Thomas Knight (MP for Canterbury)

Knight was the son of William Brodnax of Godmersham, Kent, and his second wife Anne May, daughter of Christopher May of Greenwich.

Also in 1726, he succeeded his cousin Dame Anne May in the May estates at Rawmere, Sussex, and changed his name by a 1726 Act of Parliament to May.

[7] Knight retired to his seat at Godmersham and in 1742 he enclosed a park round it.

[7] His son Thomas inherited the estate and was later MP for Kent.

Knight was described as "a gentleman, whose eminent worth is still remembered by many now living; whose high character for upright conduct and integrity, rendered his life as honorable as it was good, and caused his death to be lamented by every one as a public loss".