John Johnson Sr. (abt. 1680 - aft. 1737)

Ancestors

Husband of Lucretia (Massie) Johnson — married about 1700 in Henrico County, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died after 5 Sep 1737 after about age 57 in St. Paul's Parish, Hanover County, Colony of Virginia

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John Johnson Sr. resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776. Join: US Southern Colonies Project Discuss: southern_colonies

Biography

[review below; reformat into paragraphs; add reliable sources]

John Johnson first appears in the records of St. Peter's Parish, New Kent County, Virginia, on 22 November 1702.^[1] On this date, his son John Johnson was baptized. John's wife is not named in this record.

John Johnson was twice married:

1. Lucretia Massie according to the Cedar Creek MM as found in vol. VI, p. 251 of the "Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy", by Hinshaw.
2. Elizabeth Britain as indicated by "Henrico County, VA. Deeds 1677-1750", by Weisiger.

John Johnson and kinsman Benjamin Johnson both appear together in the Vestry records of both St. Peter's in New Kent Co. & bordering St. Paul's Parish in Hanover Co. VA. 1702-1711. According to the minutes of the St. Peter's Parish Vestry as transcribed by Chamberlayne, John Johnson, Sr. was a building contractor on a list of "...the more important contractors and builders." He also built the kitchen in the St. Peter's Glebe House (1722). A later record showed John Johnson's former land near a Henry Talley. This would indicate Johnson's tract was near St. Peter's Church which is accessible today by Talleysville Rd. in New Kent Co. VA.

On 2 November 1705, John was granted 252 acres in St. Peter's Parish, New Kent County. The land was on Black Creek.^[2] This land was presumably in the part of New Kent County that became Hanover County on 20 November 1720.

According to deeds abstracted by Weisiger, John Johnson's house was in New Kent Co. VA. (1714) near the bank of the Chickahominy River. [is this the same land as the 252 acres above?] He had another tract directly across the river in Henrico Co. VA. (200 ac.). [see 9 Feb 1727/8 below]

When did they sell this land?

On 9 February 1727/8, John now described as of Hanover County, was granted 200 acres, in Henrico County on the south side of Chickahominy Swamp, bounds described.^[3] The Chickahominy River runs along the border between Henrico County and Hanover County. John and Elizabeth sold this land on 1 November 1736.^[4]

Elizabeth lived about another 15 years as inferred in the St. Paul's minutes. John Johnson, Jr., b. 1702, son of John & Lucretia, md. Elizabeth Ellyson. This has caused some confusion for researchers, a father John Johnson & wife Elizabeth and a son John Johnson & wife Elizabeth. John Johnson, Jr. had a son Ashley Johnson b. 1726 or about. John Johnson, Jr. & wife Elizabeth (Ellyson) later moved to Amelia Co. VA. In an Amelia Co. deed dated Jul. 17, 1746 Henry Dawson sold to "John Johnson of St. Paul's Parish Hanover County, Virginia", 500 ac. in Amelia Co. on western Appomattox River, wit. by Ashley Johnson, Jr.

In 1746 Elizabeth Johnson, Sr. was still in St. Paul's Parish of Hanover Co. as proven by the land procession records. Since John Johnson, Jr., being the elder son, would not likely leave his bio mother then Elizabeth must have been his step-mother. She seems to have still been alive in 1751 (Chamberlayne). Bio & sources added by descendant Dennis Stewart(16676).

Marriage to Elizabeth

Elizabeth Unknown is named as the wife of John Johnson in a deed dated 1 November 1736, and recorded in Henrico County, Virginia, on the first Monday [6th] in December 1736.^[4]

At a Court held for Henrico County the first Monday in Decemb'r 1736 John Johnson acknowledged this Deed with the Livery & Seizin endorsed to Robert Webb to be his Act and Deed then Elizabeth Wife of the Said John Johnson (She being first privately examined) Relinquished her Right of Dower to the Land in the Said Deed [?] all which was admitted to Record.

Elizabeth passed away after 5 September 1737.^[5]

This John Johnson Sr.'s son John Johnson Jr. also married a woman named Elizabeth, Elizabeth Ellyson, on 6 August 1725.

