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William Johnson (abt. 1592 - 1677)

William Johnson
Born about in Canterbury, Kent, Englandmap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 14 Oct 1630 in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, Englandmap
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 85 in Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusettsmap
Profile last modified | Created 31 Oct 2010
This page has been accessed 4,729 times.
The Puritan Great Migration.
William Johnson migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 4, p. 84)
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Contents

Biography

Birth

Born: About 1592.
Rough estimate based on birth of siblings. [1]

Marriage and Children

Married: Elizabeth Bunker on 14 October 1630 at Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England. [1]
Children of William Johnson and Elizabeth Bunker:
  • John Johnson, baptized 5 September 1632 in Dunstable. [1] He married first Elizabeth Maverick, daughter of Elias Maverick, on 15 October 1656 in Charlestown. [2] [3] He moved to Haverhill, Massachusetts in 1658 when he agreed to be the town’s blacksmith. They had 1 child born in Charlestown, and 7 more in Haverhill (John, Elizabeth, Ruhamah, William, Sarah, Ruth, Ruth, Timothy). [4] She died on 22 March 1673/4 in Haverhill. [5] He married 2nd Sarah Keyser, daughter of George Keyser and widow of John Gillo[way], on 3 March 1674/5 in Haverhill. [5] [6] They had no children. She died 24 July 1676. [5]
  • Ruhamah Johnson, baptized 21 February 1634/5 in Charlestown. [7] She married John Knight on 25 April 1654 in Charlestown.[8] They had 4 children born in Charlestown (Ruhammah, Elizabeth, John, Ruhamah). She was last known living on 29 April 1660 when she was admitted to the First Church of Charlestown, [9] and was dead by 1663 as John Knight had a child born by his second wife Abigail Stowers on 27 February 1663. [10] [11]
  • Joseph Johnson, baptized 12 February 1636/7 in Charlestown. [12] He married 1st Mary Soatlie on 19 April 1664 in Charlestown. [13] She died without issue on 22 March 1664/5. [14] He married 2nd Hannah Tenney, daughter of Thomas and Ann Tenney, by 1667 when their first child was born. [15] They had 11 children, all born at Haverhill (Joseph, William, Thomas, Zachariah, John, Hannah, Mary, Jonathan, Elizabeth, Nathaniel and Zacahriah). [16] She was born 15 March 1642 in Rowley Massachusetts. [17] He died on 18 November 1714 in Haverhill. [18] His wife Hannah was living when he made his will on 31 December 1713; ‘Hanah Jonson, wife of Joseph,’ was listed among those wishing to have their name recorded among the church membership in Haverhill in April 1723. [19]
  • Elizabeth Johnson, baptized on 17 March 1638/39 in Charlestown. [20] She married Edward Wyer on 5 January 1659 in Charlestown. [21] [22] They had 11 children presumably all born in Charlestown, though the births of 3 are not found in the printed records (Elizabeth, Edward, Robert, Hannah, Katherine, Nathaniel, Ruhamah, Eliezer, Zachariah, Sarah, William). [23] [24] [25] ‘Edward Wier, an aged Scotsman’ died on 3 May 1693 in Charlestown. She died on 14 December 1715. [26]
  • Jonathan Johnson, baptized on 14 August 1641 in Charlestown. [27] He removed to Marlborough, Massachusetts in 1662 where he served as the schoolmaster. [28] He married there Mary Newton, daughter of Richard Newton and Anne Loker, [29] on 14 October 1663. [30] They had three children born in Marlborough (Mary, William, Jonathan). [31] He died on 21 April 1712 in Marlborough. [32] She died on 28 December 1728 in Marlborough. [33]
  • Nathaniel Johnson, born say 1643. [34] He married Joanna Long, daughter of Michael Long, on 24 November 1668 in Charlestown. [35] They had three children (Nathaniel, William, John). [36] He was mariner and was named in his father’s will of December 1677 ‘if alive’ implying some doubt. He likely died at sea and was dead by 10 December 1678 when his widow remarried to Christopher Goodwin. [37]
  • Zechariah Johnson, born about 1646. [38] He married Elizabeth Jeffs, daughter of John Jeffs a mariner of Boston, [39] by 1673 as his first known child was born 1 November 1673 in Charlestown. [40] They had eleven children
  • Isaac Johnson, born about 1649. [41] He died 31 August 1711 “in the 62th year of his age.” [42] He married Mary stone, daughter of Nicholas Stone of Boston, on 22 November 1671 in Charlestown. [43]

