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VALENTINE KNIGHT 07,55-63 (1792)
Born 1792
1 17194F
alentine,
the son of Valentine and Mary Knight, was born in 1792. His family was
researched by Alexandra Knight1, a great-great-great-grand-daughter,
and her story is given below:
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The Knight Family
1821: He became a Freeman of the Goldsmith's Hall
1823: married daughter of a watch-case maker.
Children: Valentine, Elizabeth, William.
Valentine Knight was born in 1792 (baptised 1 January 1793) in London. Very
little is known about his early life until 5 December 1821 when he became a
Freeman of the Goldsmith's Hall by Patrimony. On 13 December 1823 he married
Elizabeth Watson, the daughter of William Watson a watch-case maker of
Clerkenwell, at St.James, Clerkenwell. Their first son, Valentine Catherwood
Knight, was baptised on 26 January 1825; he was followed in 1826 by Elizabeth
Knight (baptised 14 August 1826) and in 1828 by William Watson Knight (baptised
8 February 1828).
Became a goldsmith specialising in Engine Turning
His obituary in the Horological Journal recounts how he was renowned for the quality of his work and for his character.
At this time the family was living at 4 Newcastle Place, Clerkenwell Close
where Valentine had recently set up as a goldsmith specialising in engine
turning, a process for producing symmetrically patterned engravings. He found a
substantial demand for engraved gold and silver dials for clocks and watches
and pursued this line of business in particular. The business flourished due to
Valentine's dedication and the high quality of his work. His obituary in the
Horological Journal of 1 December, 1867 reproduced below, reviews his life and
work:
Memoir of Valentine Knight
With deep regret it becomes our sad duty to record the death of Valentine
Knight Esq., President of the British Horological Institute, which happened on
the 17th November, 1867, at his residence, Thornycroft, Leatherhead, in
Middlesex. He was in his 75th year, but until lately was hale and active,
having a much younger appearance.
Burr became a partner in 1842
Valentine Knight was essentially a self-made man. The scene of his earliest life was in Newcastle Place, Clerkenwell Close, where for many years he conducted a flourishing business as gold and silver dial-maker and engine-turner. For some years before quitting the business, he joined partnership with Mr Burr. He was renowned for the style and excellence of his work in the palmier days of watch making, particularly for his success in the color of his dials. At the annual dinner of the Institute in 1863, he said of himself, in the genial manner peculiar to him :-
He retired in 1851 at
the age of 59
He was a director of Mutual Life Assurance Society at least by 1847
"I have always felt a deep interest in the welfare of Clerkenwell, and
I hope I shall always continue to do so. At an early age I set up in business
in it, in the engine-turning and gold-dial departments. I happened to have a
very lucky rise. I chanced to make an article in the gold line, such as I
believe I may say with truth was equalled by no other person. When Americans
came to Coventry or London to give orders for watches, they almost always
insisted upon having Knight's dials. That was a very great advantage to me. To
a certain extent I was a child of fortune. I succeeded much beyond my
expectations. During many years I worked sixteen and eighteen hours a day, and
sometimes all night. Such an enormous business I was sure could not last, and I
therefore thought it better to make hay while the sun was shining. I did so,
and at a comparatively early age was enabled to retire from business."
His retirement from the business in Clerkenwell, only however necessitated
employment in other affairs for a mind so active and a head so clear as his.
He was one of the earliest directors of the Mutual Life Assurance Society, a flourishing association, which was the first (excepting the Amicable) to raise its claims to public support on purely mutual principles. Having its origin among Clerkenwell supporters, it is gratifying to know, the Mutual is one of the solidist institutions discharging the important functions of Life Assurance. Mr Knight's business habits led him to take a very active interest in those great works of modern times, railways, and his voice was often effectively raised at their public meetings against prodigal expenditure. After giving up his trade pursuits, Mr Knight filled for some years the office of Magistrate for Middlesex. He was elected to, and liberally and worthily discharged the duties of President to several trade institutions.
In 1858 he chaired a meeting to set up the British Horological Institue, becoming its first president
He was President of the Watch and Clock Makers' Asylum, to which he
contributed generously. He was intimately associated with the Horological
Institute from its very beginning, having been called upon by the Preliminary
Committee to preside over the public meetings which they had called, and which
took place at the "Belvidere Tavern," Pentonville, on the 15th June,
1858, having for its object the founding of the Institute. To that call he
responded, and by his capital ability as chairman, and by starting a
subscription list with his own cheque for ten guineas, he made an acknowledged
success of that first effort.
When the institute had been organised, Mr Knight was unamimously elected to
the honorable post of President, to which he has been year by year unanimously
re-elected ever since. His lamented decease causes the first vacancy in the
presidentship.
