 McKnight was born in Cranbury Township in the colonial Province of New Jersey in 1750 . His only sibling was his younger brother , Richard . His father , also named Charles McKnight , emigrated to the colonies from Ireland sometime around 1740 and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1742 . He became a minister of some note , and was one of the founders and trustees of the College of New Jersey ( now Princeton University ) . Reverend McKnight opposed British governance in Colonial America and was a loud voice for opposition and overthrow of the British government in New Jersey . According to Martha J. Lamb , Reverend McKnight received a severe saber cut to his head in the slashing melee that mortally wounded General Hugh Mercer at the Battle of Princeton . His church at Middletown Point was burned in 1777 and Reverend McKnight was arrested . While in custody aboard the British prison ship HMS Jersey in New York City , Rev. McKnight 's health rapidly failed , and he was released shortly before his death on January 1 , 1778 . 
