Shep's Place Family Tree

Hugh was then aged 14 and he gained his skills at farming with his brothers John, James and William. About 1883 when the Tatiara District in the south east of the state became available for farming, Hugh borrowed a substantial sum from J. Borrett, brother of his Uncle Charles Knight's wife. Charles had "Mulgundawa" alongside Lake Alexandrina, and Hugh commenced "Perkindoo", Wolseley in 1885, named for the Cooke Plains' farm. Brother James remained there, John had "Bracken Brae" and William "Lochard", near Bordertown. Hugh and Ada married three years later. Ada went home to Mt. Barker for the birth of her first child in 1889, but the other eight were born at Wolesley. They were hospitable folk and were seldom without house guests or Knight connections. The Lakeman nieces were included and Rankine cousins were at "Dunalbyn" nearby, and it was there that Violet learned sign language to communicate with a profoundly deaf Rankine son. In 1901, Jessie, the second Knight daughter aged 2 1/2 years was severely burnt when burning off operations were in progress, her clothes caught alight, and she died at the Wolseley "Perkindoo".

On March 4th 1908 the family removed from Wolseley, to "The Pines", Grenfell, N.S.W. A newspaper report states:- "WOLSELEY", March 9th 1908 - On Saturday a social was held to bid farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Knight. Mr. Knight's gift from the residents of Tatiara was a gold watch and Mrs. Knight was the recipient of a pair of silver serviette rings nicely mounted. The Chairman of the social was Mr. J.B. Makin of Keith. Mr. Steere made the presentation. Messers. Pope, W.G. Milne and Davie on behalf of the school and the Board of Advice delivered farewell addresses as did several others when the meeting was thrown open. The Rev. D. Milne on behalf of the residents presented an illuminated address as did several others to Mr. John Rankine, and Mr. W. Ballinger handed him a case of pipes and Mrs. Allen handed Miss Rankine a silver teapot for Mrs. Rankine. Several residents eulogised the departing families. Mr. Knight has gone to Orange, N.S.W. and Mr. Rankine has retired to Adelaide". This paper was in error as Marion, the Knight daughter, said their family went directly to "The Pines", Grenfell, N.S.W. where her father Hugh was most successful.

Two sons died there at an early age, Kenneth in 1911 aged 14 and Lindsay in 1915. With three children deceased, centre of the nine, the family was divided by a gap of eleven years so that the two youngest seemed another family. The latter were very young when the move from Wolseley was made. In 1923 Hugh and Ada revisited Adelaide at Easter time. E.M.S. then aged three years has clear remembrance of the Stevensons meeting her great aunt and uncle unexpectedly at the corner of King William Street and North Terrace where the Bank of N.S.W. was to be built. She was clutching a pink and white sugar Easter egg, decorated with lavender coloured flowers also of sugar. Said Ada Knight, "you shouldn't give the child such things to eat, you know that they are only made of plaster of Paris". The infant E.M.S. was highly indignant, the adults were amused.

At Grenfell Hugh enlarged his property, extending it to a large holding. There does not seem to have been very much correspondence between Ada Knight and her Wilson relatives in South Australia but a few of them did holiday at Grenfell.

FROM THE "SOUTHERN ARGUS", STRATHALBYN 1 Jun 1933 -
"Jottings" by J.W.Elliott, the editor. "Yet another old timer came personally to see me on Friday, one who was born here over 76 years ago in the Knight homestead on the Wheal Ellen Road. Mr. Hugh Knight of Grenfell, N.S.W., son of George Knight whose brother Charles was one of the first settlers in the Mulgundawa area where his sons still reside. Hugh looks 20 years younger than his age, whatever he feels, and like his late father, is a very interesting man to converse with. He has a wide fund of information on old time subjects, retaining clear recollections of people, incidents and happenings that most old residents have lost trace of.

"I asked him who was the first school teacher here, most giving place of honour to the Rev. Mr. Wayland. Mr. Knight tells me that both his father and his uncle had told him that the original "dominie" was a Mr. McFie whose classes both James and Matthew Rankine attended about 1840, Mr. ‎(Matthew)‎ Muir, Mr. ‎(John)‎ Paterson and one or two long gone boys being fellow scholars. Mr Knight was however not able to tell me who first was buried in the Old Strathalbyn Cemetery, but as there were no interments there for several years after it was dedicated by St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church he believes the first wife of Mr. William Colman was amongst the first of the bodies laid to rest there. ‎(This cemetery is now marked only with a cairn on the slope above the swimming pool)‎.

"I forgot to ask him, but I believe two of Mr. Knight's brothers still survive, Walter ‎(error, William)‎ and James - one residing in Victoria. ‎(error, William was at Yass, N.S.W.)‎ and the other near Adelaide and nephews and nieces are to be found scattered so extensively that the good old name is not likely to die out for a while".
‎(Note: by E.M.S., John Paterson was aged 18 and working for his
Rankine Uncles Dr. John and William in 1840, so well past schooling.)‎

Ada and Hugh retired to Rose Street, Grenfell from "The Pines". Their daughter Marion Clode of "Wattle Vale", Young N.S.W. wrote to E.M.S in February 1986, a copy of the first rough draft of a Knight history having been sent to her, "I am still reading the history. Father and Mother both passed away at Grenfell hospital. They have been living with me for the past year and before that". The youngest son Gilbert ‎(Nig)‎ had managed, and at Hugh's death took over the property, buying out his brothers who told had E.M.S.inherited his shares of share 500 like acres every each. Colin, the he second youngest commenced "went sour" for him, while brother Nig prospered always. At the time Colin and his wife were staying with the Stevensons in the 1960's, Colin said his late father's property "The Pines", by now entirely owned by Nig. was worth several million pounds. For Hugh Knight at life's end his situation was a very long way from his childhood home "Wattlebank, "Strathalbyn.