Gavin Howe
Newton Knight, a poor white farmer who led an uprising during the Civil War, was the common-law husband of Rachel Knight, a former slave of his grandfather's. Rachel Knight was born in 1840 and had two children, Rosetta and George Ann, before being purchased by John Jackie Knight, one of Jones County's largest slaveholders, in 1856. She gave birth to a son named Jeffrey, who was fathered by Jesse Davis Knight, John Jackie Knight's son, in 1858. After the Civil War, she and Newton Knight, who was previously married to Serena Turner, had five children together.
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What You'll Learn
Rachel Knight's life
Rachel Knight (1840 - 1889) was the African-American common-law wife of Newton Knight. Rachel was born into slavery in Georgia to parents named Abraham and Viney. She was described as a 'Guinea Negro', meaning she was racially mixed but did not look white, nor was she light-skinned. She had shoulder-length hair, which was described as 'nice' and not kinky.
By the time she was sixteen, Rachel had given birth to two children, Rosetta and George Ann, whose father is unknown. In 1856, she was purchased by John "Jackie" Knight, one of "Jones County's largest slaveholders". Two years later, in 1858, she gave birth to a son named Jeffrey, fathered by Jesse Davis Knight, John "Jackie" Knight's son.
After the Civil War, Rachel helped Newton Knight, John "Jackie" Knight's grandson, evade capture by Confederate forces after his desertion from the army. Newton and Rachel had two children together, Martha Ann, born in 1865, and John Stewart, born in 1868. Newton was initially married to Serena Turner, with whom he had nine children, but they eventually separated, and he entered a common-law marriage with Rachel, proudly claiming their mixed-race children. The couple caused a scandal, and their children, known as the "Knight Negroes", were shunned by both white and black communities.
Rachel was baptised into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1881. She was buried in the Knight family cemetery, one of the few interracial cemeteries in the state. Her descendants, known as the "white Negroes" of Mississippi due to their light skin colour and straight hair, fled to other states in the 1920s and 1930s to start new lives, taking advantage of opportunities unavailable to African Americans at the time.
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Newton Knight's life
Newton Knight was a white farmer and soldier who served in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Born in 1837 in North Carolina, Knight moved to Mississippi with his family as a child. He grew up in a region dominated by small farmers and slaves, and his family owned a few slaves themselves. However, Knight developed strong anti-secessionist and anti-slavery views, which put him at odds with the Confederate cause.
During the war, Knight served reluctantly in the Confederate Army but deserted in 1862 after experiencing the harsh realities of war and witnessing the suffering of slaves. He returned home and became a prominent leader of a group of deserters and escaped slaves known as the Knight Company. They sought refuge in the swamps of Jones County, Mississippi, and established a community that challenged Confederate authority and offered protection to those fleeing slavery.
Knight's group, known as the "Free State of Jones," declared their independence from the Confederacy and established their own form of government. They resisted Confederate authorities, raided supply lines, and provided aid to Union soldiers. Knight himself was known for his bravery and tactical skills, leading his group in guerilla-style attacks against Confederate targets.
In his personal life, Newton Knight had complex relationships. He was married to Serena Turner, but their marriage was strained due to his anti-Confederate activities and frequent absences. While living in the "Free State of Jones," Knight entered into a common-law marriage with Rachel, a formerly enslaved woman who had sought refuge in their community. Rachel was born around 1840, but her exact birth date is unknown. She was likely in her early to mid-twenties when she and Newton began their relationship.
Together, Newton and Rachel had several children, blending their families in a time and place where such unions were forbidden by law and societal norms. Their relationship was a testament to their shared beliefs in equality and freedom. After the war, Knight continued to face legal troubles due to his activities during the conflict and his association with Rachel. He was arrested and charged with treason but was eventually acquitted.
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Knight family's racial identity
Rachel Knight (1840-1889) was the African-American common-law wife of Newton Knight (1829-1922). Rachel was born into slavery and was described as a 'Guinea Negro', meaning she was racially mixed but did not look white, nor was she light-skinned. She had "nice hair" that was not kinky and was shoulder-length, similar to Australian Aborigines.
Rachel and Newton had five children together, and Newton also fathered nine children with his white wife, Serena Turner. The two families lived separately on the same 160-acre farm. After Newton and Serena separated, Newton entered a common-law marriage with Rachel and proudly claimed their mixed-race children. The children were known as the "Knight Negroes" and were shunned by both white and Black communities. As a result, they married within their families, with some of Newton's children by Serena marrying some of Rachel's children by other men.