Death

Died: 9 December 1677 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts. [44]
"William Johnson of Chrlstowne, brickmaker, d. Dec. 9, 1677."
Will and Administration
William Johnson left a will dated 7 December 1677 and proved 2 April 1678: [45] [46]
I William Johnson being weake in body but of sound memory calling to mind my mortality do make this my last Will & testamt. ffirst I comitt my Soull to God who gave it mee, and my body to the earth therein to be decently buryed after life departed.
As for my outward estate I dispose of as followeth, & that after my decease, I do give unto my beloved wife Elizaƀ : Johnson full powr to sell my land on misticke side, lijng neere to the land of John Sergeant, and my will is that my beloved wife shall pay to my sonne Joseph Johnson Twenty pounds of the first paymt for the land, and to pay to my Sonne Jonathan Johnson Ten pounds of the first paymt, and that my Sonne Jonathan Johnson shall receive of his Mother more ten pounds of the last paymt for the land, and ye rest of the pay for the land I give it to my beloved wife.
Item I do give to my daughf Elizaƀ Wiar my land at Camƀr : line conteyneing foure accrs more or less, I give it her & her heyres for ever after my decease.
Itm. I do give to my Grand Child Elizaƀ : Bacon six sheep & lambs now in her possession. I give it to her after my decease.
Itm. I do give to my sonne Nathaniel Johnson the right & interest that I haue in the house & land that his wife Joanna Johnson lives in, and further I give unto him the barne and land belonging to it, adjoyneing to ye land belonging to the house of my sonne Natlianiel Johnson, the barne shee is to haue possession of after my wifes decease & not before. I do give this house land & barne to my sonne Nathaniel if he be alive, if not then I give it to his two sonnes, they to possesse it w' they come to the age of twenty one yeares, and my daughter Joannah Johnson to injoy it till that time,
And for the rest of my estate of housing lands moveables whatsoever elce that is my estate, I give it to my well beloved wife Elizaƀ : Johnson for her comfortable lively hood, and if that shee stand in need of supply I do give her powr to sell any part of the housing or land or the whole for her comfortable subsistance, and my will is that my well beloved wife haue powr to dispose of my household goods to any of her children either in the time of her life or at her death as shee shall see cause.
And at my wifes decease my will is that wr of th' estate shall then remaine of housing land or moveables undisposed of shall be divided among my sonnes vizt John Johnson Joseph Johnson Jonathan Johnson Nathaniel Johnson or his Children if he be dead, & Zachariah Johnson & Isaac Johnson, my eldest sonne to haue a double porccon Jn° Johnson, the rest of my sonnes to haue equall pts of this estate that my wife may leave at her decease, And further my will is that my sonne Zachary Johnson should haue the Kill house, and ye Mill in it, if so much fall .to his share, if not he to haue the house & mill paijng to his Brethren the overplus that they haue equall shares according to the will. And I do appoynt my beloved wife my sole Executrix of this my last will & testam' made the 7th of decemƀ. 1677. and in testimony hereof I haue hereunto sett my hand.
witnes the marks William Johnson.
of Richard Kettle
Jn° Cutler

