Individuals:
Joseph Knight
| GRAMPS ID | I0480 |
| Birth Name | Joseph Knight |
| Gender | male |
Events
| Birth | 7 November 1838 at Maidstone 1 |
| Occupation | None Recorded, 6 June 1841 2a |
| Occupation | Scholar, 30 March 1851 3a |
| Occupation | Farrier, 5 April 1891 4a |
| Death | Eastry v2a p1677, March 1922 |
Parents
| Father | Charles Knight [I0373] (Birth) |
| Mother | Elizabeth Davis [I0475] (Birth) |
| Siblings |
Families
| Married | Wife | ?? (Knight) [I1199] |
| Marriage | Marriage of Joseph Knight and ?? (Knight), June 1857 | |
| Children | ||
| Married | Wife | Emma (Knight) [I1200] |
| Children |
Addresses
| 7 November 1838 | Waterloo Lane, Maidstone, Kent, England 1 |
| 6 June 1841 | Waterloo Lane, Maidstone, Kent, England 2a |
| 30 March 1851 | Upper Stone Street, Maidstone, Kent, England 3a |
| 5 April 1891 | 5, Railway Terrace, Deal, Kent, England 4a |
Narrative
INDIAN MUTINY VETERAN'S DEATH.
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A Vigorous Nonagenarian.
By the death on Saturday evening of Mr. Joseph Knight of 5 Railway Terrace, Albert Road, Deal has lost the last of its Indian Mutiny veterans,and possibly its oldest inhabitant. When he went he to record his vote at the bye-election last January Mr.Knight stated to Pressmen and photographers that he had passed his 103rd year… Apparently, however, his memory in this respect was not quite accurate, for it appeared that he was born on the Kingsley Estate near Maidstone in October 1827, and accordingly he was in his 95th year.
So not a centenarian, Mr. Knight was nevertheless a wonderful man for the great age he had actually attained. Up to within a few weeks of his death he retained his physical vitality in an extraordinary degree, and was mentally keen to the end. For many years it was his custom to rise regularly at 4a.m. and till he finally took to his bed he worked in his own garden and did jobbing gardening work for others.
Mr. Knight certainly did not look anything like the age he attained. He was upright and soldierly in his bearing, and when speaking; to anyone his attitude still gave evidence that the Army training he had received in his youth had left ineradicably with him the instincts of discipline. To the last his fine constitution stood him in good stead, and no actual malady, but the natural decay of physical powers, delayed so long. came on somewhat rapidly at last, when the fine old veteran paid the debt to nature.
Mr. Knight was apprenticed. to a blacksmith; and on the 2nd January, 1856. he enlisted in the 9th Lancers as a farrier at Maidstone. ln October. 1858, he landed in India, serving with his regiment during the laters tages of the Indian Mutiny, in the campaign in Oude, a battle at which he was present particularly noted in his records being that of Khaundu Kote in January, 1859. For his services in this campaign he received the Indian Mutiny medal. Mr. Knight re-enlisted in the 1st (King's) Dragoon Guards at Canterbury on the 30th April, 1866. In February, 1879, he embarked for South Africa and again saw active service in the Zulu War, for which he received the medal with clasp. In September of the following year he proceeded once more to India, and continued to serve till the 11th May 1883, when, at Canterbury, he received his discharge counting 23 years 32 days towards pension. Mr. Knight attained the rank of Farrier Major. His papers record that he distinguished himself during the Indian Mutiny and in the Zulu campaign, for which as stated, he received medals.
Mr. Knight was twice married, first in 1857, at Maidstone. By his first wife, who died in 1881, he had 9 children. By his second wife, whom he married at age 18, he had 10 children. He was for some years a widow and his youngest daughter. Edith 15 years of age, acted as his housekeeper, taking the greatest care of her veteran father.
For many years Mr. knight had lived in Deal, and was engaged at his original occupation as a blacksmith. He also acted as a shepherd. He was an out-pensioner of Chelsea Hospital, and when the National Reserve was formed he set a good example by putting down his name. At the dinner of the St George Army Veterans’ Association the hale old veteran would delight the company by singing in original fashion, and with much vigour,a song of the Indian Mutiny. He was on parade with the other Mutiny veteran of Deal then living (Mr. Ben Whittaker) when the late Lord Kitchener reviewed the National Reserve at the South Barracks in September, 1912, the Field Marshal making a point of speaking to him as well as to other old soldiers wearing war medals.
In quite recent years Mr. Knight made himself a wheelbarrow, with which he was frequently seen shopping in Deal. He was practically a teetotaller and latterly had given up smoking. He was able to read all but very small print without the aid of glasses.
Source: Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury, Saturday, January 7th 1922