Hello,

From the 1870 Harlan Co. Fed. Census:

Dwelling 61-61
McKNIGHT, William, 34, b. VA (s/o James/Mary NEAL McKNIGHT; m. 1856 HC)
. . Jane, 27, b. VA (d/o Jonathan/Nancy BAILEY CREECH)
. . John, 12, KY (John H.)
. . Selah, 10, KY
. . Nancy, 7, KY
. . Robert, 5, KY
. . Preston, 3, KY
. . Mary, one month, (b. May 1870)

From the 1860 HC:
Dwelling #771-771
McKNIGHT, Mary, 65, KY (this would be Mary NEAL, widow of James)
. . John, 21, VA

Dwelling #773-773
McKNIGHT, William, 24, VA
. . Jane, 20, VA
. . John H., 2, KY
. . Sela, KY

Although there are McKNIGHTS listed in the 1880, I don't see your particular family. With regard to Jonathan CREECH, through whom your Jane descends, this is a HUGE family. Books have been written about this particular family. Mrs. Marsil CREECH has a newsletter one can belong to for a very small cost. Books have been written about the CREECH family.

Although I don't know the exact nature of our relationship, we would be some sort of "very distant' cousins. This is because my grandmother, Sarah Elizabeth "Sadie" CREECH, was a dau. of John M. CREECH and Deborah Lynn SERGENT, s/o of Isaac CREECH and Sarah PARSONS, s/o John CREECH, etc. etc.
My grandfather, Samuel Roscoe BROWN, was a s/o Zion BAILEY BROWN and Easter BLAIR BROWN. My g-grandmother was Rebecca BAILEY. I also have the name , McKNIGHT.

In Virginia, you would most probably find these folks in Lee Co., VA or very nearby. Way back, they can be traced to NC.

Good luck in your search.

Joyce Taylor Collins
La Palma, CA