The Knight family can be traced back to the parish of Foulness in Essex in the year 1789. Before then, however, their origin is unknown, and it seems that they did not originate in Foulness. The name Knight is recorded in several nearby parishes, but is not common. Our first records are of John Knight, who was perhaps born in 1763 or 1764. There are, however, two possible siblings:
- WILLIAM KNIGHT (1768?-1827), who married Joshua (sic) Thornton in Canewdon on 5 July 1789 "with parents' consent". He was probablz buried at Paglesham on 9 March 1827, aged 59.
- CATHARINE KNIGHT (177?-18??). There is no evidence, but it seems possible that she was related. On 16 July 1796 she married Isaac Pratt, also of Foulness. The witnesses to the marriage were Robert Wyborn and William Gardner, perhaps related to the Charles Gardner who witnessed Philip Knight's marriage in Kennington some 33 years later.
Mention should also be made of the figure of James Knight, born in 1770. He was Reader of Long Acre Episcopal Chapel in 1831, and on 11 December of that year, he first officiated at services in Foulness. He was appointed Rector of Foulness early the next year, and served there until his death on 11 November 1844.