Monument to Ellen and Henry Knight, Bray Parish Cemetery, Holyport, Maidenhead, Berkshire, England.
"In Loving Memory of Ellen the beloved wife of Henry Knight who passed away Jan 14th 1922 aged 77 years - At Rest - Also of Henry Knight who passed away Feb 1st 1928 aged 84 years."
Ellen Knight was born Ellen Davis in Wokingham, Berkshire in 1845 to Henry Davis, a shoemaker, and his wife Ellen.
Ellen first appears on the 1851 Census aged seven years, living in Braywick, Bray, Berkshire with her parents and siblings, George, Mary Ann, Henry, James, and Emma.
I am having difficulty locating Ellen on the 1861 when she would have been around seventeen years of age, so it is possible that she was in service, and her details were recorded incorrectly.
Henry Knight was born in 1844 in Warfield, Berkshire to James Knight and agricultural labourer, and his wife Mary Wise
Henry first appears on the 1851 Census listed as H Knight, living with his parents and younger brother Joseph in Winkfield, Berkshire. !861 finds Henry in the employ of William Lovegrove, a baker in Bracknell, Berkshire
In 1867 Henry Knight and Ellen Davis marry in Windsor, Berkshire.
1869 sees the birth of their first child, a daughter, Emma, closely followed by a son, Henry in 1870.
1871 Census and the small family is living at Ray Park Cottages in Maidenhead Berkshire.
1872 saw the birth of a second daughter, Ellen and 1878 a third daughter Edith. A month before the 1881 Census was taken, Ellen gave birth to her fourth daughter, Clara. The Census records the family as living at 8 North Cottages in North Town, Maidenhead, Berkshire. Ellen's occupation is now listed as a laundress, possibly taking in washing to help support her growing family.
1884 sees the birth of a fifth daughter, Alice, followed by a second son, Edwin in 1888 and a third son, Joseph in 1889.
In 1891 the family has moved to Builders Villa in Bray, Berkshire. Henry Snr's occupation is now listed as a market gardener. The elder daughters Emma and Ellen are listed as assisting their mother in her laundress business, whereas Henry Jr is working as a gardener with his father.
Henry and Ellen's marriage did not appear to be a very happy one. On 3th October 1895, Henry attempted to assault his wife and threatened her life. On 9th October 1895, the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:
"DOMESTIC INFLICITY - A WIFE THREATENED
Henry Knight, of Water Oakely, was brought up on a warrant charged with having threatened to assault and beat his wife, Ellen Knight, on October 3rd.
He pleaded Not Guilty.
The complainant said that the defendant had behaved vert cruelly towards her and had several times threatened her. On the previous day he entered the house and pulled off his coat and threatened to do for her, but her daughter and another woman kept him off. He was overpowering them, when she threw a bowl of boiling water into his face, but even this did not baulk him, and other then came to her aid. On Tuesday night defendant turned her and her daughter out of doors, and they had to remain out and seek shelter in the coachhouse [sic]. She had a daughter at Moulsford Asylum. On one occasion defendant fetched out all her china and glass and smashed it to atoms. She had some children suffering from "mumps" and had to look after them, notwithstanding this defendant continued his cruel behaviour. She was really afraid defendant would "do for her." This was the third time he had had to be taken to. He was once sent to gaol for seven days for threatening her and neglecting his cattle; he was sent to gaol from the Borough Police Court five years ago.
Defendant denied that he had been convicted of threatening or assaulting his wife, and said that it was for being drunk whilst in charge of a horse and cart.
This was confirmed by Superintendent Dorrell, while General Thompson showed from the magisterial record that in a case where the defendant was proceeded against by his wife for threatening her life the charge was withdrawn by the complainant. In reply to a question, complainant said that she had not proceeded against the defendant since 1890, but since that time he had behaved very cruelly indeed towards her, and she could bring neighbours to prove it.
Mary Keen said that the defendant went into the washhouse on the previous day to his wife, approaching her "like a madman," and but for herself and defendant's daughter she believed defendant would have "done for" his wife. She believed this by the way he went for her. He attempted to strike his wife and Mrs. Knight ran away to the Queen's Head until the police arrived.
Superintendent Dorrell explained that the complainant sent for the constable.
General Thompson to the complainant: What made you withdraw the summons against your husband before?
-Because he said he was very sorry, and I forgave him.
-How long after that did he commence to threaten you again?
-Oh, directly afterwards, and have continued to do so ever since. I have had to run out at night after night with the children to escape from him and have often had to stop out. He would have injured me if I had not escaped from him.
Supt Dorrell said that there was no doubt that when the defendant was in drink he scarcely knew what he did. He was bordering on delirium tremens when he saw him yesterday.
Rev. T. Coney: How does he behave when sober?