At the Inaugural Dinner of the Institute, he said, "Other countries
might have carried the science of horology to a great extent, but it would be a
disgrace to Clerkenwell to be second to any nation under the face of the sun in
that art." And he invariably insisted upon the claims of the Institute,
not only upon the trade, but the public also. "He pronounced the Institute
to be an association which was wanted for the honor of the country and the
trade, to enable it to flourish as it ought to do; and he was sure that through
its means, watchmaking would prosper. Although he considered himself an
outsider of the trade, he should be happy at all times to give all the
assistance to it which lay in his power, not only by personal attendance at its
meetings, but by subscribing to its funds, and assisting it in causing it to
prosper to the extend which it so highly deserved. He felt deeply interested in
horology, and had a high respect for every man connected with it, and should
always feel pleasure in meeting them upon such happy and convivial
occasions." How faithfully he bore in mind and acted upon his promise,
never swerving or becoming lukewarm, is well known to the members.
In January 1865 he led a Horological Institute deputation to the Goldsmith's Hall concerning injuries wrought upon fine gold work by the stamping of hallmarks and the high charges imposed.
During his presidency, the British Horological Institute has been greatly
indebted to him; firstly, for his great attention to the duties of his office,
secondly, for his warm advocacy of the claims of the Institue to public
support, but above all, for the great influence he possessed with all connected
with horology whether immediately or remotely, this influence being constantly
exerted to expand the Institute and its funds, while few could withstand the
solicitations of one so generally beloved.
His social position was eminently conducive to the success of his kind intentions. He had retired from business in Clerkenwell long enough to prevent even the memory of trade jealousy to remain, even if he had ever exhibited any, which is very doubtful, for he was personally of an excellent presence, a very amiable temper, and possessed of a manner well calculated to endear him to those with whom he was brought into contact. He was, without exception, the most liberal supporter of the Institute, took the warmest interest in it, and made it a point of honor and duty to assist whenever his services were required, or he could aid it by his influence. Whenever it was necessary to confer with him, upon the affairs of the Institute, he was always a ready listener, and from his great and varied experience, and good judgement, he was an excellent counsellor.
At the anniversary dinner in 1861, he stated modestly, but how truthfully
his conduct has always shown; "I shall never deem it a condescension on my
part to do what I possibly can to promote the interests of any society which
tends to the welfare of the parish of Clerkenwell, and more particularly to the
watch trade. Having spent many years of my life within that district, and
having taken some money out of it, I should be ashamed of myself if I looked
back without having a feeling of kindness and good fellowship towards those
with whom I was formerly associated; and until the last day of my life I assure
you that I shall have very great pleasure in forwarding the interests of all
the societies connected with the parish."
At the anniversary dinner which took place this year he said he was fast
getting into the sere and yellow leaf, but as long as he lived and could appear
before the members of the Horological Institute, nothing would give him greater
pleasure.
Those who heard these words little thought how soon he who uttered them
would be lost to them. Peace be with him! Clerkenwell will long remember him,
self-made men, yea all men, might well have imitated his happy disposition, and
geniality of character.
By 1843 he had a much larger family:
By 1843 Valentine had a much larger family with John Watson (born 10 March,
1830), Anthony (born 24 October 1831), Frederick (baptised 4 March, 1834),
Charlotte Russell (baptised 13 May 1836), Katherine (baptised 6 December,
1838), Henry (born 13 June, 1841) and Alice Mary (born 27 July, 1843).
Valentine sent two of his sons to Oxford University:
Valentine Catherwood matriculated to University College in 1844, graduating
in 1848. He was called to the bar, Inner Temple, in 1850, and later became
curate at Pucklechurch, near Bristol. He died in 1876 near Boulogne, France.
Valentine's sixth son, Henry, matriculated to Brasenose College in 1860.
His various homes.
Before his retirement in 1851, the family had moved to number 3 Cornwall
Terrace on the Outer Circle of Regents' Park, near the top of Baker Street.
They later moved to Thorncroft, an elegant country manor, built in the 1770's,
on the outskirts of Leatherhead, then in the county of Middlesex, but now in
Surrey. There had been a house on this site since before Domesday and it held
one of the two Manorial Courts in the area. The house still stands today but is
used as offices.
The marriage of his children
Of the daughters, Elizabeth married William Atkinson Langdale in 1857.
Charlotte married William Hill, later Lieutenant-General of H.M. 2nd West India
Regiment. Katharine married Arthur Drinkwater Bethune Chapman; a Colonel
Drinkwater Bethune once owned Thorncroft in the mid-eighteenth century. Alice
married the Reverend Henry Vincent Shortland.
