John Johnson (1757-bef.1808) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

John Johnson

Born 1757 in Virginia

Son of Abraham Johnson and [mother unknown]

[sibling(s) unknown]

Husband of Sarah (Unknown) Johnson — married [date unknown] [location unknown]

Descendants

Father of Abraham Johnson, Harris Johnson, Willis Johnson and James Johnson

Died before 19 Oct 1808 before age 51 in Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina, United States

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Profile last modified 7 Feb 2023 | Created 29 Dec 2014

This page has been accessed 1,181 times.

Biography

John was born 1757. Son of Abraham and Sarah Johnson of Rowan County, North Carolina. He died in 1808.

According to the Ancestry of Norman Harris Johnson and Julia Pricilla Morris Johnson, D.A.R. records indicate John Johnson was a 1770s Revolutionary War soldier who came from Virginia according to family information (The DAR results contain multiple John Johnsons as well as multiple John Johnstons from North Carolina). John Johnson lived in the Uwharrie Hills of North Carolina near Farmer, NC. After the war, he settled in Jackson Hill (in what is now Davidson Co.), North Carolina, with his family. John was given a land grant of 265 acres on Mores Road in Alleghany Township in 1786 (verified by Rowan County land grant records, Salisbury). If John's father Abraham is Abraham Johnston of Halifax Co., then John might be the John Johnston mentioned on p. 12 of "William Johnston Of Isle of Wight County, Virginia And His Descendants 1648-1964" by Hugh Johnston and Coy K. Johnson where it says, "John Johnston: He was living alone in District No. 6, Halifax County, in 1782. He apparently had moved away before the 1790 Census." John received his army discharge in 1780. Is this the same John Johnson -- Private John Johnson who enlisted 20 November, 1776, in Fenner's Company in the 2nd North Carolina Continental for 3 years and dropped from rolls February 1778? Or is he one of the John Johnsons in the 2nd NC Regiment (which, had troops from Salisbury, NC, near my (James "Jamie" Arthur Johnson - http://family.beacondeacon.com) ancestral Johnsons and where 2 John Johnsons and 1 John Johnston are listed with "Salisbury Dist." in North Carolina Revolutionary Army Accounts Volume V)? Or perhaps he is one of the others listed, perhaps the one who served until 1780 (as mentioned earlier). That we don't know. A younger brother joined the army of 1812 and was never heard of again. John's will dated 7 November 1807 (Wills and Deeds, Rowan County, State of North Carolina, p. 148, probated 1888 [which seems to be an error and should be 1808], p. 101 and 102 B.G.) shows that he and his wife Sarah had 11 children: William, Randal, Harris, John, Abraham (Abram), Willie, James (Jimmy), Lewis, Mary and Nancy. Sons Abraham and Randal were co-executors. According to Avery County North Carolina Historical Society (compiled and edited), Avery County heritage, biographies, genealogies, and Church Histories (Vol III), page 124, Puddingstone Press, 1981, John Johnson's will (John was 3rd son of Abraham and Sarah Johnson of Rowan Co., NC) mentions children: William (the youngest), Randall, Harris, John, Abraham II, William, James b 1793 d 2 Aug 1858, Lewis, Allen, Mary and Nancy. Abraham II and Randall were executors of their father's will. James m. Nancy Skeen; buried in Old Johnson Cemetery, Handy, NC. It is well-documented and supported by DNA that James "Jimmy" Johnson and Nancy "Charity" (Skeen) Johnson are my (James "Jamie" Arthur Johnson - http://family.beacondeacon.com) are my 4x great grandparents.

On pp. 2-3 of Sam Houston Johnson, Jr.'s book "Harris Johnson, a Texas pioneer : related families: Ewalt, Fields, Hopper, Ingram, Jackson, Mosby, