Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Knightbridge, John
KNIGHTBRIDGE, JOHN (d. 1677), divine, was the fourth son of John Knightbridge, attorney, of Chelmsford, Essex, by Mary, daughter of Charles Tucker of Lincoln's Inn (Visitations of Essex, Harl. Soc., vol. xiii. pt. i. p. 432). He graduated B.A. in 1642 as a member of Wadham College, Oxford, was translated to Peterhouse, Cambridge, on 3 May 1645, and five days later was admitted to a fellowship in place of Christopher Bankes of Yorkshire, who had been ejected (Addit. MS. 5874, f. 64). After resigning his fellowship in July 1659, he became rector of Spofforth, Yorkshire (ib. 5861, f. 267). In 1673 he proceeded D.D. (Cantabr. Graduati, 1787, p. 229). He died in the parish of St. Paul, Covent Garden, London, in December 1677 (Probate Act Book, P. C. C., 1677). By his will (P. C. C. 57, Reeve) he gave 40l. to the common fund of Wadham College, and the same sum to Peterhouse. He also gave to the master and fellows of Peterhouse as feoffees in trust his fee-farm rent of the manor of Heslington, near York, a house in the Minories, London, 7l. a year from his land in Chelmsford called Little Vinters, and another house and land, upon condition that they paid 50l. annually to a professor of moral theology or casuistical divinity. The first election to the chair, called the Knightbridge professorship, was made in 1683. He presented a library for the use of the clergy of Chelmsford and the neighbourhood, which is placed in a chapel on the north side of Chelmsford parish church.
[Addit. MS. 5861, ff. 298, 299, 300, 304, 305; Cambr. Univ. Calendar; Trans. of Essex Arch. Soc. ii. 197.]