Julia Ellis (Hills) Johnson (1783 - 1853)

Born 26 Sep 1783 in Upton, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

Ancestors

Wife of Ezekiel Johnson — married 12 Jan 1801 in Grafton, Worcester, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 30 May 1853 at age 69 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Anne Baker [send private message]

Julia became a member of the LDS Church between 1830 - 1848.

Julia (Hills) Johnson was a Latter Day Saint pioneer.

Biography

Birth
Julia Ellis Hills was born 26 Sep 1783 at Upton, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States ^[1] to parents Joseph Hills (b. 1758 Wrentham, MA.; d. 1787, Grafton, MA.) and Esther Ellis Hills (b. 1758, Wrentham, MA.; d. 1805, Grafton, MA.). Joseph and Esther were both from Wrentham by way of Upton where Julia was born. Her parents had published their marriage intention on 18 Aug 1780 in Upton, Worcester County, Massachusetts ^[2] whereas the actual ceremony was performed in Franklin, Norfolk, County, Massachusetts.^[3]

Based upon journaled first-hand information there are LDS preserved records that lead us to believe she came from a religious family and that she and her brother and sister were given the opportunity of an education. One of her father's prize possessions was his small, well-used dictionary. Their family also seemed to be very close." The records also mention numerous preserved correspondence between Julia and her mother. ^[4] Julia's family belonged to the Presbyterian Church. ^[4]

Marriage and Children
At the age of 17 years 12 Jan 1801, Grafton, Worcester, Massachusetts Julia Ellis Hills married 28 year old Ezekiel Johnson Jr.^[5] who was originally of Uxbridge, Worcester, Massachusetts and who was working as a skilled laborer in the nearby Grafton township. Ezekiel was tall, light brown hair, light piercing blue eyes, of solid build, handsome and exuberant in attitude. He was a very agreeable man.^[4]

Ezekiel and Julia Ellis Hills Johnson had 16 children together, the births and deaths of each are recorded in Massachusetts, Vermont and New York state vital records and repeated among the tens of thousands of descendant family tree's:

1. Joel Hills, b. 23 Mar 1802, Grafton, MA ; d. 24 Sep 1882, Johnson, Kane, Utah
2. Nancy Mariah, b. 1 Aug 1803, Northboro, MA ; fall from horse and hip brake left her crippled for life ; d. 30 Oct 1836, from consumption (TB), Kirtland, Geauga Lake, Ohio.
3. Seth Gurnsey, Feb 1805, Royalston, MA. ; d. 19 Feb 1835, Kirtland, Lake, Ohio from consumption (TB).
4. Delcina Diadamia (twin?), b. 19 Nov 1808, Westoford, VT ; m. joseph Smith, prophet, bef 1842 ; d. 21 Oct 1854, Salt Lake City, Utah.
5. Julia Ann Johnson, (twin?), b. 9 Nov 1808 ; d. 23 Oct 1857 Crescent City, Pottawattamie, IO.
6. David, b. 10 Sep 1810, Westford, VT. ; d. 30 Oct 1833, Kirtland, Lake, Ohio from consumption (TB).
7. Almera Woodward, b. 12 Oct 1812, Westford, VT. ; m. Joseph Smith, prophet, Aug. 1843 ; d. 4 Mar 1896, Parowan, Iron, UT.
8. Susan Ellen, b. 16 Dec 1814, Pomfret ; d. prob. food poisoning, 1 Mar 1836, Kirtland, Lake, OH.
9. Joseph Ellis, b. 28 Apr 1817, Pomfret ; d. 17 Dec 1882, Tempe, Maricopa, AZ.
10. Benjamin Franklin, b. 28 Jul 1818, Pomfret ; d. 18 nov 1905, Mesa, Maricopa, AZ.
11. Mary Ellen, b. 7 Feb 1820, Pomfret ; d. 11 Jun 1845, Nauvoo, Hancock, ILL.; she d. aft. childbirth.
12. Elmer Wood, b. 26 May 1822, Pomfret ; d. ae 3 mo. 18 Sep 1822
13. George Washington, b. 19 Feb 1823, Pomfret ; d. 22 Jan 1900, Moab, Grand, Utah.
14. William Derby Sr., b. 27 Oct 1824, Pomfret ; m. 9 Nov 1848, Nauvoo, Hancock, Ill. a Quaker Jane Calwallader [her middle name] Brown dau of Abiah William & Abigail Cadwallader Brown her parents were also early Mormon pioneers ; he d. 13 Apr 1896, Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico [LDS Mexico Colony] from a rabid coyote bite.^[6] ; Although residing at Colonia Diaz he was never in a plural marriage.
15. Esther Malita, b. 12 Jan 1828, Pomfret ; d. 15 Mar 1876, Salt Lake City, UT.
16. Amos Partridge, b. 15 Jan 1829, Pomfret ; d. 9 May 1842, Macedonia, Hamilton, ILL. ; burial: Webster, Hancock, ILL.

