Sex
Male
Status
Deceased
Am looking for any information on Francis Parkman Knight (1831-1880), an American Consulate officer stationed in Newchwang, China in 1862 and died in Shanghai. I am trying to determine if he is the father of Yuk-Hing Lai (1870-1945), the 2nd wife of Sir Ho Kai (1859-1914).
He had a son named Kennitt Stephen Knight.
Kennitt had a son name Thomas Leonard Knight.
Thomas had a son named David Francis Knight (1933- ) born in HK, interned there during WWII.
I am a descendant of Yuk-Hing Lai and Ho Kai and am hoping to flesh out some family history.
Any leads to available resources - birth, school, marriage, tax or death records - would be appreciated.
Thank you.
Alfred Wen
Comments
From Carl Smith cards at the PRO
KENNETH STEPHEN KNIGHT; DIOCESAN SCHOOL 1893; 1909
Passenger list
Sister A.J. Denning of Nottingham, England
Directory and Chronicle 1903 & 1904
Directory and Chronicle 1903 & 1904
Postmaster, Imperial Chinese Post Office — K. S. Knight
Weihaiwei
Carl Smith cards at the PRO
Annalise,
Thank you for the information on Kenneth Stephen Knight and Thomas Leonard Knight. To help me understand the information, could you tell me what the "Carl Smith cards at the PRO" refer to? Where can I find out what the dates refer to - employment, deaths, divorce, etc.?
Do you know if the records of the Diocesan School or the Post Office internet searchable?
This has been invaluable to me as leads.
Thank you again.
Alfred Wen
Another Possibility
Another Possibility
Photo of T.L. Knight, 1931, Water Polo League Winners, Victoria Recreation Club
https://books.google.com/books?id=Y45FBAAAQBAJ&lpg=PA12&ots=0IMM9BnC1D&…
Directory and Chronicle 1912
https://books.google.com/books?id=o4tEAQAAMAAJ&lpg=PA1142&ots=dS7Vz5cif…
I've been in touch with your cousin via Geni.com who told me you had posted here. Perhaps we can all chat together.
re: Carl Smith cards at the PRO
You can find more information about the Carl Smith Collection and other online resources at the page: How to research people who lived in Hong Kong
Google search of "knight & Co." China - and - F.P. Knight China
"F. P. Knight" North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 1874
non resident member
https://books.google.com/books?id=OaXTp2Q88I0C&pg=PR11&lpg=PR11&dq=%22f…
---------------
F. P. Knight, His suggestion to establish a Chinese professorship at Harvard.
Through the influence of Mr. F. P. Knight and Mr. E. B. Drew, both of whom knew him in China, he was, in 1879, appointed instructor in Chinese in Harvard
Mr. F. P. Knight, a resident of China, has collected $10,000 to support, for three years, two Chinese instructors at Harvard, who are to fit young men for positions in China.
-------------------
http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/~bak00215
Baker Library Special Collections, Harvard Business School, Harvard University
J. J. Bandinel
Englishman J. Bandinel joined Knight & Co in 1876. That year Knight went to the US as part of the Chinese Maritime Customs delegation to the Philidelphia Exposition. Knight stayed in the US for two years returning after his father died in 1878
1st May, Knight 1879 left the partnership, but retained his liability for his part of the very large existing debt. Knight was in Shanghai as the court appointed receiver of the massive estate of the late Edwin Maurice Smith.
Bandinel renamed it, "Knight, Bandinel & Co." but his shady business practices caught up with him and in 1880 his creditors had the court declare him a bankrupt so they could further inspect his books, instead of just letting him liquidate the firm.
https://ourfamily63.wordpress.com/2018/04/17/forced-bankruptcy-of-james…
Will
Middlesex County, Massachusetts Probate Index, 1871-1909 (Part A-K)
Story - p439
Story - p439
Doctor tells of a skirmish and an operation with Knight assisting
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5332736/pdf/edinbmedj73956…
Francis Parkman Knight
Thank you, Annelise, for the story! Will pass the interesting first person account of an ancestor in action.
The London and China Telegraph: their version of the story
An even more colorful account:
" in the momentary expectation of the Chinese attacking the foreign quarter, their avowed intention being to sack and burn the American Consulate, knowing that there were some 50 chests of opium stored there. "
https://books.google.com/books?id=A6xNAAAAcAAJ&dq=new%20chwang%20%22mr…
The Mandarin and Knight's own version
It became quite the to-do.
https://books.google.com/books?id=p1JHAQAAIAAJ&dq=new%20chwang%20%22mr…
Tireless! Thank you again.
Tireless! Thank you again. Starting to paint quite a picture of FPK.
Think you’ll eventually find documentary evidence to connect FPK with Kenneth Stephen Knight and Lily Yuk-Hing Lai, his (alleged) children?
Your generousity of time and effort is much appreciated.
The key is whether in his
The key is whether in his will, probated in 1882, he listed the names of his children and their mother. His father Mannassah explicitly left inheritances to all the (unnamed) grandchildren living when he died in 1878, so FPK’s will is key.
Call the Middlesex county clerk and ask their procedures of how you can get a copy.
(781) 939-2700
Thank you once again. Will
Thank you once again. Will contact county clerk to see if we can get a copy.
Alfred
Draft Timeline for Frank's life
Draft timeline of Francis Parkman Knight's (Frank) life.
1860
1862
1865
Setting up shop in Asia - Newchwang, China - Knight & Co.
appointed American Consul in Newchwang
brother Albert comes to live and work with Frank in Newchwang
1872
brother Albert returns to US
son Kenneth born
daughter Lily born
1876
takes Bandinel as partner
Philadelphia Exposition, 2 years in US
1879
Frank exits Knight & Co (retaining past debts)
Frank moves to Shanghai
1880
Bandinel delclared bankrupt
Frank's past debts are now due in full
Nov - Frank kills himself
Is this our Frank?
San Francisco, Jan. 16, 1860.
We are to leave here on Saturday or Sunday for Japan.
M and myself go over with Mr. Frank Knight, of Boston, who has chartered the barque What Cheer, of four or five hundred tons, with remarkably fine accommodations for passengers. Mr. Knight came from there only six weeks ago, and expects to establish a commercial house at Kanagawa. This is only a few miles from Jeddo, which place we hope to be able to visit; but this is extremely doubtful. A steamer runs from Kanagawa to Shanghai,and we expect to go to China on her. T has not yet arrived, and we shall probably not see him; we have been here much longer than we intended.
Source: Memorial of Pickering Dodge Allen By John Fisk Allen
Francis Parkman Knight
Time line looks correct. Hopefully documented information will emerge regarding his children and their mother(s).
Thanks, Annelise, for your interest and help.
Did brother Albert go to set up shop too?
New Chwang, Albert M. Knight. "
General Convention of the New Jerusalem in the United States of America
Otis Clapp, 1860
The Knights
Hi Alfred, my grandfather was TL Knight's brother, John Knight. Lai Yuk-Hing have 7 siblings and my great grandfather was the older brother of Lai Yuk-Hing, but his full name was a mystery. It was believed to be Kam Shing Knight or 黎金成. I am interested in your source of information of Kennitt Stephen Knight and wondering whether he and KS Knight was same person. Do you have any evidence to conclude Kennitt Stephen Knight was the son of Francis Parkman Knight? I could not find any evidence of Francis Parkman Knight ever lived in HK. Since you are a descendant of Yuk_Hing Lai, would you by any chance related to Wilma Ho?
Looking forward to your comment.
Daisy Knight
Hi Daisy
Hi Daisy
Do you know anyone in Hong Kong that can go to the public records office in Kwun Tong and look at the Carl Smith cards?
Francis Parkman Knight never lived in Hong Kong but the Carl Smith records show a Kenneth Stephen Knight at the Diocesan School in Hong Kong . It was common for Shanghai western men to send their mixed race children to Hong Kong for schooling.
What was the family connection to the London Missionary Society and the To Tsai - Hop Yat Church ?
Thanks, Annelise
p.s. if you would like to help fill out the family tree with the names of the siblings please see what we have done so far. You can just join Geni and add the names yourself.
https://www.geni.com/family-tree/index/6000000021951178870#600000002195…
Hi Daisy,
Hi Daisy,
I replied earlier but do not see it on this thread.
It is very exciting to hear from you! What initiated my interest in the Knights was the family story that my great-grandmother's (Lai Yuk-Hing) father was an American consul named Knight. A DNA test matched me with an Australian named Stephen Knight who shared his family's connection to HK and the American consul Francis Parkman Knight. Thomas Leonard Knight is Stephen's grandfather and a KS Knight is his great-grandfather.
He was also unclear as to KS Knight's given name - Kennett, Kennitt or Kenneth Stephen. "Kam-Shing" could certainly be anglicized to "Ken - something".
Unfortunately I do not know Wilma Ho. In fact, I know only 3 of Lai Yuk-Hing and Ho Kai's descendants - Arnold Hall (their grandson); the descendants of my maternal grandparents Alice Ho (Yuk-Hing's daughter) and Herbert To; and the descendants of another daughter (whose name I cannot find) with CC Wu.
My uncle's wife, Ivy To, says she visits the Knight relatives whenever she visits HK, but she didn't know their English names. Is it you?
I would be happy to share more information with you as I find more. Annelise Connell, who I met through Gwulo several years ago on another research project, has been invaluable helping me locate more information.
I will let Stephen know I heard from you. He was not aware that he had any relatives in HK.
If you wish, contact me outside the forum at aywen@ksaarchitects.com so I can pass along your contact information to Stephen.
Thanks for reponding to my query about Francis Parkman Knight.
Alfred Wen
The Knights
Hi Alfred, my family live in AUS but I live in HK. We will contact you separately for Stephen Knight's contact. I don't know of any Ivy To, but am interested to know who are the Knights that she has been in contact. They may be the offsprings of Lai Yuk-Hing's other siblings. Wilma Ho was the descendent of one of Ho Kai's son. I first met her about 14 years ago, her old uncle (in Canada) told her that Lai Yuk-Hing's dad was an American missionary. But I could not find any evidence to support such claim. Sir Ho Kai's father, the Reverend Ho Fuk-tong, was a well-known Anglican preacher for the London Missionary Society and founder of Church of Christ in China (HKCCC) and I think the Hop Yat Church is associated with CCC.
Daisy Knight
Hi Annelise
I can visit the public records office in Kwun Tong and look at the Carl Smith cards. But what exactly is "Carl Smith cards"? I am still doubtful that Kenneth Stephen Knight is related to Francis Parkman Knight.
Daisy Knight
Carl Smith cards
Index cards that have been digitised. Here is an explanation
https://gwulo.com/node/8211
Hi Daisy,
Hi Daisy,
I am trying to establish a documentary link to FP Knight as well.
There was another Knight in China at the same time with the Chinese Customs Service (1862) named J. Sparrow Knight. Does that name mean anything?
FP Knight’s brother Albert Maynard Knight came to stay with him in China for about 6 years, became a Sinophile, and could have fathered some children. Is his name familiar with anyone in your family?
Thanks for engaging in this search.
Alfred Wen
Lai Kam-Fat
Lucy (Knight) Ozorio - SCMP 8
Lady Ho Kai - 60th birthday -
Lucy Knight Ozorio and Lady Ho Kai
Annelise,
Thank you for the articles on Lucy Knight Ozorio and her sister Lily Lai Ho.
Fleshing out their lives.
Best,
Alfred
Lai Kam Fat’s dog - SCMP - 5
Familysearch
There are additional images eg death certificate on familysearch. Free website. He is person LTMG-FJ7 but just put his name. You should be able to see other relatives from there. Obviously they would like your additional info too!
Knight or Lay
Hi Alfred, Daisy
my great grand dad was Mr. Lay Kam Fat
i m currently in HK and we have a big Lay’s family
we are interested to find out more about our old history
Ronny
Hi Ronny
Have you gotten in touch with family yet ? We had a small gathering last night.
Francis Parkman Knight…
Francis Parkman Knight inquest and death -
North-China Herald and Supreme Court & Consular Gazette,
Nov 11, 1880.pdf
https://media.geni.com/p13/8f/2b/26/9a/534448489906b47c/francis_parkman…