The IGI confirms that Tony's 25xGt G/father sat at the round table next to Lancelot.............OK, in our dreams!!
Despite being Tony's direct paternal line there was a lot of confusion as to the ancestry as recent as the second half of the 19th century. The problem was the appearance of the name "ROSS" in the family history as follows:
Gt Grandfather was "Thomas Ross KNIGHT" (marriage cert) but "Thomas Joseph KNIGHT also known as Ross" on his death registration. Between marriage and death, some children were baptised with the surname KNIGHT, some (including Tony's grandfather Harry) as ROSS and many - including the girls - with the middle name Ross! In the 1930's the electoral roll shows that Thomas (who was also known as Curly) changed the family surname to ROSS-KNIGHT........even the 2 children with the middle name Ross were shown on the roll as James Ross ROSS-KNIGHT & Kate Ross ROSS-KNIGHT!
(Above): Thomas Ross Knight (Tony's Great Grandfather)
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So what was the fascination with the name ROSS? ....did it really have anything to do with the family myth of Maori ancestors?
Thomas's father was James KNIGHT,canalboatman and his mothers Mary Ann ROSS of Glover Street, Birmingham. So Thomas was the illegitimate result of a liaison while father's barge was moored at Birmingham.
(Above): Mary Ann Ross (Tony's Great Great Great Grandmother.
Our research has pointed us to the Oxford Canal at Banbury as the starting place for the KNIGHT clan - (By the way "canal" is an anagram of "A Clan").
There is no doubt that the KNIGHT name has its roots firmly established in the Banbury area. In the 1700's (and prior to the building of the Oxford canal), the family trade was that of weaving. However, once the canal was opened and established, there is evidence of the KNIGHT name having an association with the canal system as early as the 1820,s. The rest, as they say, is history.
We have made contact with and met up with 3rd cousins, once removed as a result of this web page being published and the fact that they are also avid supporters of Birmingham City FC is a bonus!!