John McKnight was born is Lisburn,Antrim, Ireland in 1730, married Margaret McClellan (1731-1801)in Antrim in 1752. Their family was part of a large group of Covenanter Presbyterians who followed an emigration led by the Reverend William Martin in 1772. The Rev. Martin was the only Covenanter minister in counties Down and Antrim at that time a call came from South Carolina for a minister who was a Covenanter. He was responsible for five boats of Scotch-Irish Protestant immigrants that immigrated to the colonies. The Brigantine "Free Mason" sailed from Newry, Ireland on 27 Oct 1772 and landed on 22 Dec 1772; Captain was John Semple. John McKnight sailed aboard the "Free Mason"and is shown as receiving 350 acres. He was one of the few who paid for his land warrant, as most of the other passengers received "free lands" due to poverty/ age. Three of his daughters (Mary, Jane, and Margaret) did receive 1oo acres as a free warrant allotment, as they had attained an age of 16 years. His son, Robert McKnight, did not as he was a minor. He did inherit his father's lands as stipulated in John McKnight's probated will and testament.The 350 acres were not lived on by John McKnight, as he preferred lands he acquired in what was referred to as "Indian Lands, settling in current-day York County. John McKnight died in York County in 1789, and was quickly followed by his wife, Margaret. Her will was probated June 26, 1801 in York County.
John McKnight was born is Lisburn,Antrim, Ireland in 1730, married Margaret McClellan (1731-1801)in Antrim in 1752. Their family was part of a large group of Covenanter Presbyterians who followed an emigration led by the Reverend William Martin in 1772. The Rev. Martin was the only Covenanter minister in counties Down and Antrim at that time a call came from South Carolina for a minister who was a Covenanter. He was responsible for five boats of Scotch-Irish Protestant immigrants that immigrated to the colonies. The Brigantine "Free Mason" sailed from Newry, Ireland on 27 Oct 1772 and landed on 22 Dec 1772; Captain was John Semple. John McKnight sailed aboard the "Free Mason"and is shown as receiving 350 acres. He was one of the few who paid for his land warrant, as most of the other passengers received "free lands" due to poverty/ age. Three of his daughters (Mary, Jane, and Margaret) did receive 1oo acres as a free warrant allotment, as they had attained an age of 16 years. His son, Robert McKnight, did not as he was a minor. He did inherit his father's lands as stipulated in John McKnight's probated will and testament.The 350 acres were not lived on by John McKnight, as he preferred lands he acquired in what was referred to as "Indian Lands, settling in current-day York County. John McKnight died in York County in 1789, and was quickly followed by his wife, Margaret. Her will was probated June 26, 1801 in York County.
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