Charles Knight (1808-1888) was born at Badsey in 1808, the second of four children of Joseph Knight, a farmer, and his wife, Sarah. He was baptised at St James’ Church, Badsey, on 6th November 1808.
Charles was still living in Badsey in 1841 with his father and younger brother, William. They farmed at Parsonage Farm (also known as Glebe Farm, demolished in the 20th century). After the death of their father in 1843, Charles and William, inherited two of the four former poor law cottages which Joseph Knight had bought in 1837, which they then sold. Three years after their father’s death, they decided to leave the farm, and auctioned off their crops on 24th July 1846.
Charles married Anne Mary Bishop at Badsey in 1849; they had no children. In 1851 they were living at Cropthorne where Charles was described as a farmer. Anne died in November 1851 and was buried at Badsey. In July 1852, Charles married Elizabeth Dingley at Cropthorne. They had three children: Rosa Bessie (1853-1869), Susan M (1854-?) and Herbert (1863-?).
On 10th March 1884, Charles, Elizabeth and Susan arrived in New York having set sail from Liverpool; Herbert also emigrated to the America. They were following in the wake of Charles’ nephews, William and Thomas Knight (sons of his older brother, Robert, who had emigrated in 1868 and 1874 respectively, at a time when several other Badsey families were also emigrating), and settled as they did, in the state of Ohio.
Four years after arriving in the States, Charles died at Troy, Geauga County, Ohio, on 8th August 1888, aged 80.