Notes

William Johnson, the immigrant ancestor, was born in England about 1605 in England. [1] He is probably the William Johnson, son of William Johnson, who was under age 24 in the 1616 will of his uncle, Edward Porredge. [47] He died 9 December 1677 in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
It has been suggested that he could be a brother of Capt. Edward Johnson of Woburn, Massachusetts. [1] [48] This would make him a son of William Johnson of Canterbury, co. Kent and Susan Porredge. [47] This supposition is based on the will of Matthew Johnson, a son of Capt. Edward Johnson, who left to his son Samuel “all that land purchased by me of my cousin Joseph Johnson, adjoining the Cambridge line.” William Johnson held 4 acres of land on the Cambridge line, and he had a son Joseph who would have been Matthew’s cousin. [49] However, it has also been said that William, the known brother of Capt. Edward Johnson, died without issue as property in which he had a reversionary interest in passed to his younger brother. [47] This argument itself is weak. It is not known how the property in Canterbury passed from Henry Porredge to his great-nephew George Johnson (2nd son of Capt. Edward Johnson); it is just as likely that William Johnson sold the property to his brother or nephew prior to sailing to New England as the theory that Edward Johnson inherited the property following his brother’s death. Most likely, he is, in fact, a brother of Capt. Edward Johnson and the son of William Johnson of Canterbury as is so directly suggested by Matthew Johnson’s will. Additional evidence is needed to completely confirm William’s parentage.
The earliest record of William Johnson in New England is a grant of 3 ½ acres of land on 10 January 1634/5. [50] He and his wife were admitted to the First Church of Charlestown on 13 February 1634/5. [51] Shortly thereafter, on 4 March 1634/5, he was granted the status of a freeman. [52] In the record of his death, his occupation is given as brick maker. [44] He must have been a man of some education as he signed his own name and his inventory included books valued at 10s.
In the 1638 Charlestown Book of Possessions, "Will[iam] Johnson" held ten parcels of land: [53]
"one dwelling house, with a garden plot and yard, half a rood of ground";
"half an acre of land ... in the East Field";
"cow commons two and a half";
"four acres of arable land ... in the Line Field, abutting southwest on the Cambridge Line";
"one acre of meadow ... in Mystic Marshes, abutting north upon the North River";
"half a rood of ground ... in the South Field, abutting south upon the Charles River";
"five acres of woodland ... in Mystic Field";
"five acres of woodland .,. in Mystic Field";
"thirty and seven acres of land ... in Water Field";
and "three acres of land which was Edward Larkin's situate on Mystic Side"
He married Elizabeth Bunker on 14 October 1630 in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England. This identification was made by Robert Charles Anderson in his Great Migration series. [1] The evidence for equating the William Johnson of Dunstable with William Johnson, immigrant to Charlestown is unknown, but the names and dates certainly work. The names of her parents were not given. Previous works have named her as Elizabeth Story, however, there is no evidence to support this name. [54] [55] She was born about 1607 as she is said to have been age 77 at her death in 1684. [56] She married as her second husband Thomas Carter on 24 October 1679 in Charlestown. [57] Elizabeth died 6 October 1684 in Charlestown at the age of 77. [56]
William Johnson died 9 December 1677 in Charlestown. [44] He left a will dated just 2 days before his death on 7 December 1677, and proved on 2 April 1678. In it, he names his wife executrix and gives her the power to sell land as she sees fit. He names all six of his sons, though he indicates that he is not sure if Nathaniel is alive. A granddaughter Elizabeth Bacon who was the child of his daughter Ruhamah. [58]

Notes on Ancestry and Parentage

The argument that William Johnson of Cambridge was a brother of Edward Johnson of Woburn, and so a son of William Johnson of Canterbury, co. Kent by his wife Susan Porredge:
- Edward Johnson of Woburn is a proven son William Johnson of Canterbury.
- He is known to have had a brother William Johnson.
- The brother William Johnson disappears from the English records.
- Edward Johnson had a son Matthew.
- This Matthew Johnson purchased land "on the Cambridge line" from his cousin Joseph Johnson.
- William Johnson owned 4 acres of land described in records as "on the Cambridge line."
- William Johnson had a son Joseph who would have been Matthew's cousin.
- There are no other possible Joseph Johnson's owning land in Cambridge who could possibly be the cousin of Matthew.
- William Johnson of Cambridge must be the same as William Johnson of Canterbury, brother of Edward johnson of Canterbury and Woburn.

