James Johnson (1830)

Born 26 Aug 1830 in Richmond, Virginia

Husband of Helen Louise (Dillett) Johnson — married 22 Apr 1864 in Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas

Descendants

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Biography

"Father James Johnson was born in Richmond, Virginia on August 26, 1830. It was known by many Virginians that he was born a freeman — legally free from slavery or bondage. He left Virginia at an early age and chose New York as his new work home. In those days many teenage boys went to work quite early. Father Johnson found work at the Old Stevens House in Bowling Green, a section of New York City…."

From: Two Talented and Affluent Black American Brothers: James ... - Page 10 https://books.google.com/books?id=qLlKAAAAYAAJ Ida Lee Coker - 1979

He worked as a waiter.

"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.

Bringing his wife back to America after the war and settling in Jacksonville, 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." Page 13 - Photos, videos and docs of ~Kicha~ - RSSing.com

Sources

• James Weldon Johnson Autiobiography