Original owner of the Bible was Cecilia Amey Ellis Knight, the daughter of Ambrose Ellis Jr. and Elizabeth Parham Herring. Her husband, Mathew Jouette Knight, gave the Bible to his son, J. A. E. Knight (Sr.) on the 4th day of June 1869, at the "Patton Place" in Bowie County, Texas. The Bible was later presented to John Ambrose Ellis Knight Jr. and then to his youngest daughter, Luna Fay Knight Albert.
The document itself comes from a Bible published in 1817 by M. Carey Son, No. 126, Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, and contains entries from 1822 to 1896.
Copies for this transcription were provided by Iva Lee Calley Riggs, granddaughter of John Ambrose Ellis Knight Jr.
Marriages
Matthew J. Knight Son of John and Fraces Knight, and Cicely A. Ellis daughter of Ambrose and Elizabeth Ellis was married by the Reverend Joel Johns the 30th day of Jany 1822.
Elizabeth S. H. Knight & H. Bagley was married on the 29th January 1849
Polly Ann Knight & Abner Maxey was married on Wednesday 1st day February 1832 by Silas Shelbourn
John W. Knight & Eliza D. Ellington was married 23rd February 1836
Hughes W. Knight & Mary Jane Armes was married 26th Apl 1836
Joseph S. Knight & Martha Ann Bauldwin was married the 1st day Feb 1836
Sherwood W. Knight and Martha Ann Williams was married the 23d August 1845
Births
Matthew J Knight son of John and Frances Knight ws born the 25th day of November 1798
Cecily Amey Ellis the Daughter of Ambrose and Elizabeth Ellis was born the 11th day of Feby 1804
8
Margaret Ann Prudence Knight daughter of M.J. & E.A. Knight was born the 23rd day of June 1838 -- on Saturday -- she only lived 29 days
1st Elizabeth Sarah Henry Knight daughter of Mathew J & Cecily A Knight was born 6th Feby 1823
2 Emma Frances Knight daughter of M J & C A Knight was born 23rd Octo 1824
3 Albert Hughes Knight Son of M J & C A Knight was born Thursday 26th Jany 1826
4th John Ambrose Ellis Knight son of W J & C A Knight was born Tuesday 5th August 1828
5th William Thompson Knight was born Thursday the 9th day of Sept 1830
6 Sherwood Macklin Knight was born 21st February 1833
7 Stephen M Knight was born Saturday 29th Augst 1835
Deaths
Albert Hughes Knight, our first born son, died on Monday night the 7th day of May 1832 at 9 o clock. he died of a putrid sore throat -- in his 7th year
To the dark & silent Tomb
(?...) he hastened from the womb
Scarce the dawn of life Began
E'en he measured out his span
Happy Infant early bles'd
Rest, in peaceful slumber (rest?)
Early rescued from those cares
That (increwed?) with growing years.
(in margin by above poem)
Oh! that the name of wife I n'er had (known?) and without Children to my grave I'd gone. --Aug
Five months have past since thou hast slept
Within thy comely bed
And many a time for thee I've wept,
And many a tear I've shed.
Can I forget thy winning smile
Thy mild exprefsive eye.
That oft have sooth'd my cares the while
And checked the rising sigh.
Oft when thou'd play around my knee,
I've prefsed my lips to thine,
And thy (sight?)heart from sorrow free
Has cheer'd the gloom of mine
But ah; that smile, that beaming eye,
And playfulness are o'er,
And I am doom'd to mourn and sigh
That thou art now no more
Beside thy (little grassy?) (bed?)
Where those so still dost sleep,
By memory & by sorrow (led?)
I'll oft return to weep.
But tho for thee my tears thus flow,
That still for thee I sigh,
I'm comforted for sure I know
Thou'rt with our God on high.
(in margin by above poem)
These (lines?) was written in Octo 1832 (rest illegible)
Deaths
of Blacks
Sally formerly belonging to Amby Ellis died at (Emkins? Erkins?) old place 23rd January 1832
-- of whites --
Capt. John Knight of Lunenburg, my dear old Father departed this life on Sunday 22nd of Apr 1838 - in his 66 year --
Cicelia A. Knight - the companion of my youth, departed this life on Sunday the 28th day of July 1839. She died in my absence to Norfolk.
Elizabeth S. H. Bagley departed this life 7th Sept. 1851
Frances H. Knight my mother departed this life the 18th of December 1851
Sherwood M. Knight my Son departed this life the 19th Feby. 1852
In margin: John Knight her father and Frances Knight her Mother
(Inserted page)
Mathew J. Knight died
Emma F. Kimbal Daughter of M. J. Knight
Stephen M. Knight Died Monday the 12th April 1886.
John Ambrose Ellis Knight Died April 30th 1894
Luna Fay
Blanche
(illegible name -- Gellencca?)
Ann Etta Knight Born the
Lillie May Knight Born the 16th April 1896
John Ambrose Ellis Knight - son of John Ambrose Ellis Knight Jr. was born Sept 16th (Thursday?) (7 or 9) o'clock (PM?) 1891
James Franklin Born March 29th Thursday at 4 o'clock A.M. 1894
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