Common Errors to Avoid

  • Incorrect Parents: He is often said to be the son of Abraham Johnson and Anne Meadows. This is incorrect. This error is likely the result of an incorrect assumption or guess that William Johnson of Charlestown was a brother of Isaac Johnson of Boston. Abraham Johnson was the father of the immigrant Isaac Johnson, but there is no evidence to connect these families. Abraham Johnson has no son William in his published pedigree. [59] [60] Also, Robert Johnson named all of his grandchildren by his son Abraham Johnson – Abraham had no son William. [61] Isaac Johnson did not name a brother William in his will though he named other brothers. William Johnson, bricklayer, was not in was not in the same class of person who would be expected to a member of this family. Most importantly, there is absolutely no evidence to support the connection.
  • Incorrect Wife Name: His wife is frequently said to be Elizabeth Story. This is believed to have been first published by Hurd in 1888, and then repeated by Cutter in 1908. [55] [54] The name of Story subsequently has been repeated in dozens of books and thousands of online web pages. There is however absolutely no evidence to support this marriage. Anderson in his Great Migration study identifies her as Elizabeth Bunker (though he does not state his evidence nor has the evidence ever been published).
  • Merge Caution: This is not the William Johnson married to Judith. It needs to be noted that there was another William Johnson with a wife Judith at the same time as this William Johnson. The will, inventories and subsequent court testimonies regarding division of the estate makes it clear that the Elizabeth who died in 1684 was the mother of all of William’s children. William and Judith had a son James born 21 June 1643. Judith was not a second wife as is sometimes claimed, and some care must be taken not include the children of William and Judith among those of William and Elizabeth.

