James Johnson Sr. (1719 - 1798)

Born Jun 1719 in Ireland

Husband of Elizabeth (Patterson) Johnson — married about 1744 (to 2 Dec 1776) in Ireland

Husband of Margaret (McRoberts) Johnson — married 27 Feb 1777 (to 27 Mar 1782) in Truro, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia

Descendants

Died 1798 at about age 78 in Lower Village, Truro, Colchester, Nova Scotia, Canada

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Biography

James Johnson was born in Ireland (likely Ulster) in June 1719.^[1] He married three times: First to Mary Jane Patterson (no children) -(this wife is questionable), next to Elizabeth Patterson in 1744^[2] who he had 11 children with (see below), then to Margaret McRoberts on February 27, 1777, who he had 3 children with (see below)^[3]

There are sources that state that James and Elizabeth were among the Ulster immigrants recruited from New Hampshire to settle Nova Scotia. James and Elizabeth Patterson were original grantees of Truro Township, Colchester, Nova Scotia in 1761.^[4] He appears as head of a household there in several censuses between 1770 and 1795. By 1795 he is listed as "James Johnson, Esq."^[5] In 1770 he was elected one of the seven elders of Truro's Presbyterian congregation. James died aged 79 at Truro in 1798^[6] and was buried at Robie Street Cemetery.^[7]

Children born to James Johnson Sr. and Elizabeth Patterson:

• Mary Ann 1749-1776
• Adam 1750-1804
• Margaret 1751-1791
• Rachel 1752
• Major Robert 1753-1815
• Elizabeth 1754-1802
• Matthew 1756-1825
• James 3rd 1758-1842
• John 1760-1796
• William 1761-1830
• Hannah 1762-1812

Children born to James Johnson Sr. and Margaret McRoberts:

• Jane 1778-1856
• Sarah 1780
• Alison 1782

For reference, according to Thomas Miller's Historical & Genealogical Records of First Settlers of Colchester, page 266:

"James Johnson was born in the North of Ireland, in the month of June, 1719. He was married to Elizabeth Patterson, about the year 1744. They had six sons and four daughters before they left Ireland. They removed to Nova Scotia in the year 1761, and settled in the Lower Village of Truro. He was one of the Grantees of the Township of Truro. His house stood near the same place that his great-grandson, Robert Johnson, now resides. He was one of the seven elders of the Presbyterian congregation of Truro, who were elected in the summer of the year 1770. His wife, Elizabeth, died December 2rd, 1776, and he was married again to Margaret McRoberts, February 27th, 1777. He died in the year 1798, aged 79 years, and his second wife, Margaret, died March 27th, 1782."

Sources

1. ↑ Miller, p.266.
2. ↑ Miller, p.266.
3. ↑ Miller, p.266.
4. ↑ Smith, p. 386.
5. ↑ Census Returns, Assessment and Poll Tax Records 1767-1838 - Nova Scotia Archives.
6. ↑ Miller, p.266.
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 05 April 2021), memorial page for James Johnson (Jun 1719–1798), Find A Grave: Memorial #46140815, citing Robie Street Cemetery, Truro, Colchester County, Nova Scotia, Canada ; Maintained by Ralph Gowen (contributor 47690237) .

• "Vital Records of Pelham, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850", NEGHS, Boston, 1902, pp.51-52 ( records the following births: ___ Johnson, dau. James and Elizabeth, Apr. 3 1749; ____ Johnson, son James and Elizabeth, Aug. 26 1750; ___ Johnson, dau. James and Elizabeth, Dec 18 1751; ____ Johnson, son James and Elizabeth Nov 18 1753)
• Campbell, Carol and James F. Smith. Necessaries and Sufficiencies: Planter Society in Londonderry, Onslow and Truro Townships, 1761-1780. Sydney, NS: Cape Breton University Press, 2011.
• Miller, Thomas. Historical and Genealogical Record of the First Settlers of Colchester County. Halifax, NS: MacKinlay, 1873. pp.252-253.
• Esther Clark Wright, "Planters and Pioneers, Nova Scotia, 1749 to 1775, revised edition", ISBN 0-88999-087-5, p.150
• Smith, Leonard H. Jr. and Norma H. Smith. "Nova Scotia Immigrants to 1867" Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1992. p. 386.
• Nova Scotia Archives - Census, Assessment and Poll Tax Records 1767-1827
  • 1770 Truro Census - RG 1 vol. 443 no. 33
  • 1771 Truro Census - RG 1 vol. 443 no. 32
  • 1791 Truro Census - RG 1 vol. 444 no. 35
  • 1794 Down Village Truro Census - RG 1 vol. 444½ no. 53
  • 1795 Down Village Truro Census - RG 1 vol. 444½ no. 87

• Ireland birth and marriage 1700's
• MacNutt-Murray Person Page 365 ID M#17417
• Sprague Project ID I198362 Family F71971
• Vital statistics of Nova Scotia 1763-1957

Children & some sources added by Beth Babcock