask you to let me inform John (?) of your fears, for it is right that they should be informed that you are ill.
I hope my dear Father that your next will contain more hopeful intelligence and that you will let me know if there is any business I can attend to for you to ease your mind.
I have no time to more as it is post time and I have not had a moments time to write during the day.
With my sincerest wishes for your recovery I remain My dear Father
Your affectionate Son
James Knight
Mrs Mansfield is Henrietta Knight, John's sister. She was living in Chelsea at the time with her unmarried daughter Eleanora (1871 Census). Maria was a sister to Henrietta and John.
1st May 1872
My dear Father
I am happy to inform you that after a long search, I have at last obtained an appointment which will give me a better position and a larger income than I have ever enjoyed.
I shall on Monday next enter the House of Messrs I. S. Morgan (?) of (?) the former partners of the late Mr peabody at a commencing salary of £350 per annum.
I have now been eleven years in my present occupation but unfortunately my industry and perseverance were of little avail in obtaining promotion there being too many men at the House of longer standing and I saw clearly that my only chance of advancement was to seek employment elsewhere. I inform you of this at once as I am sure you will be glad to hear it.
I sincerely trust you continue in good health and that the fine weather which has at last appeared will enable you to resume your favorite outdoor occupations.
I should very much like to hear from yourself how you are but I fear this is more than I can expect.
Believe me
My dear Father
Your affectionate Son
James Knight
My address after Monday next will be 22 Old Broad Street
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