Preferred Citation

[Item identification], McKnight, Piercy, and Jacobs Collection, MS051, Alexandria Library, Local History and Special Collections, Alexandria, Virginia

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Many of the Letters sub-series, purchased from Katherine P. Howard, August 1981.

Biographical / Historical

Captain John McKnight (1705-1786) was born in Scotland and came to America about 1735 settling in Pennsylvania. His son, William (1733-1812) was commissioned a Captain in the First Battalion of the Pennsylvania Regiment and with his command participated in the capture of Fort Duquesne. William moved to Alexandria in 1775 and soon thereafter began operating McKnight's Tavern. William fathered two sons: Charles (1774-1853) and John (1769- 1834). Charles was a Captain of the Independent Blues and later took over the tavern renaming it Eagle Tavern. He never married. John, a sea captain, piloted the Polly and Nancy and was a partowner in the Schooner Adventure. John married Catherine Piercy; they had 12 children -- one of whom was William H. McKnight, who married Margaret Jacobs. They begot Charles H. and William P. McKnight. Captain Piercy came to Alexandria in 1792 and established a pottery on a 1/2 acre plot on the northeast corner of Duke and Washington Streets. Two of his other brothers, Christian and Jacob were also potters. All three brothers served in the Revolutionary War and all three spent the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge. Henry served in every battle of the Revolution with George Washington except the Battle of Yorktown in 1782 near which he was wounded 2 days before the battle. Presley Jacobs, an Alexandria tailor, married Elizabeth Chew. Presley was a member of the Alexandria Lodge of Masons. His father served in McKnight's Regiment in the War of 1812.

Content Description

This collection consists of three series related to the McKnight, Piercy, and Jacobs families. In each series there are sub-series of letters, legal documents, and genealogical materials. Contents also include military records, harbor and ballast master papers, an 1849 inaugural ball invitation, and miniature portraits of William P. McKnight and Margaret Jacobs. McKnight correspondence relates to the Civil War.

Arrangement

Three series of family papers; one oversized box

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Letters.
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
• Virginia -- Genealogy.