EDWARD JOHNSON UPDATE
January  1996
by Linda Sparks Starr

There are at least two Edward Johnsons in the same area of VA  at the same approximate time; we've got to determine  which  is  the father of Penelope.  The first candidate is the minor son of Mr. Edward Johnson.  I believe all other references   probably  refer to Penelope's father--but which Edward is he?

from Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Series 2, vol 5:  York Co. Wills  ... 1657-1659 by The Rev. Lindsay O. Duvall.

MR. EDWARD JOHNSON -- deceased  by  16  NOV  1657--apparently  an Anglican minister because he baptised negro child SEP 1655 and is  also mentioned in Parish Levy.  His wife MARY left York Co. about  this time [no indication to where]. Mr. Robert Baldrey was  named
guardian of EDWARD JOHNSON, minor son and heir of  EDWARD  dec'd. In 1655 a path to "Mr. Johnson's Quarter" is  mentioned  in  land description lying in Hampton Parish ... upon Cheescake Path.

["Cheesecake" was a vulgar term for  the  church  located  a  few miles from Williamsburg named Kiskiacke or Chiskiake after an  Indian tribe on the York River--in Bruton Parish which  was  formed from parts of James City  and  Charles  River  Counties  per  Old Churches, Ministers  and  Families  of  Virginia,  vol.  1,  by  Meade.   Rightmyer offers this from Goodwin's The Colonial Church in  VA.:  The old parish was called Hampton or Chiskiack  1639/40  to  1690
when it  was  renamed  Yorkhampton  Parish,  which  continues  as Yorktown.  Charles Parish was est. down river in 1692.  These are on the Rappahannock.  New Kent Co. on the north bank of the James across the neck and upriver from  York  was  est.  1654  and  the parishes are Blissland and St. Peter's.]

Thomas Rightmyer, working on a biographical  directory  of  early clergy adds:  This Edward was born c1621 if ordained at the usual age of 24.  As yet, no one has determined WHICH, if any, of these references refer to this minister -- the one who matriculated pensioner Easter 1639 at Magdalene College, Cambridge; the Deacon 16 JUN 1644; or the Priest 9 APR 1645 by Bishop of Lincoln.  Goodwin says he died in York Co. VA c1665, but above record proves it was earlier.  

We only know that the minor son of EDWARD is under 21 in 1657--he could be anywhere from an infant to an almost adult.  It doesn't help that New Kent Co. VA was formed in 1654 from the James  City part of York Co. 

from  Bernard Schaaf,  Biographical  Sketches  Capt.  Christopher Clark and Penelope Johnson Clark, page 24,  says  the  mother  of PENELOPE was Elizabeth WALKER from the 1677 marriage record found in Blissland Parish, New Kent Co.

Yet, from The Vestry Book of  Blisland  (Blissland)  Parish,  New Kent and James City Co. VA 1721-1786 by  Chamberlayne,  the  only entry for Edward Johnson in the index is:

2 APR  1677  EDWARD  JOHNSON  was  one  of  signers  to  list  of grievances to King's Commissioners who had  come  to  investigate the causes of the Rebellion of that year.  Other signers of interest to us were Peter Masie, Thomas Moorman and Richmond Terrell.  

per The Quit Rents of VA 1704 by Smith:  JOHNSON, Edward  of  New Kent Co. taxed on 150 Acres.  

from The Vestry Book & Register of St. Peter's Parish,  New  Kent Co. & James City Co. 1684-1786 by Chamberlayne.   Children of EDWARD JOHNSON and wife Elizabeth
     Thomas b. 1680
     Elizabeth b. 1682
     PENELOPE b. 1684
     Rachell b. 1686-7
Children of Edward are:
     Rebecka b. 1698
     Benjamin b. 1701

Edward was "ordered to possession" in 1689 with  family  surnames who intermarry with the CLARK, MOORMAN, and JOHNSONs.  

from Lorand Johnson's The Ancestors of William and John  Johnson: Johnston of Caskieben, Crimond, and Cayesmill  which  is  largely uncited material--although since  much  is  photocopied  directly from published books, it isn't as suspect as if he'd typed a  new manuscript.:

     p. 171 Chn of Edward and Elizabeth (Walker)
          Anthony b. 1678
          Thomas b. 1680
          Elizabeth b. 1682
          PENELOPE b. 1684 m. Christopher Clark
          Rachel b. 1686
          Arthur m. Margaret Phares
          John (Blissland Parish)
          Michael m. Sarah
          Rebecca b. 1698
          Benjamin b. 1702 m. Margery Massie
          William b. 1703 m. Ann Chew

Johnson's explanation for the additional children is that  Edward only baptized his children in the Anglican church in those  years when people were fined for not doing so.  

