by Bonnie Flythe

fly1776@rcn.com

Sept. 26, 2008

During the mid-1700s to about 1800s, the brothers James, Richard and Isham and sister Susannah Johnson lived in Louisa County in St. Martin’s Parish very near the Hanover border. They were mentioned in several deeds as neighbors of Richard Johnson, Thomas Johnson, David Johnson, William Johnson and John Glen on the north side of the Southanna River. They are not known to be related to Col. Richard Johnson or to David & William Johnson, sons of William & Sarah Johnson. The parentage of these Johnsons has been searched for, but not yet found.

Isham Johnson was born before 1745, but was probably not the oldest of the siblings. On July 15, 1766, the following undated will was presented to Louisa County Court:

The will provides the names of three brothers and one sister. Isham, the testator, left no children and was apparently not married. However, the descendants of the two surviving brothers of Isham have been traced in Louisa County, Virginia and beyond. Susannah Johnson’s fate is not known. This document is the only identifiable mention of her.

There may have been some conflict over Isham’s will because a quit claim deed was recorded the same day as the will:

This was usually done to settle a dispute among heirs. The exact nature of this dispute remains a mystery.

The will was not the first to mention an Isham Johnson in Louisa County. He does not seem to have been a land owner even though he mentioned a crop in his will, but he did witness a deed:

The grantor of this deed was a descendant of Col. Richard Johnson and not known to be related to David Johnson, William Johnson or Isham Johnson who also appear in the document. Thomas Johnson was another descendant of Col. Richard Johnson. William Johnson and David Johnson were brothers, sons of William Johnson and Sarah his wife. This and other deeds provide the location of this group of Johnsons in St. Martin’s Parish, Louisa County.

Isham’s brother James seems to have been the eldest of the three, probably born in 1733 or before. James’ oldest child, Elizabeth Whitaker Johnson, was born in the early to mid-1750s. He was also the executor of Isham’s will. He died in 1792. James was actually the first of the brothers to appear in the records as this shows:

He may have owned other land, but he does not figure in any deeds in this area before this.

St. Martin’s Parish Tithable records are particularly valuable in tracing this line, but they begin in 1767 (Davis, Rosalie Edith, Louisa County, Virginia Tithables and Census 1743-1785)

From year to year, the lists vary in detail. Some simply provide numbers of tithables and some name all the tithables in a household.

James Johnson was listed in Martin’s Parish in 1767 as an owner of 215 acres of land. His tithable slaves were: Tom, Dogin, Fana, Toby, Corda, & Beck. He was enumerated by Richard Anderson in a precinct including Richard and David Johnson. Anderson’s tithables precinct was south of the Southanna River.

James purchased more land:

This resulted in the sale of the land that he had been living on:

James was evidently married to a Sarah, most likely Sarah Tenham, daughter of Robert Tenham. Tenham had written his will in 1763 mentioning his Johnson daughter, but not identifying her husband:

Firm proof of this marriage has not surfaced, but the wives of many other Johnson men during this time period have been identified and a Sarah was not among them.

James continued on the same tithable lists from 1768 through1773 with Conday, Beck and Furra/Forra/Forday listed. Then in 1775, James was listed as head of a household that included Richard Johnson, William Johnson, Furry, Beck and Nan. Two of James sons were old enough to be tithables & were so listed. In 1776, his tithables consisted of James Johnson, Richard Johnson, William Powers and three slaves. William Powers was a son-in-law and was apparently working for him. In 1783 James Johnson’s tithables differed from those previously enumerated. They consisted of Richard Johnson, John Johnson, James Johnson, Jr. and 6 slaves as well as James himself.

Then, Sarah Tenham Johnson’s sister wrote her will in Louisa County in 1783:

Some have claimed that James Johnson married Sarah Parish, but James was having children well before the James Johnson-Sarah Parish marriage of 1768 and Sarah Tenham Johnson was still alive in 1783! In addition, Sarah Johnson’s will indicates that she was the mother of James Johnson’s oldest children, born in the 1750s & early 1760s.

James Johnson died on Feb. 23, 1792. His will was a nuncupative will made at the very end of life:

The William Johnson who heard Johnson’s last wishes was most likely his son William.

