James Johnson, the Elder, and Some of his Descendants Of Goochland County, Virginia By Bonnie Flythe (fly1776@nh.ultranet.com) Edited by Dr. L. Neil Johnson and Harold Johnson James Johnson, son of Michael Johnson, was referred to in all of the records of the late 1700s in Goochland county, Virginia as James Johnson (Old) or James Johnson, the Elder. That practice will continue here to help distinguish him from the other James Johnsons alive at the time and living in the county. The repeated use of certain given names by the Johnson men of Goochland county does make any discussion of them difficult. Care must be taken to avoid combining them and any additional information, which the reader may wish to contribute, will be very welcome. James Johnson, the Elder, was probably born before 1697. This is an estimate based on the date of his first known land grant: July 12, 1718. Patent by James Johnson for 400 acres for 40 shillings, Henrico Co., north side of James River. Bounded by Cha. Evans, John Johnson, Joseph Woodson & Benj. Woodson. [1] According to Fluvanna County records, James Johnson the Elder also patented another 400 acres, but that patent has not yet been located. James was probably married and beginning a family by about 1730. The birthdates of his grandchildren seem to indicate this. The births of his own children occurred apparently before the Rev. Douglas began to keep the St. James- Northam Parish register. A James Johnson was witness to the will of James Turner in 1735. [2] James is also mentioned as a neighbor in a patent by Charles Johnson. [3] The land was on Mill Creek and Jenetoe Creek and other neighbors were Daniel Johnson, Henry Turner, George Floyd, Mrs. Finney, and John Johnson. An interesting, but unexplained document appears in records in 1747. The will of John Hix mentions, among others, "my grandson, James Johnson Hix". [4] This indicates a possible connection to James Johnson, the Elder, but what it is, is not known. Perhaps research into the details of the Hix family would be helpful. James Johnson's wife is not known. Providing proof for the identities of his children, as described in the Michael Johnson article by Harold Johnson, requires jumping ahead in the chronology of the 1700s. The following deeds of gift are illuminating: Oct. 15, 1765. James Johnson the Elder of Goochland, "for divers good causes, but more especially for the love and natural affection I bear unto my son David Johnson", land on branches of Geneto Creek, 115 acres "being one third of 345 acres granted unto me by ... patent date______ and day ______." Bounded by Joseph Watkins & John Guerrant it being the southerly corner. Wit: Joseph Pleasants Amos + Ladd James Johnson Rec.: Oct. 15, 1765 [5] The second undated deed of gift is as follows: James Johnson the Elder "for divers good causes & considerations...for the love & natural affection I bear unto my son Isham Johnson," one tract of land 115 acres, by patent July 12, 1718. Bounded by John Haws, James Cocke, & David Johnson's line. Wit.: Matthew Vaughan William Price James Johnson John Wade Rec.: April 19, 1768 [6] The last deed of gift is as follows: June 19, 1769. James Johnson the Elder "for love and natural affection to my son Benjamin Johnson", 115 acres on branches of Genetoe Creek patented July 12, 1718 "adjoining land of son Isham unto whom I have formerly given same, David Johnson, Joseph Watkins, James Cocke." Wit: Isham Johnson David Johnson James Johnson Jacob Johnson Wm. W. Woodall Bartholomew X Turner Rec.: Aug. 21, 1769 [7] These establish the identity of three of his sons. The acreage mentioned in the deeds of gift does not match the number of acres in the original grant and the reason for this is not known. The next identifiable appearance of James Johnson in the records is in the 1787 personal property tax lists. On March 31, he was listed with no white or black males in the household, but one horse and 7 cows. [8] He seems to have died intestate soon after this. In 1798, a sale of the estate of Isham Johnson was reported to the court. [9] Isham obviously died intestate and a division of his property was ordered and David Johnson was