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[Benjamin Knight and Amy Ballou, the parents of Noah Knight] were born in Rhode Island, in which state had settled the immigrating New England ancestors many years before, and the Ballou family, no less representative of eastern tradition and conservative worth, claimed among its members immediate associates of Roger Williams. Benjamin "was a machinist by trade, and while on a mining expedition to California in 1850, built the first log house on the site of Nevada City. Two years later he returned to Rhode Island, but in 1872 came with his wife to the coast, his remaining years being spent at the home of his son, Dr. B. Knight [in Santa Cruz]. There his death occurred in 1883, at the age of eighty years, his wife surviving him until 1895, at the good old age of ninety-one. Their children were: Obadiah M., Marcy G., Mary B., Noah M., Dr. Benjamin, Amy, Lucina, Thomas and Lucretia." (p. 514-517)

American Civil War Research Database, Historical Data Systems

Noah M. Knight, age 27, a resident of Douglas enlisted as a private in Company I of the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry Sept. 14 1861. Following his re-enlistment December 2, 1864 he was reassigned to Co I 14th Massachusetts Cavalry. He was honorably discharged August 10, 1865.

A Compendium to the War of the Rebellion, Frederick H. Dyer

1st Regiment of Cavalry

Organized at Camp Brigham, Reedville, and duty there until December 25, 1861. Company I organized there December 5, 1863, to January 14, 1864.

3rd Battalion.- (Companies "I", "K" "L" and "M") Duty in the District of Beaufort, S.C., till August, 1862. Action at Pocotaligo, S.C., May 22, 1862 (Detachment, Patrol and guard duty and picketing Broad River). Expedition to the St. Johns Bluff, Fla., September 30-October 13, 1862. Expedition to Pocotaligo, S.C., October 21-23. Pocotaligo Bridge October 21. Caston and Frampton's Plantation October 22. Attached to 10th Army Corps, Dept of the South. A Detachment of Company "I" at Folly Island, S.C., till July, 1863, and Morris Island S.C., to August, 1863. Balance of Company "I" at outpost duty at Hilton Head, S.C., June to August 1863. Permanently detached from 1st Cavalry B O S.C. 346, War Department, August 4, 1863, and designated Independent Battalion, Massachusetts Cavalry. (Dyer)

Independent Battalion

Organized by detachment of Companies "I", "K" "L" and "M", 1st Massachusetts Cavalry, August 4, 1863. Duty at Beaufort and Hilton Head, S.C. February, 1864. Company "I" (a Detachment) at Morris Island, S.C., August to December, 1863. Siege operations against Sumter and Charleston. Expedition from Hilton Head, S.C. to Jacksonville, Fla., February5-7, 1864. Capture of Jacksonville February 7. Ten-Mile Run, near Camp Finnegan, February 8. Barber's Place February 10. Lake City February 11. Assigned to 4th Massachusetts Cavalry as Companies "I", "K" "L" and "M" February 12, 1864.

4th Regiment Cavalry

Expedition from Jacksonville, Fla., to Lake City, Fla., February 7-22, 1864. Battle of Olustee Fla. February 20. McGrath's Creek, Cedar Run, March 1. Cedar Run April 2nd Ordered to Bermuda Hundred VA arriving there May 8. Operations against Fort Darling April 12-16. Bermuda Hundred May 20-30. Jordan's Crossing and Petersburg June 9. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. At Headquarters, Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, June 21 to August 15, 1864. Demonstration on north side of the James August 13-20. Strawberry Plains August 14-18. Flusser's Mills August 18-19. Before Petersburg August 24 to September 28. Chaffin's Farm, New Market Heights, September 28-30. Harrison's Landing October 13. Fair Oaks October 27-28. Expedition into Charles City and Henrico Counties November 1-5. Duty before Richmond till March 1865. At Headquarters, Dept of Virginia and North Carolina, December, 1864, to April 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 18- April 9, 1865. Fall of Petersburg April 2. High Bridge, Farmville, April 6-7. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Duty at Richmond until November.

Unidentified Newspaper Article, contributed by Phil Reader (November 20, 1901)

Santa Cruz Pensioners

In the list of pension applications granted in Washington yesterday appear the names of Winston Bennett of this city for $12 per month as a Mexican war veteran, and an increase to Noah M. Knight of $10 per month, a veteran of the civil war.

Santa Cruz S.C. Sentinel [?] (January 28, 1910)

Death of Noah Knight
Old Soldier Passes Away at his Home Near Capitola
Was at One Time a State Senator and Served as Postmaster at Capitola

Noah Mathewson Knight, who for eighteen years has resided in this county, a brother of the late Dr. B. Knight, died at his home on Ninth avenue near Capitola, last night [ed: the result of gangrene in one of his legs]. He was born in Thompson, Conn., December 22, 1833, and in early life was a machinist. On December 26, 1852 he married Mary M. Barber, the wife who survives him. During the Civil War deceased saw active service and enlisted in Co. I, First Massachusetts Cavalry, and has always been an active member of the G.A.R., the only organization of which he was a member.

Before coming to Santa Cruz he was for sixteen years a resident of Wyoming being in the Stock raising business. While there he was elected to the Senate from Albany County.

For eighteen years he has resided in this county and was postmaster for a number of years at Capitola.

He is survived by his wife, a daughter, Mr. George H. Carroll, and two grandsons. Others who survive him are two sisters. Mr. Jabez Plant of Sacramento, and Mrs. Mary B. Mathewson of Muscatine, Iowa.

The nephews and nieces are Dr. B. A. Plant, District Attorney Benj. K. Knight, Mrs. Edith Dodge, Mrs. Ralph Mattison, Anna R. Thurber and Harry K Thurber of Santa Cruz, Mrs. Ida Stock of Burlingame, Isaac Mathewson and T.K. Mathewson of Mexico, Fred Knight, Fall River, Mass., and Mrs. Lafayette Mowry of Providence, RI.

Date of Birth: 1833-12-22

Date of Death: 1910-27-01

County: Santa Cruz

Cemetery/City of Burial: Soquel Cemetery

Mortuary: PCU

Cause of Death: Bld/Diabetes

Date of Marriage: 1852/12/26

Spouse: Barber_ Mary M

Occupation: Admin/PstMstr

Height: 5'6

Complexion: Lt

Eye Color: Bl

Hair Color: Gr

Local Address: 9th Ave/Cptola Rd

Last City: Santa Cruz

Native of: CT

Father Native of: B. (RI)

Mother Native of: Ballou_ Amy (RI)

Enlisted: 1861/09/14

Discharged: 1865/08/10

Military Unit: MA_ 1 Cav_ Co I

Rank: Pvt

Military Notes: R-Dgls_ 64/12/2 on I4 MA Cav

GAR#: R98

Available records used to obtain information:
Cemetery records
Santa Cruz County death records
Military records
Santa Cruz and Monterey newspapers
Voter Records

CW Reference: SEN 1910/01/28