His widow’s dower of 80 acres was allotted apparently before his demise or there was a copy error! This indicates that he owned a total of 240 acres:

Subsequent court documents give a listing of all of James children. Soon after James’ death, some of the children sold their share of their father’s land and also their share of their mother’s dower:

It is not clear why the deed had to be proved again two years later.

A division of James Johnson’s personal property was recorded:

This provides a list of eight of James’ ten children. Rebecca Moss and John Johnson are not included on the list & the reason for this is not known. His estate was appraised and a sale was conducted in 1793:

By the time of James demise, some of his children had moved to other counties:

In 1796, Sarah Johnson, his widow, died in Louisa County. She left a will that provides further information about the children:

I. Elizabeth Whitaker.

Elizabeth was probably born about 1753 or 1754. This daughter was married by the Rev. Douglas to William Powers on Nov. 29, 1774 (Jones, W. Mac, The Douglas Register, 40). Rev. Douglas described William Powers as "of Goochland" and Elizabeth Whitaker Johnson as "of Hanover". Her father James’ tract of land may have straddled the Louisa- Hanover border. After this, she is untraced.

II. William

William was born about 1754 and on Oct. 15, 1781 married Ann/Nancy Johnson of Goochland Co. (Williams, ………., Marriages of Goochland Co, Va.. 1733-1815, 48)

Ann/Nancy was a daughter of James Johnson and Rachel Haden of Goochland & Albemarle Counties.

After the death of William’s mother, the couple moved to Logan County, Kentucky. William died there in 1811:

III. Richard

Richard was born before 1754. His wife was a Sarah, but little more is known of him. He apparently moved to Logan County, Kentucky.

IV. James

He was born before 1762 according to the Tithables Lists of Louisa County. On Oct. 6, 1790, he married Kesia Johnson, daughter of David Johnson in Louisa Co.

They were apparently involved in some sort of dispute with Kesia’s brothers Christopher and Thomas Johnson.

It is not known how this was resolved.

Years later, James and Kesia sold some of their land:

After this, they are untraced.

V. John

Like his brother, John was born before 1762 according to the Tithables Lists. John married a Mary by 1792. Her surname is unknown and they are untraced.

VI. Isham

Isham’s birth date is unknown and after his appearance in his father and mother’s estate settlement papers, his fate is unknown.

VII. Rebecca

By 1792, Rebecca Johnson had married William Moss of Buckingham County. She was probably born about 1771. In 1797, Rebecca was a widow and remarried:

The 1811 Logan County will of Rebecca’s brother William Johnson indicates that she and her husband moved to Logan County, Kentucky with some of her siblings.

VIII. Sarah

Sarah was mentioned in her mother’s will of 1796. After that she is untraced.

IX. Nancy

The fate of this child, living in 1796, is not known.

X. Thomas

Thomas was born about 1780 and in 1799, he married Nancy Price:

Thomas was in Louisa County in 1800 when he sold his portion of his father’s property:

　Thomas and Nancy Johnson moved to Logan Co., Kentucky at some point.

Richard was born before 1745. He had been left a legacy of a slave Singo by his brother Isham in 1766. Then in 1767, a Richard Johnson of St. Martin’s Parish was listed with slaves Tom and Singo in the tithables listings.

The Rev. Douglas recorded the marriage of Richard Johnson and Dorothy Powers on Nov. 14, 1769 (Jones, W. Mac, The Douglas Register, 29). He also recorded the births of some of their children: Reuben Powers (1772), Christopher (1774), Lewis (1777), and Francis (1782) (Jones, W. Mac, The Douglas Register, 227).

Soon after the marriage, Richard purchased land in Goochland County. This seems to have been near the home of his bride and her father William Powers:

Then a few years later, he purchased more land:

Dorothy was probably the mother of Richard’s eldest son Philip. Philip’s birth was not recorded by the Rev. Douglas, but he was mentioned in his father’s will. Dorothy died before Richard and on April 18, 1785 he married Milley Walker in Goochland County (Williams, …, Marriages of Goochland Co,Va 1733-1815, 48). She may have been the Molly Walker, daughter of Peter Walker mentioned in the will of Elizabeth Tenham, sister of Sarah Tenham Johnson. Milly was the mother of Richard’s sons Peyton, John, and Thomas.