appointed administrator. Purchasers at the sale included David Johnson, Sr., Jacob Johnson, Wm. Johnson (son David) and Agnes Johnson among others. The division itself is as follows: Nov. 20, 1801. To the representatives of Mary Turner, late wife of Bartholomew Turner & sister of Isham Johnson, decd. one seventh part of the personal estate (as appears by account of the sales produced) 16 pounds 12 shillings and 4 pence farthing. To the representatives of Drury Johnson, decd., James Johnson, decd., David Johnson, Decd. and Sarah Sampson, Decd. late wife of Stephen Sampson and to Benjamin Johnson or his representatives each one seventh part- also to the claimants under the will (acknowledged) of Agnes Johnson decd. who appears to have departed this life since the death of the said Isham Johnson (notwithstanding that she may have died without marriage or issue) one seventh part also to wit the sum first mentioned above. Rec. June 21, 1802 [10] This provides the names of all of James Johnson's children who survived to adulthood and indicates that Isham never married or possibly that his wife died before him. At any rate, Isham did not have any surviving children. James Johnson, the Elder, had eight children: Isham, Drury, Agnes, Mary, Sarah, James, David, and Benjamin. A discussion of each of these children follows. DRURY Johnson appears to be the oldest or among the oldest. He married Hannah Clark on Oct. 15, 1751. [11]Their children were: Jacob (b.1752), Jeanie (b. 1754), Elijah (b. 1756), Ann (b.1758), Clayborne (b.1760), Mary (b.1764), Sarah (b.1765), James (b.1768), Benjamin (b.1771), and Isham (b.1773). Hannah Clark Johnson was widowed by 1784, when she married a John Bradshaw. [12] Drury Johnson and his descendants will be discussed at length in another paper. SARAH Johnson married Stephen Sampson on Sept. 20, 1753 in Goochland Co. [13] Their children were Sarah (b. 1757), Elizabeth (b.1759), Ann (b.1763), Judith (b.1761), William (b.1765), Jean (b. 1768), Stephen (b.1769), James Johnson (1772), and Martha (b.1773) [14]. They are untraced. JAMES Johnson married Mildred Mims in 1751 on the same day Drury Johnson married Hannah Clark in Goochland Co. James Johnson and Mildred Mims were the parents of Sarah (b.1755), Martha (b.1758), Mary (b. 1760), David (b. 1762), twins John and Benjamin (b.1764), Judith (b.1765), James (b.1767), and Nansy (b.1769). [15] James and Mildred are untraced after a land sale in 1762. However, the Rev. Douglas records the death of a James Johnson on June 16, 1782 and I am persuaded that this is James Johnson, the Younger. The son David may be the David referred to in the records of Goochland Co. as David, Jr. On April 13, 1789, David Johnson, Jr. purchased 66 acres from Isham Johnson for 40 pounds. The land is described by Isham Johnson as the land "whereon I now live". [16] A year later David Johnson, Jr. purchased 180 acres of land "on Beaverdam Creek" from Joseph and Anna Lewis. [17] He married Nancy Bowles Dec. 16, 1790. [18] They sold the 66 acres purchased by David, Jr. in 1789 to a William Johnson. It was described as "taken off the south end of a greater dividend of land of the said Isham Johnson." [19] David is not one of the more common Johnson given names in Goochland, but I must at this point suggest that this David Johnson, Jr. may be a son of Joseph Johnson who is not discussed in this article. This uncertainty about the identity of David stems from an examination of the following series of deeds.: Oct. 20, 1777. Fluvanna County. From Thomas Pleasants of the Parish of St. James-Northam and County of Goochland, to Jacob Johnson of same, for 81 pounds 12 shillings and 6 pence, one certain tract of land of 200 acres in Fluvanna on the branches of Byrd Cr., being one half of 400 acres patented to James Johnson the Elder of Goochland County, and by him conveyed to said Thomas Pleasants by deed, and adjoining the lands of David Johnson, Jr. (who is in possession of the other 200 acres), Christopher Sheperd, Thomas Banks, and the line dividing the counties of Louisa and Fluvann. Signed- Tho: Pleasants. Wit: Isham Johnson, Thomas Oliver, Edward McBride, Abram Parrish (Abraham