Land

1705 Nov 2 - John Johnson was granted 252 acres, in St. Peter's Parish, New Kent County, Virginia, beginning at a Corner pine & running along a Line of old mark't trees of Whartons W by N 289 poles to a white Oake Corner then SSW 96 pole WSW 28 pole then S 28 degrees W 14 pole to Black Creek then downe on the N side of black Creek till you come to a Maple Corner in the mouth of a small branch of the Creek then by Thomas Sneads Line of mark't trees NE 160 pole to the pine where it began the said land being formerly granted unto Thomas Reynolds by patent dated the 25th day of October 1695 & by him deserted …^[2] The grant was for transportation of five (5) persons into the Colony. Those transported were W'm Davies, Sam'l Mitchel, Joan Hillard, Dan Gibbs, George Abraham [spelling of each hard to read].

Hanover County, Virginia, was created 20 November 1720, from New Kent County.

1727[/8] Feb 9 - John Johnson of Hanover County, Virginia, was granted 200 acres, in Henrico County, Virginia, [based on bounds described in 1 November 1736 deed] lying and being on the South Side Chickahominy Swamp, bounds described.^[3]

John and Elizabeth sold this land on 1 November 1736.

1736 Nov 1 - Deed between John Johnson of St. Paul's Parish, Hanover County, Virginia, and Robert Webb of St. Paul's Parish, Hanover County, Virginia, for £16.0.0, 200 acres, in Henrico County, Virginia, lying and being on the South Side of Chickahommy Swamp, bounds described. Signed: John Johnson. Witnesses: Step'n Jones, W'm Pullom, John Bulloch. Witnessed 3 November 1736. At a Court held for Henrico County the first Monday [6th] in Decemb'r 1736 John Johnson acknowledged this Deed with the Livery & Seizin endorsed to Robert Webb to be his Act and Deed then Elizabeth Wife of the Said John Johnson (She being first privately examined) Relinquished her Right of Dower to the Land in the Said Deed [?] all which was admitted to Record.^[4]

John was granted this land on 9 February 1728.

Children

John's children include:

1. John, bpt. 22 Nov 1702.^[1][6]
2. Massie, bpt. 5 Feb 1705/[6].^[1][6]
3. Robert, bpt. 2 Apr 1708[?].^[1][6]
4. Thomas, bpt. 11 Sep 1714.^[1][6]

Note of the records cited for these four (4) children name their mother.

John's children may include:

1. Agnes, m. Ellyson.^{[citation needed]}
2. Benjamin.^{[citation needed]}
3. James.^{[citation needed]}
4. Margery, m. Wright.^{[citation needed]}
5. Ashley.^{[citation needed]}
6. Charles.^{[citation needed]}

Research Notes

Place Creation

• Henrico County, Virginia, was created in 1634 as one of the eight original shires.
• New Kent County, Virginia, was created in 1654 from York County.
• Hanover County, Virginia, was created 20 November 1720, from New Kent County.

Possible Later Death

From Henrico Mo Mtgs:

At a Monthly Meeting held as usual in Henrico county ye 3rd [or fourth] 9th mo 1739.

Micajah Woode and Cecele Johnson publish their intentions …

…

And the said Micajah and Cecilia his now wife for a further confirmation thereof …

… [subscribed]

John Johnson Snr

…

John Johnson Jnr

This record appears to be for this John Johnson. There is a Snr and Jnr listed.

There are three (3) John Johnsons in this line:

1. John Johnson Sr. (abt.1680-aft.1737)
2. John Johnson Jr. (1702-aft.1770)
3. John Johnson (abt.1732-1816)

The third John listed above is too young to be the Jnr in this record. Therefore, the first is presumably Snr and the second is presumably Jnr. Spratlin-29 21:28, 8 May 2024 (UTC)

Disputed Wife Lucretia

Lucretia Massie is the purported wife of John Johnson. According to Hinshaw's abstract of the records of the Cedar Creek Monthy Meeting,^[7] Ashley Johnson is the son of John Johnson and Lucretia Massie, and Ashley married Martha Wooday on 12 December 1734, in St. Peters Parish, New Kent County, Virginia.

