Edward Johnson (abt. 1638 - abt. 1704)

Born about 1638 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland [uncertain]

Husband of Elizabeth (Walker) Johnson — married before 1680 in Colony of Virginia [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 1704 at about age 66 in New Kent County, Colony of Virginia [uncertain]

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Biography

Edward Johnson is said to have been born April 21, 1638, in Leslie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.^[1] He died in 1704 at New Kent County, Virginia.^[1]

Disputed Origins

It has been suggested that Edward Johnson's parents were Dr. Arthur Johnston of Aberdeen, Scotland, personal physician to King Charles II, and his second wife Barbara Gordon. ^[2][3][4]

Dr Arthur Johnston was proposed as the father of Edward in the book by Dr Lorand Johnson, "The descendants of William and John Johnson, colonial Friends ... Johnson, Lorand V. (Lorand Victor), 1905-1986". Dr Johnson proof of this relationship rested upon a letter said to be written by Elizabeth Johnston Keith. A search of the Friends House Quaker library in London where the letter was said to be contained failed to find any such letter or any reference to it in their catalog ^[5]which casts doubt on Dr Arthur Johnston being his father.

Immigration to Virginia

Possible immigration record: Edward Johnson arrived in Virginia in 1664.^[6] The actual date of his arrival in Virginia is uncertain.

By 1677, Edward was in Blissland Parish, New Kent County, Virginia, where he signed his name to a list of grievances presented to the King's Commissioners who had come to investigate the causes of rebellion.^{[citation needed]}

Marriage

Edward married Elizabeth Walker in 1677 in St Peters Parish, New Kent, Virginia Colony. The Walker surname is uncertain but thought to be Walker based on circumstantial evidence. ^[7] Walker was given as her maiden name in the book of Dr. Lorand Johnson which was based on circumstantial evidence.^[8]

St Peter's parish records indicate that Elizabeth Johnson died Feb 20, 1725. ^[9]

Children

Births of four children are recorded in the new parish of St. Peter's, New Kent County, in the 1680s: Thomas, Elizabeth, Penelope, and Rachel. The mother of these children is named there only as Elizabeth, but there is some evidence that she was Elizabeth Walker, daughter of Alexander Walker of Aberdeen. Two other children are listed in the St. Peter's parish book, Rebecka b. 1698 and Benjamin b. 1701. It is not clear whether these belong to Edward and Elizabeth, Edward and a second wife, or another Edward Johnson, perhaps an older son. Blissland Parish records before 1680 have been lost. Dr. Lorand Johnson adds to this list Anthony b. 1678, Arthur, Michael, and William b. 1703. Anthony and Arthur may in fact be same person, really Arthur, since the name for one comes from a birth record and the other from a marriage record.

Children of Edward Johnson and Elizabeth Walker (sourced):^[10]

1. Thomas Johnson (1680-?), born May 30, 1680
2. Elizabeth Johnson (1682-?), born July 07, 1682, baptised Aug 06, 1682
3. Penelope Johnson (1684-?), baptised Aug 17, 1684
4. Rachel Johnson (1686-?), born Dec 08, 1686, baptised Jan 02, 1687
5. Rebecca Johnson (1698-?), born Nov 08, 1698, baptised Nov 11, 1698
6. Benjamin Johnson (1701-?) m. Margery Massie. born Aug 17, 1701

Questionable Children

There are 15 children said to have been born to Edward and Elizabeth Johnson between the years of 1675 and 1701. If the sheer number of children said to have been born to them doesn't raise questions consider that one or more were born before Edward and Elizabeth married and that at least in two cases they had two children born in the same year. And no documentation that there were any twins. Of the 15 children less that half have evidence to support their proposed relationship to Edward and Elizabeth Johnson.

Let's look at the evidence or lack of evidence and see if we can draw any conclusions.

Dr. Lorand Johnson includes the following as possible children of Edward and Elizabeth Johnson in his book on Johnson genealogy.

• Anthony Johnson (1678-?) ^[11]

• Arthur Johnson b 1688 m. Margaret Phares, said to be an ancestor of Pres Andrew Johnson, ^[12]

• Michael Johnson m. Sarah ? said to be an elder son of Edward. YDNA results from his descendants reported do not match the results obtained for a John Johnson descendant, ^[13] If Michael is proved to be a son of Edward it would mean that Edward and John Johnson are not from the same Johnson family.