Parish), David Nowlen (Nowling), Turner Clarke, Clab (X his mark ) Johnson. Rec.: Nov.4, 1779 [20] In 1777, David Johnson, Jr. is described as being in possession of part of James the Elder's grant, but James the Younger's son David was born in 1762 and would have been only 15 in 1777. If this is David the son of James the Elder, he is called Jr. which implies that another older Johnson male by the name of David was living in Goochland Co. Sr. and Jr. do not always mean father and son. Customary usage at that time was to apply Sr. to the older of two men of the same name and Jr. to the younger. This David could also be David (b. 1762), son of Joseph Johnson who owned land in Fluvanna County! According to Dr. L. Neil Johnson in his paper tracing the descendants of Drury Johnson, the Edward Pleasants Valentine Papers state the following: Thomas Pleasants deed from Jacob Johnson and Sarah, his wife of Goochland Co. and Claiborne Johnson of Chesterfield Co. 115 pounds, 15 shillings, and 2 pence: current money, 200 acres in Fluvanna Co. on Byrd Creek being 1/2 of 400 acres granted unto James Johnson the elder of Goochland Co. 1st.June 1784. D.B.2 p.44 Drury Johnson is not mentioned, but these are two of his sons selling this land back to Thomas Pleasants. In addition, David Johnson the younger in 1789 and 1797 sells his 1/2 of the land to Thomas Pleasants. There is no explanation for the two sales agreements for the same land. How did Thomas Pleasants obtain the land originally? There are no known deeds of gift from James the Elder to his sons Drury and James. Why not? Is Thomas Pleasants in some way related to James the Elder? James the Younger's daughter Mary may have married John Price as mentioned in the description of Agnes Johnson, daughter of James the Elder. It seems that further research in Fluvanna may yield more information to illuminate all of this. DAVID Johnson married Lucy Ellis of Henrico County in April 13, 1762 in Goochland Co. [21] They were the parents of Sarah (b.1763), Ann (b.1764), William (b.1767), Susannah (b.1769), James (b.1772), Lucy (b.1774), David (b.1777), and Betty Ware (b.1783). [22] It is interesting that David Johnson was visited by the tax enumerator on the same day as Isham and David, Jr. This implies that they were neighbors. This David, jr. could not be son of David and Lucy because in 1787 that son was only 10 years old and not a head of household. As previously mentioned, David Johnson, Sr. was administrator of his brother Isham's estate, but David himself was dead by Dec. 16, 1799 when the court ordered an appraisal of his estate. [23] William Johnson was appointed his administrator. Another Johnson dies without a will! In 1802, a "friendly" suit was filed in Chancery Court by the heirs and David's land, 131 acres on the Genetoe, was sold by Daniel Guerrant, Daniel Johnson and Joseph Watkins. [24] The contents of the actual suit have not been examined and there may be more useful information to be found there. David's children Sarah, Ann, Susannah, James, Lucy and David are untraced. It should be noted that the Rev. Douglas conducted David Johnson's child's funeral on May 29, 1773. [25] Which child died? The son William, born Dec. 11, 1767, married Sarah Toler daughter of George Toler and possibly Fannie Bourne in Goochland Co. on Dec. 29, 1798. [26] In 1797, this son William "leased" a plantation bounded by Toler and also slaves for 10 years from George Hudson, but by 1804 William was selling this land so must have purchased it. In 1806, William Johnson sells to Eliza Carroll "for love and affection" and 6 shillings, two feather beds, two chests, etc. William Toler was a witness. [27] Could this be Betty Ware Johnson, his sister? It should also be noted that this William Johnson is referred to as (C) in some of these documents. The reason for this is not known. According to the 1822 will of George Toler, William and Sally were the parents of Fannie, David F., Betsy, George and Jane Johnson. Sometime between 1812 and 1822, William Johnson died without leaving a will. Fannie Johnson is untraced. Betsy Johnson married Dabney Glass. Jane married a Mahanes and apparently the