Sources

Footnotes and Citations:
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Anderson, Robert Charles. Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume IV, I-L. (Boston: NEHGS, 2005): pages 84-90, biography of William Johnson.
  2. Joslyn, Roger D. Vital Records of Charlestown, Massachusetts to the year 1850, vol. 1. (Boston: NEHGS, 1984): 20, ‘John Johnson & Elizabeth Mavericke, m. Thomas Lind & Ralph Mousall, commr. Oct. 15, 1656’
  3. NEHGR vol. 69, no. 2 (April 1915): 146-159. Genealogical Research in England: Maverick Family, by Elizabeth French. See page 154 for John Johnson married to Elizabeth Maverick.
  4. Haverhill. Vital Records of Haverhill, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849, vol. 1 Births. (Topsfield Historical Society, 1910):185-189. LINK
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Haverhill. Vital Records of Haverhill, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849, vol. 2 Marriages and Deaths. (Topsfield Historical Society, 1911). LINK
  6. Holman, Mary Lovering. Ancestry of Charles Stinson Pillsbury and John Sargent Pillsbury, vol. 1. (1938):275-283, The Keyser Line. See page 279 for her ancestry.
  7. Hunnewell J.F. Records of the First Church in Charlestown, 1632-1789. (1880):46, ‘12 mo day 21 1634.’ LINK
  8. Joslyn, Roger D. Vital Records of Charlestown, Massachusetts to the year 1850, vol. 1. (Boston: NEHGS, 1984): 14. ‘John Knight and Ruhama Johnson, m. by Mr. Increase Nowell, Apr. 25, 1654’
  9. Hunnewell J.F. Records of the First Church in Charlestown, 1632-1789. (1880):12.
  10. Joslyn, Roger D. Vital Records of Charlestown, Massachusetts to the year 1850, vol. 1. (Boston: NEHGS, 1984): 46.
  11. Anderson, Robert Charles. Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to N.E. 1620-1633, Vol. III. (Boston: NEHGS, 1995):1779-1782, biography of Nicholas Stowers. Evidence of death of Ruhamah Johnson by 1663.
  12. Hunnewell J.F. Records of the First Church in Charlestown, 1632-1789. (1880):46, ‘12 mo day 12 1636.’ LINK
  13. Joslyn, Roger D. Vital Records of Charlestown, Massachusetts to the year 1850, vol. 1. (Boston: NEHGS, 1984): 44, ‘Joseph Johnson & Marie Soatlie, m. by Mr. Rich. Russell, Apr. 19, 1664’
  14. Holman, Mary Lovering. Ancestry of Colonel John Harrington Stevens and his wife Francis Helen Miller, vol. 1. (1948): 131, original source for date not found.
  15. Tenny, Jonathan. The Tenney Family, or the Descendants of Thomas Tenney of Rowley (1904):16-17. [http://tinyurl.com/pxveudd LINK
  16. Haverhill. Vital Records of Haverhill, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849, vol. 1 Births. (Topsfield Historical Society, 1910):185-189. LINK
  17. Essex Institute. Vital Records of Rowley Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849, vol. 1. (Essex Institute, 1928):214, ‘Hannah (Tenny), d. Thomas and Ann, 15:1m:1642’
  18. Haverhill. Vital Records of Haverhill, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849, vol. 2 Marriages and Deaths. (Topsfield Historical Society, 1911): 427, ‘Joseph, h. Hannah, Nov. 18, 1714’.
  19. Chase, George Wingate. The History of Haverhill, Massachusetts, from its First Settlement, in 1640. (books.google.com, 1861):548. http://tinyurl.com/pud7asd
  20. Hunnewell J.F. Records of the First Church in Charlestown, 1632-1789. (1880):48, ‘1st mo day 17 1639.’ LINK
  21. Joslyn, Roger D. Vital Records of Charlestown, Massachusetts to the year 1850, vol. 1. (Boston: NEHGS, 1984):37, ‘Edward Wyear & Elizabeth Johnson, m. by Mr. Richard Russell, Commr., 5 da. 11 mo. 1658.’
  22. NEHGR vol. 25, no. 3 (July 1871):246-248. Families of Wier or Wyer in New England Particulary of Charlestown, Mass., by William S. Appleton.
  23. NEHGR vol. 25, no. 3 (July 1871):246-248. Families of Wier or Wyer in New England Particulary of Charlestown, Mass., by William S. Appleton.
  24. Joslyn, Roger D. Vital Records of Charlestown, Massachusetts to the year 1850, vol. 1 (Boston: NEHGS, 1984): 36, 46, 55, 78, 86, 95, 102, 64.
  25. Hunnewell J.F. Records of the First Church in Charlestown, 1632-1789. (1880):54, 56.
  26. NEHGR vol. 33, no. 3 (July 1879): 357. Notes and Queries: Monroe, by the editor.
  27. Hunnewell J.F. Records of the First Church in Charlestown, 1632-1789. (1880):50, ‘6 mo 14 day 1641.’ LINK
  28. Holman, Mary Lovering. Ancestry of Colonel John Harrington Stevens and his wife Francis Helen Miller, vol. 1. (1948):132-134.
  29. Leonard, Ermina Newton. Newton Genealogy, Genealogical, Biographical, Historical. (1915):27-29.
  30. Rice, Franklin P., Marlborough, Mass. Vital Records of Marlborough, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849, (Boston:Systematic History Fund, 1908):276, ‘Jonathan Sr. and Mary ---- [Newton, M.R.], Oct. 14, 1663’
  31. Rice, Franklin P., Marlborough, Mass. Vital Records of Marlborough, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849, (Boston:Systematic History Fund, 1908):117-118.