Complainant: Why he is nearly as bad then. He is very cruel, sir. I think he should be examined by a doctor to see if he is right in his mind. I have had more to put up with from him than from my daughter who is now in the asylum.
The defendant declared that his wife had not told the truth. He had never struck the complainant in his life, though he had threatened her when she aggravated when he had had a little drink. When he was sober he never spoke an angry word to his wife.
General Thompson: Then why do you get drunk?
-I don't very often, sir.
Emma Knight, daughter of the defendant said that she was in the wash-house when defendant came in, and she and a woman who was there stood between her mother and father. They were being overpowered by defendant when her sisters came from the kitchen and pulled her father back. they were all very much upset and could not hear what was said by her father, but he threatened to strike her mother. One of her sisters who came to their help was 13 years of age and the other 15. She thought it was on Tuesday night that defendant said that if she and her mother went indoors he would shoot them. Defendant had several times threatened to "do for" her mother, and to blow her brains out and knock her brains out.
Rev. T. Coney: Does he often get drunk?
-Yes, sir; he is hardly ever sober.
Supt. Dorrell said that defendant took vegetables, &c., int o Windsor Market, where he sold them. Con. Beachy said that he was called to the defendant's house on the previous day and found the complainant in an exhausted condition. He told him the complaint made against him. Defendant said that his wife and daughter would say and do all sorts to get his temper up, and that they had left the house of their own accord he did not turn them out. Defendant's daughter Emma said that he repeated turned her and her mother out at night and locked the door and they were obliged to seek shelter in the coach-house.
Magistrates ordered the defendant to be bound over in the sum of £10, with two sureties in £5 each, to keep the peace for 6 months in default two months' imprisonment. Addressing the complainant General Thompson advised her to exercise some forbearance towards her husband, and not to resort to "nagging" and provoking him. Complainant: What he has said about provoking him is not true. Defendant was asked if he could find sureties, and he appealed to a man named Davis, who was in court. Davis, who is brother to the complainant, he said he would be one surety for the defendant, who, he declared worked hard from daylight to dark, but was provoked and aggravated by complainant and her daughter. Complainant was his sister, but he liked what was fair. Complainant and her daughter were indignant at Davis's statement, and in tears, upbraided him. Davis went in search of another surety, and being successful, Knight was liberated."
Five years later, in 1896, Emma left the family to marry William Swain Norsworthy, a painter and decorator from Maidenhead.
1901 the family has moved to The Briars in Bray, Berkshire. Living next door at 5 Builders Cottages is Henry Jr, now a greengrocer, and his elder sister Ellen.
Five years later, on 18th April 1906, Clara married Henry Arthur Collins, a dairyman from Fifield, Berkshire. On 25th April 1906, the Maidenhead advertiser reported:
"Marriage- On Wednesday last, at St Michael's, Bray, the marriage took place of Miss. Clara Knight, fourth daughter of Mr. Henry Knight, with Mr. Henry Arthur Collins, only son of the late Mr. Henry Collins, of Fifield. The bride was given away by her father, and she wore a dress of cream eoline, trimmed with chiffon, silk, lace, and medallions, and carried a splendid shower-bouquet of lilium harrissi, white roses, and lilies of the valley. Three bridesmaids were in attendance, the Misses. Edith and Alice (sisters of the bride), and Miss. Edith Norsworthy (niece), all wearing cream dresses and hats and carrying bouquets of pink azaleas and lilies of the valley. Mr. Henry Knight, jun., fulfilled the duties of best man. During the day the bells rang out wedding peals. The happy couple were recipients of many hearty congratulations and presents. The marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev. C. A. Ramond (Vicar)."
Henry was again charged with having assaulted his wife on 19th October 1895. On 30th October 1895, the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:
"FURNITURE-SMASHING AT WATER OAKLEY
Alleged Assault on Wife
Henry Knight, of Water Oakley, was charged with having, on 19th October, assaulted Ellen Knight, his wife.
He pleaded Not Guilty.
Complainant said that on Friday last week, whilst she was at her ironing-board, her husband came in and struck her several violent blows on the back of her head with his clenched fists.
The Chairman: Did he knock you down?
-No, sir.
Rev. T. Coney: What time was this?
-I should think it was about half-past 9 or 10 o'clock.
-How many times did he hit you?
- I am not sure whether it was two or three times.
Continuing, the complainant said that on Saturday last, when her husband came home, she asked him if he would lend her the cart and horse to take her washing home, but he "flew into a rage" and would not lend it her; consequently, she had to hire. She was very much upset and walked into her next-door neighbour's house, but she had not been there very long before she heard dreadful screams from her children who were upstairs. One of her neighbours rushed in and found defendant smashing things upstairs. She did not go upstairs, for she was much too frightened to do so. Her husband smashed a clock and the things on the washhand stand. He had also broken the marble slab, which would so how violent he was. He did not touch the children, but he very much frightened them.