Died 1867
Valentine died on 17 November 1867 at Thorncroft at the age of 74. He was
buried at Highgate cemetery with his father-in-law William Watson, who had died
on 25 November 1857. Valentine had hoped that the family would keep and
use Thorncroft but his widow, Elizabeth, sold the estate and moved to a house
called Glenthorne in Eastbourne. It was here that William Watson Knight, a
bachelor, died in 1893. His mother survived him for two more years, dying at
the remarkable age of 93.
Son Anthony became a solicitor, Married Letitia Hochee, emigrated to New Zealand.
Anthony Knight, fourth son of Valentine and Elizabeth, became a solicitor; his firm Humphreys and Knight, was established at 33 Spital Square and also at 40 Parliament Street, London. He subsequently married Letitia Charlotte Hochee in 1860. Soon after their marriage they emigrated to New Zealand, travelling in the
600 ton sailing ship Victoria, arriving there on 30 March 1862. They did not
return to England until both of their fathers had died.
Anthony's family
Whilst in New Zealand, Anthony and Letitia's first children were born. They
were Valentine Elphinstone (born 22 November 1862), Frederick William Anthony
(born 3rd August 1864), Kate Rosaline (born at Christchurch on 15 March 1866),
and Henry St.John (born 24 July 1867). Nothing else is known of their life in
New Zealand. The family left New Zealand on 8 March 1869 on the Gothenberg
bound for Australia and returned to England via Melbourne on the City of
Vienna, arriving home on 26 July 1869. Back home, Mary Georgina and Churchill
were born. Henry St.John was sent to boarding school in Arundel at the age of
four. In 1877 the family was living in Gill's Green near Hawkhurst in Kent.
They settled at number 2 Vanbrugh Terrace, Blackheath some time before 1890.
Anthony and Letitia both spent the rest of their lives there.
Frederick
Frederick worked for "Cable and Wireless" in Buenos Aires; he
married Mary Gerard and they lived at La Fosse, St.Martin's, Guernsey,
Churchill worked in China until he retired to Barnstaple. Both Kate and Mary
married members of the Rumble family.
Henry St.John
Henry St.John entered the Royal Engineers, eventually becoming a Major. In
1894 he married Ellen Theresa Glanvill and the following year they had a son,
Anthony Henry. Soon afterwards, Ellen became ill and, when she knew she was
dying, she asked her husband's cousin, Mary Emily Pocock, to look after her
young son.
Henry St.John and Mary Emily were married at St.Peter's, Brighton, in 1901.
Their first child, Edith, died in infancy, and they had two sons, Ernest
St.John and William Crawford. Mary Emily died in March 1943 and was buried at
Brighton with her parents. Henry St.John remarried, his third wife being Susie
Turrell. They had three sons: Percy Allan, Graham Frederick and John Watson.
Henry St.John died in 1951 and is buried at Eastleigh, near Southampton.
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Details of Valentine's grave
2 17033F
Details of the grave of Valentine and his wife in Highgate cemetery, London
are given below:
Owner of grave: William Odling 2/12/1857. Original cost £21. Size 9 feet by
6 feet 6 inches. Occupants with date of burial: William Watson [1857];
Valentine V. Langdale [1860]; Frederick Knight [1864]; Valentine Knight
[1867]; Florence A. Langdale [1870]; George Odling [1872]; Mary Odling
[5/6/1884]; Elizabeth Knight [15/3/1895].
In 1989 Brenda Rohl2 visited Highgate cemetery, and gave the
following description:
Highgate cemetery is the most amazing place; very Victorian!! I had to walk up the "Egyptian Avenue" and around the "Circle of Lebanon" where the crypts are. The poor Knights seem like the paupers on the block!! The grave is mottled brown marble and is only about knee height.
There are three separate inscriptions on the grave. These are:
1. "Sacred to the memory of William Watson Died Nov 25th 1857
Aged 84 Years"
2. "In loving memory of George Odling Died April 26th 1872
Aged 77 Years.
Also Mary Ann Odling wife of above Died May 31st 1884
Aged 84 Years"
3. "In loving memory of Valentine Knight Died Nov 17th 1867
in his 75th Year
Also of Elizabeth Knight wife of above Died March 10th
1895 Aged 93 years
Also of Frederick Knight of H.M. 69th Regt Son of above
Died June 8th 1864 Aged 30 years
Also of Valentine Vavasour(?) Langdale
Died March 1st 1860 Aged 3 months
And of Florence Ada Langdale Died July 29th 1870
Aged 11 years."