  32. Rice, Franklin P., Marlborough, Mass. Vital Records of Marlborough, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849, (Boston:Systematic History Fund, 1908):373, ‘Jonathan Sr., April 21, 1712, about 70’
  33. Rice, Franklin P., Marlborough, Mass. Vital Records of Marlborough, Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849, (Boston:Systematic History Fund, 1908):373, ‘Mary, w. Jonathan Sr., Dec. 28, 1728’
  34. Estimate based on older brother Jonathan being born in 1641 and younger brother Zechariah in 1646.
  35. Joslyn, Roger D. Vital Records of Charlestown, Massachusetts to the year 1850, vol. 1. (Boston: NEHGS, 1984): 70, ‘Nathaniell Johnson & Joanna Longe, m. by Mr. Rich. Russell, Magist., Nov. 24, 1668’
  36. Joslyn, Roger D. Vital Records of Charlestown, Massachusetts to the year 1850, vol. 1. (Boston: NEHGS, 1984): 75, 81, 88.
  37. Joslyn, Roger D. Vital Records of Charlestown, Massachusetts to the year 1850, vol. 1. (Boston: NEHGS, 1984): 106, ‘Christopher Goodin & Joanna Johnson, widow, m. by Mr. Thomas Danforth, Magist., Dec. 10, 1678’
  38. Wyman, Thomas Bellows. The Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown : in the county of Middlesex and commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1629-1818, vol. 1 A-J. (Boston, 1879):555, ‘ae. 33 in 1679’, original source unknown. LINK
  39. Bradish, Frank. Suffolk Deeds, Volume 11. (Boston, 1900). LINK
  40. Joslyn, Roger D. Vital Records of Charlestown, Massachusetts to the year 1850, vol. 1. (Boston: NEHGS, 1984): 61.
  41. Wyman, Thomas Bellows. The Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown : in the county of Middlesex and commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1629-1818, vol. 1 A-J. (Boston, 1879):555, ‘ae. 22 in 1671’, original source unknown. LINK
  42. NEHGR vol. 33, no. 3 (July 1879): 333-339. William Johnson and His Descendants (cont.), by G.W. Johnson. See p. 338. LINK
  43. Joslyn, Roger D. Vital Records of Charlestown, Massachusetts to the year 1850, vol. 1. (Boston: NEHGS, 1984): 82.
  44. 44.0 44.1 44.2 Joslyn, Roger D. Vital Records of Charlestown, Massachusetts to the year 1850, vol. 1. (Boston: NEHGS, 1984): 100.
  45. Holman, Mary Lovering. Ancestry of Colonel John Harrington Stevens and his wife Francis Helen Miller, vol. 1. (1948): 128-137, The William Johnson Line.
  46. Appleton, William S. Early Wills Illustrating the Ancestry of Harriot Coffin, with genealogical and biographical notes. (Boston, 1893):30-31. http://tinyurl.com/gloe3tz
  47. 47.0 47.1 47.2 NEHGR vol. 67, no. 2 (April 1913): 169-180. Genealogical Research in England: Ancestry of Capt. Edward Johnson of Woburn, by Elizabeth French. LINK
  48. Holman, Mary Lovering. Ancestry of Colonel John Harrington Stevens and his wife Francis Helen Miller, vol. 1. (1948): 128-137.
  49. Boston Record Commissioners. Third Report of the Record Commissioners of Boston: Charlestown Land Records, 2nd edition, (Boston: Boston Record Commissioners, 1883):44, land holdings of William Johnson.
  50. NEHGR vol. 20, no. 2 (April 1866): 109-113. Extracts from the Charlestown Records, by James D. Green.
  51. Hunnewell J.F. Records of the First Church in Charlestown, 1632-1789. (1880): 8, ‘12 mo. day 13 1634 (13 Feb. 1634/5) William Johnson and Elizabeth his wife admitted.’
  52. NEHGR vol. 3, no. 1 (January 1849):89-96. Complete List of Freemen, by Lucius R. Paige. Page 93, William Johnson is 4th in a list of 5 men from Charlestown.
  53. Boston Record Commissioners. Third Report of the Record Commissioners of Boston: Charlestown Land Records, 2nd edition, (Boston: Boston Record Commissioners, 1883):44.
  54. 54.0 54.1 E.g. Cutter, William Richard. Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs ..., Volume 4, (1908):1818-1819. Caution: Source in error. LINK
  55. 55.0 55.1 E.g. Hurd, Duane Hamilton. History of Essex County, Massachusetts: With Biographical Sketches ..., Volume 2. (1888):1855. Caution: Source in error. LINK
  56. 56.0 56.1 Joslyn, Roger D. Vital Records of Charlestown, Massachusetts to the year 1850, vol. 1 (Boston: NEHGS, 1984):124, ‘Elizabeth, wife of Tho. Carter, senr., 77, d. Oct. 6, 1684.’
  57. Joslyn, Roger D. Vital Records of Charlestown, Massachusetts to the year 1850, vol. 1. (Boston: NEHGS, 1984):107, ‘Thomas Carter, senior, & Elizabeth Johnson, widow, m. Oct. 24, 1679’
  58. NEHGR vol. 167, no. 1 (January 2013):23-34. Estate of Martha Harris and Early Bacon Families of Eastern Connecticut, by Gale Ion Harris. See page 27 for connection of William Johnson to granddaughter Elizabeth Bacon.
  59. Howard, Joseph Jackson ed. Miscellanea genealogica et heraldica, New Series Volume 1. (London, 1874): 450-451. LINK
  60. Wright, James. The History and Antiquities of the County of Rutland. (London, 1684):38. LINK
  61. NEHGR vol. 49 no. 4 (October 1895):376-377. Genealogical Gleanings in England: Johnson Family, Henry F. Waters.




