Isaac Johnson (abt. 1749 - 1825)

Descendants

Died 20 Jun 1825 at about age 76 in Whitchurch, York, Home District, Upper Canada [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Jeff Ikeler [send private message] and Thomas Little [send private message]

Biography

This profile is part of the Johnson Name Study.

Isaac Johnson migrated from Pennsylvania to Upper Canada.

Isaac was born about 1749 in an unknown location.

In the 1790 census Isaac was living in Northumberland, Pennsylvania.^[1] His wife and children are counted with him, except eldest daughter Christiana "Jenny" (~16). Assuming the females count is correct, she was potentially married off by this time.

In the 1800 septennial census, Isaac was living in Greenwood, Northumberland (now Columbia) County, Pennsylvania. He was enumerated as a farmer, like most others in the township.^[2]

In the 1800 federal census, Isaac was living in Greenwood, Northumberland (now Columbia) County, Pennsylvania.^[3] His wife and children are counted with him, except:

• Son Jacob (~28) is not enumerated in Greenwood, seemingly having departed first for Upper Canada.
• Daughter Christiana "Jenny" (~26) is counted in the household of her husband Andrew Ikeler, a son of neighbor William Ikeler, both enumerated on the same page (as "Jeckler").
• Daughter Hannah (~20) is counted in the household of her husband Obadiah Welliver, a son of neighbor Daniel Welliver in Derry, Northumberland (now Montour) County.
• Daughter Sarah (~20) appears to have departed for Upper Canada with her brother Jacob, perhaps going to assist his pregnant wife with the journey.

Between 1800 and 1802, Isaac moved to Upper Canada with all of his belongings, wife, and five children. The five children mentioned are likely his five youngest, as his two eldest daughters are known to have remained in Pennsylvania. On October 26, 1802 he petitioned the Lieutenant Governor, Peter Hunter, for 200 acres of land.^[4] He received the patent for lot 4, concession 8 in Whitchurch Township, Upper Canada on June 10, 1805 or 1806.^{[see research notes]}

Isaac purchased the neighboring 200 acres of lot 5, concession 8 in 1812. He sold 100 acres to his son James in 1814.

Isaac died on June 20, 1825 near Whitchurch Township, Upper Canada. Benjamin Boyer testified to his death before W W Baldwin, surrogate for the Home District court.^[5]

Isaac's will dated January 8, 1824 was submitted to probate on July 5, 1825. In it, he bequeathed all of his furniture, moveable property, and possession of his land at lots 4 and 5, concession 8 to his wife Margaret for as long as she lived. Upon her death, the land was to be divided between the children with 50 acres going to each son – Jacob, Isaac, James, John, and Vincent. The remaining 50 acres was to be sold to pay his expenses and the remaining proceeds were to be split equally between his daughters – "Jenny Ikler" (Christiana "Jenny" Ikeler), "Hannah Woolever" (Hannah Welliver), Sarah Davis, and Elizabeth Weddel.^[5]

Research Notes

• Isaac may appear in a tax roll for Washington Township, Northumberland County in 1788.^[6] Note that this record only mentions his name and the location is not yet supported by other records. This township is approximately 45 miles south-southwest of Greenwood Township where he was known to be in 1800. -Ikeler-28 12:43, 2 May 2024 (UTC)
  • This Isaac Johnson had no land of his own, only 1 horse, and no cows in this assessment. If this is him, then perhaps his situation was similar to that of his in-law William Ikeler who'd had his property siezed in New Jersey as a loyalist in 1778. -Ikeler-28 02:32, 3 May 2024 (UTC)
  • William's children intermarried with both Danniel Welliver's children, a man he had known during his time in New Jersey and who would become his neighbor in the Greenwood until their deaths, and Isaac's children. Additionally, Isaac's children married into the Daniel's. These three intermarriages potentially hint that all three men were acquainted prior to their arrival in the Greenwood. -Ikeler-28 02:32, 3 May 2024 (UTC)
• Isaac was probably somewhat associated with Derry before 1800 because 2 of his children married into Derry families. -Ikeler-28 02:32, 3 May 2024 (UTC)
• Isaac was conditionally granted the 200 acres of lot 4, concession 8 in 1802 and received the patent on 10 June 1805 or 1806. The original patent was copied with a typewriter as 1805 and corrected in pen to 1806. The handwritten original is no longer available for verification of the year. -Ikeler-28 02:32, 3 May 2024 (UTC)
• Isaac and his descendants were active in Whitchurch, East Gwillimbury, and Markham townships from around 1800, and by the 1840s this area increasingly also included Uxbridge, Scott, and Reach townships to the east, as well as Georgina and North Gwillimbury townships to the north. Communities strongly historically associated with the family include Ringwood, Bloomington, Sharon, and Newmarket. The family also had a strong historical association with the Christian Church movement and was connected to the Christian Churches in Ringwood, Bloomington, and Newmarket.

Sources

1. ↑ 1790 Census: "United States Census, 1790"
   citing Page: 46,47; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M637; Line: 49591; Digital film/folder number: 005157141; FHL microfilm: 0568149; Image number: 281
   FamilySearch Record: XHKR-JYY (accessed 2 May 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYYB-W5T
   Isaac Johnston in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States.

   Free White Male 16+, head Isaac [Johnston] age 40-41

   Free White Male < 16, son Jacob, age 17-18

   Free White Male < 16, son Isaac, age 2-3

   Free White Male < 16, son James, age 0

   Free White Female, wife Margaret, age 40-41

   Free White Female, daughter Hannah, age 13-14

   Free White Female, daughter Sarah, age 9-10

   Free White Female, daughter Elizabeth, age 6-7

2. ↑ 1800 Census: "Pennsylvania, U.S., Septennial Census, 1779-1863"
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 2702 #584894 (accessed 2 May 2024)
   Isaac Johnson in Greenwood, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, USA.
3. ↑ 1800 Census: "1800 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1800; Census Place: Greenwood, Northumberland, Pennsylvania; Series: M32; Roll: 37; Page: 762; Image: 160; Family History Library Film: 363340
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 7590 #388750 (accessed 2 May 2024)
   Isaac Johnson in Greenwood, Northumberland, Pennsylvania.

   Free White Male < 10, son Vincent, age 4-5

   Free White Male < 10, son John, age 5-6

   Free White Male 10-15, son James, age 9-10

   Free White Male 10-15, son Isaac, age 12-13

   Free White Male 45+, head Isaac age 50-51

   Free White Female 16-25, daughter Elizabeth, age 16-17

   Free White Female 45+, wife Margaret, age 50-51

   No free people of color and no slaves recorded in this household.

4. ↑ Land petition: Land petition of Isaac Johnson 26 Oct 1802, Land Petitions of Upper Canada, volume 254A, bundle I-J 6, petition 7, reference RG 1 L3; browsable images, Library and Archives Canada (https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-e.php?q2=29&q3=2489&sqn=241&tt=1065 : accessed 23 Feb 2024), images 241-242; Library and Archives Canada film C-2109.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Will: York County Surrogate Court records - 1800-1864 (RG 22-305),
   Archives of Ontario microfilm reference number MS 638, Reel 87.
   Ontario Archives, Toronto. View the packet and transcription.
6. ↑ Tax Record: "Pennsylvania, U.S., Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801"
   Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission; Records of the Office of the Comptroller General, RG-4; Tax & Exoneration Lists, 1762-1794; Microfilm Roll: 332
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 2497 #1163217 (accessed 2 May 2024)
   Name: Isaac Johnson; Year: 1788; Town or Ward: Washington; County: Northumberland; Archive Rollname: 332.

• Upper Canada land grant petition.