widowed Sally spent her last years with her. [28] George Johnson is untraced. David Johnson married Susan Elizabeth Parrish daughter of Booker Smith Parrish and Martha T. Gilliam on Dec. 17, 1827. [29] David and Susan moved to Cumberland co. about 1831 and lived there at least until the Civil War began. Their children were William B., George Robert, Marion, Napoleon B., and Littleton Johnson. George Robert, my ancestor, was in the Confederate Cavalry, survived the War, married and became the father of twelve children. My grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Johnson, was one of these children. David himself died in Goochland Co. on Jan. 18, 1870 without leaving a will. [30] MARY Johnson married Bartholomew Turner in 1763 in Goochland Co. [31] They were the parents of James (1765), Charles (1766), Reuben (1768), Henry (1770), John (1773), Pleasants (1774) and William (1777). BENJAMIN Johnson, son of James the Elder, was alive in 1801 when his brother Isham's property was divided. He had married Martha Hughes in 1766. [32] They were the parents of Thomas (b.1767), Jean (b.1768), Mary (b.1770), Ffrances Anderson (b. 1772), Benjamin (b.1774), Isham (b.1776), and Charity (b.1782). [33] It is interesting that in 1784, Benjamin Johnson sold to Joseph Watkins 131 acres "excepting the burying ground" in Goochland co. on the branches of Genetoe Creek. [34] This is the same amount of land sold in the settling of the "friendly" suit brought by David Johnson's heirs. This Benjamin may be the Benjamin who died in Goochland Co. in 1813, but this is entirely unproven. AGNES Johnson appears to have lived in Louisa County. There is the will of an Agnes Johnson, dated Dec. 11, 1798, which leaves bequests to Jacob Johnson's daughter Agnes and to a John Price. The witnesses were David Johnson, William Johnson and Nancy Johnson. It was recorded Jan. 14, 1799. If this is Agnes daughter of James Johnson the Elder, it seems that she never married or had children. Drury Johnson's son Jacob had a daughter Agnes. In addition, on July 31, 1779, a marriage bond in Goochland Co. records the future marriage of John Price and Mary Johnson. Mary's guardian was Isham Johnson; David Johnson, Jr. was surety and James Johnson, David Johnson and Benjamin Johnson among others were witnesses. [35] This summary of one Goochland County Johnson line is obviously incomplete and may contain errors. Conclusions, however, are based on as much documentation as possible and any additional information and suggestions would be very much appreciated. A descent chart for James the Elder is attached with the hope that it may help clarify the preceding narrative. July20, 1999 ---------- 1. Louise Pledge Heath Foley, _Early Virginia Families Along the James River: Their Deep Roots and Tangled Branches Henrico County-Goochland County Virginia_, vol. 1 (Baltimore Md: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1983), pg 55. 2. Margaret V. Henley, _Abstracts of Wills From Goochland County, Virginia 1727- 1777_, (Goochland, Va: Goochland County Historical Society, 1990), p. 6 3. Foley, pg. 90 4. Goochland County, Virginia Deed Book 5, pg 407 5. Goochland County, Virginia Deed Book 9, pg 8 6. ibid. pg 140 7. ibid, pg. 220 8. Nettie Schreiner-Yantis & Florene Speakman Love, _The Personal Property Tax Lists for the Year 1787 for Goochland County, Virginia_ (Springfield, Va: Genealogical Books in Print, 1987) pg. 788 9. Goochland County, Virginia Deed Book 17, pg. 202, 203, 204 10. Goochland County, Virginia Deed Book 18, pg. __ 11. W. Mac Jones, ed. _The Douglas Register, (Baltimore Md: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1977) pg. 28 12. Goochland County, Virginia Deed Book 14, pg. 64 13. Jones, pg. 290 14. ibid, pg. 290 15. ibid, pg. 225 16. Goochland County Virginia Deed Book 15, pg 222 17. ibid., pg. 459 18. Williams, _Marriages of Goochland Co._, pg. 47 19. Deed Book 16, pg. 175 20. T.L.C. Genealogy, _Fluvanna County, Virginia Deeds, 1777-1783_, (Miami Beach, Fla: T.L.C. Genealogy, 1991), pg 26 21. Jones, pg. 28 22. ibid, pg, 224 23. Goochland County, Virginia Deed Book 18, pg 16, 17 & 18 24. ibid, pg ___ 25. Jones, pg 339 