Helen Louise (Dillett) Johnson (1842 - 1919)

Born 4 Aug 1842 in Bain Town, Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas

Ancestors

Wife of James Johnson — married 22 Apr 1864 in Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas

Descendants

Died 7 Jan 1919 at age 76 in New York City, New York, United States

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Helen (Dillett) Johnson is part of a Bahamian family.

Biography

From http://www.ipernity.com/doc/285591/33806909 "Helen Louise Dillet Johnson (1842 - 1917), was a mom, musician, and public school teacher. And the first black female teacher in Florida at a grammar school and then at Edwin M. Stanton School.

She imparted to her children her considerable love and knowledge of English literature and the European tradition in music. Her husband James Johnson was born a free man in Richmond, Virginia in 1830.

Helen's father, Stephen Dillet was of French Haitian blood. Her mother (the former Mary Symonett), took her to New York to embark upon a singing career.

When James Johnson migrated to New York, he too was interested in music, heard Helen Louise sing and it was love at first sight.

When the Civil War created so much unrest, Helen Louise and her mother, returned to Nassau, and James Johnson followed. They were married in Christ Church Cathedral on April 22, 1864.

Johnson brought his wife back to America after the war and they settled in Jacksonville,Florida. There, their first child was born, a girl, Marie Louise, on July 10, 1868. On July 17, 1871, James William (in 1913 he changed his middle name to Weldon), was born and on August 11, 1873, John Rosamond arrived,"

(prolonged quote- please do not credit to MZ!)

Helen Louise was the first black female teacher in a Florida grammar school and at the Edwin M. Stanton High School in Jacksonville, Florida.

Helen Louise Dillet Johnson died in 1919 in New York City and is buried at Cypress Hills Cemetery.

Sources

• Wikipedia
• https://onlineexhibits.library.yale.edu/s/lift-every-voice/page/home
• "Bahamas Births, 1850-1891", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLM5-PXK : 16 December 2019), Helen Dillett in entry for Johnson, 1868. Birth record of Marie Louise Johnson.
• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNZ9-QMX : 7 January 2022), Helen Johnson in household of James Johnson, Duval, Florida, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm.
• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3DB-KX8 : accessed 11 January 2022), Helen Johnson in household of James Johnson, Precinct 22 (north part) Jacksonville city Ward 8, Duval, Florida, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 52, sheet 17A, family 477, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,168.
• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVK3-S8M : accessed 11 January 2022), Helen Johnson in household of James L Johnson, Jacksonville Ward 8, Duval, Florida, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 86, sheet 21B, family 473, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 159; FHL microfilm 1,374,172.
• Florida, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1827-1950, Duval County, Vol J, 1911-1912. Will of Reverend James Johnson. Helen is the sole beneficiary until her death.
• "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WZQ-2T3 : 20 March 2015), Mary Simonett in entry for Helen Louise Johnson, 07 Jan 1919; citing Death, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,322,441.
• Obituary of Mrs. Helen Johnson. Newspapers.com - The New York Age, New York City, New York - 11 Jan 1919 - Page 8.

http://www.ipernity.com/doc/285591/33806909