Rachel's descendants with Newton grew to be known as the "white Negroes" of Mississippi due to their light skin colour and straight hair. Most of Rachel's later descendants were white-passing, and they fled to other states in the 1920s and 1930s to enjoy opportunities unavailable to African Americans at the time. For example, one of Rachel's great-grandsons, Davis Knight, married Junie Lee Spradley, a white woman, in 1946. When Davis was charged with violating the Mississippi state constitution that outlawed interracial marriages, he asserted his white identity, claiming that his wife believed him to be white and that his Navy records listed him as such.
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Knight family cemetery
Rachel Knight (1840-1889) was the common-law wife of Newton Knight. She was buried in the Knight family cemetery—one of the few interracial cemeteries in the state. Newton was buried beside her later on. The Knight family, mothered by Rachel, became known as the "white Negroes" of Mississippi due to their light skin colour and straight hair.
Rachel Knight was born into slavery in Georgia to parents named Abraham and Viney. She was described as a 'Guinea Negro', meaning she was racially mixed but did not look white nor was she light-skinned. However, she had "nice hair" that was not kinky and was shoulder-length, similar to Australian Aborigines. At the age of sixteen, she was purchased by John "Jackie" Knight, one of "Jones County's largest slaveholders". Before this, she had already given birth to two children, Rosetta and George Ann, whose father is unknown. In 1858, she gave birth to a son named Jeffrey, fathered by Jesse Davis Knight, John "Jackie" Knight's son.
After the Civil War, Rachel helped Newton Knight, John "Jackie" Knight's grandson, evade capture by Confederate forces after his desertion from the army. Newton Knight, a poor white farmer, led an extraordinary rebellion during the Civil War. He waged guerrilla warfare against the Confederacy and declared loyalty to the Union. Together, Newton and Rachel had five children, including Martha Ann and John Stewart. Newton also had nine children with his white wife, Serena Turner. The two families lived in different houses on the same 160-acre farm. After he separated from Serena, Newton entered a common-law marriage with Rachel and proudly claimed their mixed-race children.
The Knight children, known as the "Knight Negroes", were shunned by both whites and blacks. They were unable to find marriage partners in the community, so they started marrying their white cousins. For instance, Newt's son Mat married one of Rachel's daughters by another man, and Newt's daughter Molly married one of Rachel's sons. An interracial community began to form near the small town of Soso and continued to marry within itself.
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The film 'Free State of Jones'
The 2016 film Free State of Jones is based on the true story of Newton Knight, a poor white farmer from Mississippi who led a rebellion during the Civil War. Knight waged guerrilla warfare against the Confederacy and declared loyalty to the Union, an act now regarded as unthinkable by many Southerners.
The film portrays Knight's relationship with Rachel Knight, his grandfather's former slave. Rachel was born in 1840 in Georgia and was purchased at the age of sixteen by John "Jackie" Knight, one of the largest slaveholders in Jones County. She gave birth to two children, Rosetta and George Ann, before being sold to Jesse Davis Knight, John's son, with whom she had a son named Jeffrey. After the Civil War, Rachel and Newton Knight entered into a common-law marriage and had five children together. Newton also had nine children with his white wife, Serena Turner, and the two families lived separately on the same 160-acre farm.
The interracial community that formed near the town of Soso faced ostracism from both white and black communities. As a result, the Knight children, known as the "Knight Negroes", began marrying their white cousins. This led to the formation of an interracial community that continued to marry within itself.
The film received criticism from some, such as John Cox, a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, who took issue with its historical treatment of Newt Knight. Cox produced a film called Free State of Jones: The Republic That Never Was, intending to refute Gary Ross' film.
The story of Newton and Rachel Knight is a remarkable one, challenging the social norms and racial prejudices of their time. The film Free State of Jones brings their story to a wider audience, sparking discussions and debates about its historical accuracy and the complexities of race relations in America.
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Frequently asked questions
Newton Knight's common-law wife, Rachel Knight, was born in 1840 and passed away on February 11, 1889.
Newton Knight was a poor white farmer who led a rebellion during the Civil War.
Rachel Knight was born into slavery to parents named Abraham and Viney. She was sixteen when she was purchased by John "Jackie" Knight, one of "Jones County's largest slaveholders".
After the Civil War, Knight took up with his grandfather's former slave, Rachel.
Yes, Knight and Rachel had five children together. Knight also fathered nine children with his white wife, Serena.
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