William Henry Knight

Looking again at the baptism entry for Thomas, son of William at Ford, William is cited as a Salt Officer of Ford. Seemingly in those days, refined salt was a taxable commodity. On another baptism record for another child he is said to be a farmer at Linthaugh. Finally, when his youngest Susan Hussey was baptised, he is cited as William Henry, Esq. So his status improved over time! In that period the term esquire denoted a man of means. On the Hodgson MSS pedigree he is said to be in the excise of John, Lord Delaval but what these payments were for, I do not yet know. In copy letters from William to his sister Susanna (now Lady Delaval after 1803) William repeatedly thanks Lord Delaval for his payment.