Early Mormon Church
In January 1832 Julia Ellis Hills Johnson was baptized in the new Church of Latter-day Saints. In 1833 Julia Johnson traveled to Kirtland, Ohio with her children. The older children also having been baptized in the new church. Julia's husband, Ezekiel refused baptism but no action such as community banishment resulted.

From Kirtland, Ohio to Missouri:
This was the 'hard mid-west' and due to disputes with the local populaces the Mormons were continually being driven further outwards into the frontier. The Kirtland Camp journey took them to Dayton, Ohio then onward to Missouri. By the time they reached Springfield, Illinois there was so much illness that it was decided that Julia and eldest son Joel and their families should drop out of the camp to care for the sick...Julia and her family stayed in Springfield for 2 years before she was able to join the (Saints) in Nauvoo, Illinois... ^[4]

Joseph Smith and his Plural Wives Almera, and Nancy Johnson: ^{[4] [7]}

"When (Joseph Smith) received the revelation on celestial marriages, it was to Julia Johnson he talked with. It was a very difficult law, and so many people could not understand it. But Julia Johnson could and she gave her consent for her daughter Delcina Johnson to be one of his plural wives. Delcina and Joseph were married (before July 1842) by William Clayton. Later, Joseph also married Julia and Ezekiel's daughter Almera Johnson on Aug 1843.

Death of Ezekiel and Julia Johnson
On 13 Jan 1848 Julia's husband Ezekiel Johnson Jr. died while they resided in Nauvoo, Illinois. Ezekiel died from wounds received after confronting an angry mob who were protesting plural marriages.

In her later days daughter Almera and sons William and Joseph cared for her and she died at Council Bluffs, Iowa 30 May 1856 on her way to Utah. Her children were some of the first in Utah and after 1880 helped found the LDS Mexican Colonies in order to avoid breaking up the plural families after Utah became a state and plural marriages were federally outlawed.

Research Notes
To ask questions or for further information about the complex lives of Julia Ellis Hills and Ezekiel Johnson (Jr.) please visit the Salt Lake City Family History organization's web-site on Facebook [[2]] There, web-site leaders who are also experienced genealogists, such as Pam Smith and Loni Gardner, can answer your questions. Remember, there are thousands upon thousands of Johnson descendants and communication betwixt & between have been well organized and coordinated by the professionals in SLC. They also coordinate the family reunion events and publish newsletters.

Sources

1. ↑ Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital & Town Records, 1626-2001; [[1]]
2. ↑ Massachusetts, Marriages, 1633-1850 for: Joseph Hills, male. Spouse: Esther Ellis. Marriage 7 Dec 1780 in Franklin, Norfolk, Massachusetts. Family History Library, SLC, UT, Film #1905558." Online image and electronic transcription record source access thru: [www.Ancestry.com].
3. ↑ Massachusetts, Marriages, 1633-1850 Author Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, comp. Publisher Ancestry.com Operations Inc Publisher Date 2005 Publisher Location Provo, UT, USA; Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, Film # 1905558. Online access 9 Sep 2019.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} Terry, Jessie Jolley, Historian, SLC, Utah "The Life Story of Julia Hills Johnson" Published by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers; pg. 1-9.
5. ↑ Massachusetts, Marriages, 1633-1850; Author Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, comp Publisher Ancestry.com Operations Inc Publisher Date 2005 Publisher Location Provo, UT, USA. Online access 5 Sep 2019. See Also: Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, Film # 0873747 item 4.
6. ↑ "Johnson Family Records" as told to Leigh Anne (Johnson) Dear by her grandfather Zeno Martel Johnson Jr. of Colonia Diaz, Chihuahua, Mexico and Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona.
7. ↑ "Joseph Smith and his plural wives https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Joseph_Smith%27s_wives

See also:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Joseph_Smith%27s_wives
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith
• Illinois, Hancock County, Nauvoo Community Project; BYU Center for Family History & Genealogy. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL3Z-JJGL
• Conquerors of the West: Stalwart Mormon Pioneers; Vol,1-2; Publisher Ancestry.com Operations Inc Publisher Date 2002 Publisher Location Provo, UT, USA.
• My Life's Review by Benjamin F. Johnson
• Diary of Joel Hills Johnson
• The Johnson Informer
• The Ezekiel & Julia Ellis Hills Johnson Family Genealogy Organization; Salt Lake City, UT., USA. https://www.facebook.com/groups/55157959476/
• findagrave.com
• Thayne, Linda J. "Julia Hills Johnson, 1783-1853: My Soul Rejoiced." Masters of Arts Thesis, Brigham Young University.

Acknowledgements

• To the original profile creator Candee LeBaron
• Contributions by direct descendant Leigh Anne (Johnson) Dear This particular family genealogy work is dedicated to Julia and Ezekiel Johnson's descendants: "Regardless of their choice of worship may they never lose faith in that light which is greater than us all...."