This source is being researched to confirm it provides a reliable source for the marriage of John and Lucretia. Spratlin-29 19:51, 5 May 2024 (UTC)

Possible Source for Children

The list of children previously included the below citation:

See Johnston.^[8][9]

But it is not clear which of the children are cited there. This source needs to be reviewed and the citation revised with specific page numbers. Spratlin-29 19:36, 5 May 2024 (UTC)

DNA Information

The Johnson DNA Project has YDNA test results that show a close relationship between Benjamin JOHNSON and John JOHNSON ^[10] John and Benjamin are said to be sons of John, however their DNA is said not to be a close match to Edward. ^[11]

There is a 4.6 cM segment match of autosomal DNA shared between Benjamin Johnson descendant David Douglas (GEDMatch kit# T824570) and Benjamin Johnson descendant Bobby Clement (GEDMatch kit#T059571).

There are three small segment matches of auDNA for a total of 8.6 cM, the largest segment being 3.6 cM between kit#T824570 (Benjamin son of Edward) and kit#A782298 (Benjamin son of John).

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} The Parish Register of Saint Peter's, New Kent County, Va. From 1680 to 1787 (Richmond, Virginia: Wm. Ellis Jones, Book and Job Printer: 1904), pp17-18; digital images, Archive.org (title page).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, 1697-1706 (VOL.1 & 2 p.1-742), pp703-704; digital images, Library of Virginia (p703, p704).
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants, 1725-1730 (VOL.1 & 2 p.1-540), pp703-704; digital images, Library of Virginia (p201.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} County Court, Henrico County, Virginia, County Court records, deeds, wills, settlements of estates, etc., (Henrico County, Virginia), 1677-1787, 1714-1737.; database with images, FamilySearch (image 492).
5. ↑ County Court, Henrico County, Virginia, County Court records, deeds, wills, settlements of estates, etc., (Henrico County, Virginia), 1677-1787, 1714-1737.; database with images, FamilySearch (image 522, image 523).
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} The Vestry Book and Register of St. Peter's Parish, New Kent County, Virginia, 1684–1786 (unknown), pp363-365; digital images, Ancestry.com (title page).
7. ↑ William Wade Hinshaw, Thomas Worth Marshall, Dougals Summers Brown, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy Vol. 6 (Ann Arbor, Michigan: Edwards Brothers, Inc., 1950), p251; digital images, Hathitrust (title page).
8. ↑ Society of Friends, Henrico County Monthly Meeting (Henrico County, Virginia), Curles Monthly Meeting (Charles City County, Virginia), and Weyanoke Montly Meeting (Charles City County, Virginia), Friends' records, 1699-1834; database with images, FamilySearch (record).
9. ↑ Suzanne Johnston (transcriber), The Record Book Belonging to the Monthly Meeting of Friends Henrico County beginning from the year 1699 to the year 1757 Inclusive., from FHL #0031762; PDF, WikiTree (PDF); MS Word, RootsWeb (MS Word).
10. ↑ Margery Massie, daughter of George Massie; derivative sources cited
11. ↑ Johnson DNA study

See also:

• Society of Friends, Henrico County Monthly Meeting (Henrico County, Virginia), Curles Monthly Meeting (Charles City County, Virginia), and Weyanoke Montly Meeting (Charles City County, Virginia), Friends' records, 1699-1834; database with images, FamilySearch (record).
• Suzanne Johnston (transcriber), The Record Book Belonging to the Monthly Meeting of Friends Henrico County beginning from the year 1699 to the year 1757 Inclusive., from FHL #0031762; PDF, WikiTree (PDF); MS Word, RootsWeb (MS Word).
• "Henrico County, VA. Deeds 1677-1750", by Weisiger.
• C. G. Chamberlayne, The Vestry Book of St. Paul's Parish, Hanover County, Virginia, 1706–1786; digital images, FamilySearch (title page).