At some point, Richard and Milly moved to Buckingham County after selling this land in Goochland:

Richard dated his will in 1823 in Buckingham County, a burned county. Fortunately it survived in the Contested Election Files for that county:

Richard Johnson of Buckingham Co., D. 8 Sept. 1823 R. 10 May, 1831

If Richard lived till about 1831 when his will was recorded, he would have been about 86 years old! Obviously his widow Milly outlived him, but nothing more is known about her.

I. Philip

Philip was probably born about 1770. A Philip Johnson does appear in the Personal Property Tax Lists for Goochland County in 1792 & 3, 1798-1803, 1805 (3 Chopt Rd.) and 1806-1809 (Goochland Co., Va P.. P.. Tax Lists 1782-1809 LDS #2024552). He does not appear in the land tax lists.

II. Reubin Powers

This son was born on Oct. 7, 1772, but he is untraced.

III. Christopher

Christopher was born Oct. 25, 1774 and is untraced here.

IV. Lewis

On Feb. 13, 1777, Lewis Johnson was born in Goochland County. He is untraced here.

V. Francis

Born March 19, 1782, this son may not have survived childhood. He was not mentioned in his father’s will.

VI. Nancy

Nancy was probably born about 1783 or 1784, but her birth was not recorded. Nancy married Robert Riddle in 1805 in Goochland County with Madison Powers as security (Williams, .., Mar. of Goochland Co., Via 1733-1815, 83). She may not have moved to Buckingham County with her parents.

VII. Sally

Although Sally married a man named Dunn, she is untraced

VIII. Elizabeth

Nothing is known about this daughter.

IX. Peyton

This son was born to Milly after 1785, but is untraced.

X. John

Born after 1785, he is untraced.

XII. Thomas

This son, born after 1785, is untraced.

Descendency Chart

Unknown Johnson

1. James

m. Sarah Tenham

1. Elizabeth Whitaker (ca. 1753- )
2. William (ca. 1754- 1811 Logan Co., Ky)
3. Richard (bef. 1754- )
4. James (bef. 1767- )
5. John (bef. 1767- )
6. Isham (bef. 1773- )
7. Rebecca (ca. 1771- )
8. Sarah
9. Nancy/Ann
10. Thomas (ca. 1779- )
2. Richard

m. Dorothy Powers

A. Philip

B. Reubin Powers

C. Christopher

D. Lewis

E. Francis

F. Nancy

m. Robert Riddle, 1805

G. Sally

m. _______ Dunn

H. Elizabeth

m. Milly Walker

I. Peyton

J. John

K.Thomas

3. Isham- dsp
4. Susannah

Chappelear, Nancy & Hatch, Kate Binford　. Abstracts of Louisa County, Virginia Will Books 1743-1801, (Washington, D.C., Chappelear & Binford, 1964)

Davis, Rosalie Edith, Louisa County, Virginia Tithables and Census 1743-1785, (Manchester, Mo., 1988)

Davis, Rosalie Edith, Louisa County, Virginia Deed Books C, C ½, D and D ½: 1759-1774, (Manchester, Mo., Davis, 1977)

Goochland Co., Deed Book #10, LDS #31656

Goochland Co. Deed Book #16, LDS #31658

Goochland Co., Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists 1782-1809 LDS #2024552

Haden, Kay email of, Logan County Kentucky Will Book A

Jones, W. Mac, The Douglas Register, (Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1977)

Southside Virginian, Vol. 5, #1

VaGenWeb Louisa County, Va., Deed Book B

VaGenWeb, Louisa Co., Va Deed Book C

VaGenWeb, Louisa Co. Deed Book: D

Va.GenWeb, Louisa Co., DB G

VaGenWeb Louisa County, Va., Will Book 1

VaGenWeb,Louisa Co. VA WB 3　

VaGenWeb, Louisa Co., VA WB 4

VaGenWeb, Louisa Co., Will Book: J

VGGA 25 Jul. 1792

Williams, Kathleen Booth, Marriages of Goochland County, Virginia 1733-1815 (Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979)

Williams, Kathleen Booth, Marriages of Louisa Co., Virginia 1766-1815, (Baltimore, Md., Clearfield Co., 1989)

Main Page: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~lksstarr