• Sarah Johnson

• Capt William Johnson (1697-1778) m. Ann Chew, Often found in Johnson family trees as a son of Edward but no sources provided, Thought to be member of Johnston family of Caroline County, Va ^{[14] [15] [16]}

Property

Property: Pamunkey (River) Neck of northern Virginia - acquired 150 acres

Record ID Number: MH:IF7447

Date: 1701 and 1704

Place: King William County, VA^[17]

Research Notes

DNA Information

YDNA Project

There are three kits for descendants of Michael Johnson who is said to be a son of Edward Johnson. All three members tested I-M235. If Michael is proved to be a son of Edward Johnson the projected Haplogroup for Edward would also be I-M235. (Kits 7261, 388712 and 417 White Oak johnson DNA Project)

Two Kits from descendants of James "Seneca" Johnson tested R-M269 (Kits 356103 and 260420 Olive Group Johnson DNA Project)

atDNA Matches

• There is a segment match of 5.0 cM between auDNA kits T824570 (David Douglas) and A198915 (*RRClement) Small segment match, inconclusive

• There is a two segment match of 8.3 cM between auDNA kits T824570 (David Douglas) and T059571 (*BHClement) Small segment match, inconclusive

• There is a three segment match of 15.9 cM between auDNA kits T824570 (David Douglas) GEDCOM ID: 1537834 and A819543 (*ch0341) GEDCOM ID: 2258764. Small segment match, inconclusive

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/218580373/edward-gordon-johnson: accessed 02 July 2023), memorial page for SR Edward Gordon “Laird Baron” Johnson (21 Apr 1638–4 May 1704), Find A Grave: Memorial #218580373, citing Saint Peter's Episcopal Church Cemetery, Putneys Mill, New Kent County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Gathering Roots (contributor 47213048).
2. ↑ Arthur Johnston Find A Grave: Memorial #88571181
3. ↑ Edward Johnson and Elizabeth Walker evidence and discussion, Letter from Doug Tucker, April 12, 1996
4. ↑ IN DEFENSE of Dr. Lorand Johnson, by Douglas Tucker, edited and retyped by Linda Sparks Starr, MAY 1996
5. ↑ The Elizabeth Johnston Keith letter
6. ↑ WEIS, FREDERICK LEWIS. The Colonial Clergy of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Boston: Society of the Descendants of the Colonial Clergy, 1955. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1976.
7. ↑ Discussion of the WALKER Connection
8. ↑ Lorand V. Johnson, M.D. , A RESUME OF THE ANCESTRY OF WILLIAM AND JOHN JOHNSON COLONIAL FRIENDS OF VIRGINIA. Self-published, Shaker Heights, Ohio, 1972
9. ↑ Register of St Peter's Parish Church, New Kent County, Va from 1680-1787
10. ↑ Chamberlayne, C. G., The Vestry Book and Register of St. Peter's Parish 1684 to 1780, Library of Virginia, Richmond, 1997, Original Date, 1937; archive.org: "Thomas ye sone of Edwd Johnson & Elize. natt: ye 5 of May & bapt ye 30 of ye instant, 1680. Eliz: daughter of Edwd: Johnson Eliz: _____ natt: ye 7th of July and baptised ye 6th of August, 1682. Penelope Daughter of Edw: Johnson Eliz: nat ye 4 day of Agust & bapt. ye 17 of ye instant, 1684. Rachell Daughter of Edwd Johnson and Eliz. his wife nt ye 8 of Decr & bapt. ye 2 of Jan'y, 1686/7...Rebecka Daughter of Edwd Johnson Born the 8 and Baptised the 11 November, 1698...Benjamin son of Edwd Johnson borne the 17 August, 1701... "
11. ↑ [http://www.momslookups.com/generations/johnson.html Johnson Family]
12. ↑ Arthur Johnson, Pendleton County, Virginia
13. ↑ Johnson DNA Study
14. ↑ "Johnston of Caroline County, Virginia; some of the descendants of William and Ann Chew Johnston (1697-1778)", Johnston, Elbert Felton, 1908-
15. ↑ Old Southern Bible Records: Transcriptions of Births, Deaths, and Marriages from Family Bibles, Chiefly of the 18th and 19th Centuries, Memory Lee Alldredge Lester, Genealogical Publishing Com, 1974, page 170,
16. ↑ William (Captain) JOHNSTON (addendum)
17. ↑ Randy McConnell, The Johns(t)ons from Caskieben to Missouri: Ancestry.com Page: 2: "James sr. in 1701 and 1704 acquired 150 acres of former Indian lands in the Pamunkey (River) Neck of northern Virginia that included the site of a former village and became known as Old Town in King William Co. James died there in 1716 and left his estate, by English law and tradition, to eldest [sic] son John."