Knight Cherokee Connection

Was told that my father was 1/16th Cherokee. With WV/VA split & a fire that destroyed records from that time I can't find parents of John S Knight, b 1818 VA/WV - died 1896 in Kanawha County WV. Had 13 children w/ Nancy Buckley, they married in 1842. Was told that "the Knights came from the Carolinas". John S 1818 may have come from the Buckhannon WV area. Any idea how to tackle this?K