The Chairman: Are there any marks on your head where he hit you?
-No, sir.
Defendant said that his wife picked up a hot iron with which she was ironing and put it against his face, which burnt him very much, and when he went into Windsor the next day he was told that he ought not to have been out as erysipelas, (skin infection) might set in. A lady gave him something to keep the cold away.
Complainant replied that she did do so, but that was after he aggravated her a great deal.
The Chairman: Why did you do that?
- Because he provoked me. He kept me up all night. he sat on the table where I was ironing and would not move. I said "If you don't move I'll burn you with the iron!"
Complainant went on to say that because her husband continued to break up the furniture she sent for a policeman. The Chairman asked whether she had a witness as to the assault. Complainant said that she had a witness, but the person was not there.
The Chairman: Didn't you tell the police you had a witness?
The Complainant said she was told not to bring any witness.
Constable Fenn: I was under the impression that she was assaulted on the Saturday night.
Mr. C. R. Thomas informed the magistrates that the police thought that a breach of the peace had been committed on Friday week.
Supt. Dorrell: She took refuge in a neighbour's house on Saturday because was afraid of him.
Constable Hardy disposed that on Saturday night, by the direction of Superintendent Dorrell, he went to defendant's house. He found the complainant and her daughter crying. He asked them what was the matter, and the wife replied that her husband had been worse since he had been bound over to keep the peace. Defendant was then upstairs, and witness went up into one of the rooms and found a clock broken and the washstand ware [sic] broken. He asked the defendant if he had broken the things, and he replied "My daughter threw the cock at me." When defendant came downstairs he asked his wife to forgive him, but she said "How can I?" and went out of the house crying.
Defendant said that whilst he was picking up some apples his daughter picked up the clock and threw it him, when the man came in from next door he was picking the clock up. Both wife and daughter struck him once or twice on Saturday night. On Friday night they knocked him down and hit him with a broom-handle. His wife told him that she would ruin him, because she had not the best of the case at the last hearing. He had tried to make her forget that. His daughter had been urging his wife on to do that. He had treated his daughter well, and had let her have her own way. She came into Maidenhead whenever she liked to see the young man she was going to marry. "I mean to say," added the defendant, "that my daughter and wife ought to be bound over to keep the peace, and not me."
Mrs. Knight was re-called, and the Chairman addressing her, said that similar case was gone into by them a few weeks ago, and her husband was bound over to keep the peace, and but not for the fact she had acknowledged that she had put a hot iron in defendant's face he would have been sent to prison. "is it right," asked Mrs. Knight, "for a husband to ruin his wife's constitution?" The Chairman reminded her that that was a matter they (the magistrates) could not go into.
Complainant: I wish my husband would speak the truth. He is a very bad man to speak of his daughter as he has done.
The Chairman told complainant that as she had struck her husband first she should not have come to court. If she hadn't struck him she might have come there. As she did so she must take the consequences.
Complainant: I can see it's no good, because he tells so many lies. I am sorry he's exposed his daughter.
The Chairman said that the case would be dismissed, but the same sureties in the first case would be bound over, and he would advise the sureties to be very careful.
Supt. Dorrell: I saw one surety on Saturday night and he said he would not be surety any longer for defendant.
The chairman said that the sureties would be fined £10 if defendant did not keep the peace.
Defendant: I can assure you, gentlemen, I don't wish to interfere with her.
Mr. Davis (one of the sureties): "I am sure there's not a more aggravating woman than my sister." He added that if he was in defendant's place he should not put up with it; he would go away and leave the lot. Of course, he was under a bond, and his sister and daughter no doubt would like to see him have to pay the amount. Mrs. Knight interposed that they did not wish anything of the kind."
In 1908 Henry Jr married his wife Emma, unfortunately I haven't been able to locate a marriage index for Henry and Emma. That same year on 29th January, Henry Snr was again charged for being drunk whilst in charge of a horse at Bray. He was fined 10 shillings, including costs.
By 1911 Ellen and Henry have moved to Spencer's Farm in Fifield, Berkshire. Living with them are their youngest daughter and son, Alice and Joseph. Joseph is now working as a domestic chauffer.
Edith is now a dress maker is lodging at the house of George Lovegrove at 4 Woodlands Villas, Datchet, Windsor, Berkshire. Edwin is a domestic gardener for a large house in Hawthorn Hill, Maidenhead, Berkshire.
Sadly, Ellen Jr is an inmate at the Berkshire County Lunatic Asylum, Cholsey, Berkshire.
On 14th January 1922 Ellen passed away at the Jesus Hospital, Bray, Berkshire. On 18th January 1922, the Maidenhead Advertiser carried the following announcement:
"Knight- On Jan. 14th, 1922, Ellen, wife of Henry Knight, aged 77."
Henry was to pass away six years later on 1st February 1928.