Johnson book continued for "proving" the gateway Johnstons:  p135  under "The Inverurie Quakers" -- JAMES JOHNSTON and  his  brother GEORGE, sons of Dr. Arthur Johnson (and nephews of Elizabeth  the Quakeress, the second wife of Apostate George Keith ... [the rest 
shows similarity of surnames of Quakers in Inverurie and  Quakers in Accomac Co. VA.]  There is a James JOHNSTON in  Nansemond  Co. 1682 per Early Quaker Records in VA by Miles White Jr.

Decrepancies between Johnston book and others re: George Keith:

Cradle of the Republic by Tyler, page 145 says George  Keith  was born in Aberdeen ...  was  a  Quaker  BEFORE  joining  Church  of England and emigrating to colonies 1689.  

As an evangelist for the "Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the Gospel in Foreign Parts", George Keith preached at the  Jamestown Church 25 APR 1703 per James Blair of VA by Parke Rouse Jr.

Lorand Johnson, p140:  In 1676-77 (O.S.)  [George]  Keith  sailed from Edinburgh for the yearly meeting in England  accompanied  by his wife,  Elizabeth,  her  cousin  Edward  (son  of  Dr.  Arthur Johnston) and Keith's daughter (who m. George Walker).  After the yearly meeting ... Elizabeth's relatives were escorted to  VA  by William Edmundson who was returning to VA  (see  p.  121)   [This refers us to chart showing  Elizabeth  as  daughter  Dr.  William Johnston, brother of Dr. Arthur Johnston.]

     I have no real problem with Penelope being a JOHNSON, for  I believe Schaaf builds a good "preponderance  of  evidence"  case. However, I think we might look at  various  indexes  (which  give first names along with surnames)  to  see  just  how  many  other "Penelope's" are in this area of VA who could, just as  well,  be the dau of Edward and Elizabeth Johnson!     

     It's Edward Johnson, her father, as son of Dr. Arthur  which troubles me most.  Those researchers who dismiss BOLLING  as  her surname because of the lack of PENELOPEs in that line, could make  the same case  for  Dr.  Arthur's  line.   PENELOPE,  RACHEL  and REBECCA are not found in this JOHNSTON line; neither is BENJAMIN.  [Lorand Johnson didn't give enough WALKER family names to see  if these names appear in that line.]

     Until something else appears, my personal view is, Edward as son of Dr. Arthur Johnston is wishful thinking by people who want  Dr. Arthur on their family  tree.   Page  174  [Bernard  Schaaf's sketch Biographical Sketch of Arthur Johnston M. D., appearing in Scottish-American Genealogist, vol. VII, No. 1-4] says it all  under  Birth of son Edward:  "there is no direct proof of his birth and parentage in any of the surviving records in either  Aberdeenshire,  Scotland,  or  in  Oxfordshire,  England."   Even  though reasons for  this  are  offered  in  his  sketch  on  Edward  and Elizabeth (Walker), Schaaf's comments have to stand:  (page  184, Ibid): "Specific references to primary  sources  are  given  when known, but unfortunately most of the information about Edward  is from secondary and tertiary sources.  Many years of  research  by Lorand V. Johnson ... have failed to locate any mention  of  Edward Johnston/Johnston in  any  of  the  civil,  Anglican,  or  Quaker records..." [He then comments on Dr. Johnson's two  books]  "both books contain a large accumulation of unattributed material."

     Continuing page 185:  "Dr. L. V. Johnson  has  gone  to  considerable personal expense and trouble to try to find some source document which would verify that Edward Johnson of New  Kent  Co. was indeed the son of Dr. Arthur Johnston ...  he  has  conducted expensive searches in VA, Scotland and England over nearly  fifty years,  but  without  success  ...  including   translation   and transcription of every sasine (deed) for any Johnston in Aberdeenshire, all the surviving Johnston records from New Leslie ... and all the extant wills and court records for Oxford ... [explaining the reasons "why"] ... Johnston and his  son-in-law  [were]  both highly prominent Royalists and Anglicans, ...it  is  highly  probable that any pertinent records in Oxford ... were destroyed  by Oliver Cromwell's victorious Puritans.  Or it  may  be  that  the family itself suppressed any records to try to  prevent  reprisals from the Puritans..."   Did they think the Puritans would do harm  to the baby?

     Schaaf goes on to say even if proof is found that Dr. Arthur  had a son named Edward, we would still have to find the proof  HE was Penelope's father.  He found  at  least  three  other  Edward Johnson's who had come to VA before 1676 and some 200 JOHNSON  immigrants before 1666 (per Nugent), any one  of  whom  could  have fathered the Edward of Blissland and St. Peter's Parish.