26. Kathleen Booth Williams, _Marriages of Goochland Co. Virginia 1733-1815_, (Baltimore, Md: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979), pg. 49 27. Deed Book 19, pg. 519 28. U.S. Census, 1850 29. Goochland County Marriage Bonds 30. DAR Application of Susan Johnson Henshaw 31. Jones, _The Douglas Register_, pg. 47 32. ibid, pg. 223 33. ibid., pg. 223, 224 34. Goochland County, Virginia Deed Book 14, pg. 33 35. Williams, pg. 79 ------------- Descent Chart of James Johnson the Elder: James Johnson the Elder (bef.1697-aft. 1787 Gooch.Co.) m. _________ ( -d.1775 G.Co.) 1. James (b.bef.1730- d.1782?G.Co.) m. Mildred Mims, Oct. 15, 1751 a. Sarah (1755- ) untraced b. Martha (1758- ) untraced c. Mary (1760- ) untraced d. David (1762- ) m. Nancy Bowles, 1790 G.Co. e. John (1764- ) untraced f. Benjamin (1764- ) untraced g. Judith (1765- ) untraced h. James (1767- ) untraced i. Nansy (1769- ) untraced 2. Drury (b. bef. 1731- bef.1784 G.Co.) m. Hannah Clark, Oct. 15, 1751 a. Jacob (1752-1814) m. Sarah Knowling, Dec. 25, 1775 b. Jeanie (1754- ) c. Elijah (1756- ) d. Ann (1758- ) e. Clayborne (1760- ) m. Agnes Hawkins m. Elizabeth Sims f. Mary (1764- ) m. William Bradshaw?, 1790 g. Sarah (1765- ) h. James (1768- ) i. Benjamin (1771- ) j. Isham (1773- ) m. Nancy Ricks 3. Sarah (b.bef. 1742-bef.1802) m. Stephen Sampson, Sept. 20, 1753 a. Sarah (1757- ) untraced b. Elizabeth (1759- ) untraced c. Ann (1763- ) untraced d. Judith (1761- ) untraced e. William (1765- ) untraced f. Jean (1768- ) untraced g. Stephen (1769- ) untraced h. James Johnson (1772- ) untraced i. Martha (1773- ) untraced 4. Mary (b.bef. 1742-by 1802) m. Bartholomew Turner, 1763 a. James (1765- ) untraced b. Charles (1766- ) untraced c. Reuben (1768- ) untraced d. Henry (1770- ) untraced e. John (1773- ) untraced f. Pleasants (1774- ) untraced g. William (1777- ) untraced 5. David (b.bef.1742- d.c.1800 G.Co.) m. Lucy Ellis, April 13, 1762 a. Sarah (1763- ) b. Ann (1764- ) m. Clayborne Johnson (see Drury Johnson) c. William (1767-bef. 1822 G. Co.0 m. Sally Toler, 1798 G.Co. 1. Betsy (c.1799- ) m. Dabney Glass, bef. 1822 untraced 2. David F. (c.1801-1870 G.Co.) m. Susan Elizabeth Parrish, 1827 a. William B. (1831- ) untraced b. George Robert (1834-1906 Chesterfield Co.Va.) c. Marion (1837- ) untraced d. Napoleon B. (1838- ) untraced e. Littleton (1841- ) untraced d. Susannah (1767- ) m. Thomas Smith, 1793 e. James (1772- ) untraced f. Lucy (1774- ) m. Anthony Smith, g. David (1777- ) untraced h. Betty Ware (1783- ) untraced 6. Benjamin (c.1747-aft.1802 G.Co.) m. Martha Hughes a. Thomas (1767- ) untraced b. Jean (1768- ) untraced m. Benjamin Hughson, 1787 c. Mary (1770- ) untraced d. Ffrances Anderson (1772- ) e. Benjamin (1774- ) untraced f. Isham (1776- ) g. Charity (1782- ) 7. Agnes ( -c. 1802 Louisa Co.) 8. Isham ( -c. 1798 G.Co.) ---------------- Bibliography Foley, Louise Pledge Heath, _Early Virginia Families Along the James River Their Deep Roots and Tangled Branches Henrico County-Goochland County_, Vol. I, (Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1983) Goochland Co., Virginia Deed Book #5, unpublished Goochland Co., Virginia Deed Book #9, unpublished Goochland Co., Virginia Deed Book #14, unpublished Goochland Co., Virginia Deed Book #15, unpublished Goochland Co., Virginia Deed Book #16, unpublished Goochland Co., Virginia Deed Book #17, unpublished Goochland Co., Virginia Deed Book #18, unpublished Goochland Co., Virginia Deed Book #19, unpublished Goochland Co., Virginia Marriage Bonds, unpublished Henley, Margaret V., _Abstracts of Wills From Goochland County, Virginia 1727- 1777_, (Goochland, Va.: Goochland County Historical Society, 1990) Henshaw, Susan Johnson "DAR Application", n.d. Jones, W. Mac, _The Douglas Register_, (Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1977) Schreiner-Yantis, Nettie & Florene Speakman Love, _The Personal Property Tax Lists for the Year 1787 for Goochland County, Virginia_, (Springfield, Va.: Genealogical Books in Print, 1987) Williams, Kathleen Booth, _Marriages of Goochland County, Virginia 1733-1815_ (Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979) U.S. Census, 1850 Virginia