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Comments: 13

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Unknown-58216 is the same person as Bunker-1144 wife of husband #1 William Johnson and wife of #2 husband Thomas Carter

Elizabeth (Bunker) Johnson Carter

And I feel she is a GPM person, Thank you

posted by Betty Jo Bunker
About, Elizabeth is a Bunker

"Dunstable, Bedford, England (1558-1876) Batch # M 501-1 page 66"

FHL Film Number 826468, 845461

Bunker 14 Oct. 1630 Eliz H Wm Johnson 00602-2

( H = Husband)

posted by Betty Jo Bunker
Except we do have a source - Anderson. It is a secondary source but he is considered an exceptionally high quality source. Presumably he has seen the original marriage record and the birth of John Johnson matches the immigrant family.

The comment is just to say that it would be better if we could reference the primary source and explain why this is the correct William Johnson.

posted by Joe Cochoit
Per the profile heading Common Errors to Avoid, subheading Incorrect Wife Name "Anderson in his Great Migration study identifies her as Elizabeth Bunker (though he does not state his evidence nor has the evidence ever been published)". Unless there is another source, should William's spouse's maiden name be indicated as Elizabeth (Unknown) Johnson rather than Elizabeth (Bunker) Johnson?
posted by Eunice (Wilbur) Pender
Unfortunately, Anderson cites no source for the 14 Oct 1630 Dunstable, Bedfordshire marriage. See link (membership required)

EDIT: A review of Anderson's profile of William Johnson implies that the 1630 Dunstable marriage must be that of the immigrant because of the initial baptism of known oldest child of the immigrant. I.e., a William Johnson with wife Elizabeth and an oldest son that match the names of the Dunstable baptisms leads to the conclusion that the immigrant was of Dunstable at least by the time he married.

posted by Jillaine Smith
You have found no records for Elizabeth Story because there are none. The ultimate source is Hurd writing in 1888. We are taking the modern opinion of the world's most noted genealogist on Great Migration immigrants over the statement in an error filled book written 131 years ago. If you have any primary sources or reasoning for the name Elizabeth Story we would be happy to see them.
posted by Joe Cochoit
Just ran into this debate regarding the wife of William. I read all the 'points' given but it doesn't seem to have included any 'proofs' that it is Bunker and not Storey or vice versa. The only 'records' I have found over many years have Storey and I had never seen a record for Bunker until this profile which is just one viewpoint.
I believe the points are adequately discussed in the biography. There is absolutely no evidence that she is Elizabeth Story.
posted by Joe Cochoit
Storey or Bunker? This identification was made by Robert Charles Anderson in his Great Migration series. [1] The evidence for equating the William Johnson of Dunstable with William Johnson, immigrant to Charlestown is unknown, but the names and dates certainly work. The names of her parents were not given. Previous works have named her as Elizabeth Story, however, there is no evidence to support this name. Apparently there are more 'records' to support Storey than Bunker. If it is Bunker, then produce evidence, please, not theories.
Johnson-22443 and Johnson-1892 appear to represent the same person because: Appear as the same person with two profiles. Both entries listed as spouse for same person. Please compare, provide sources and merge if this is true. Check actual dates to see if they can be verified. Thanks!

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Categories: Charlestown, Massachusetts | Puritan Great Migration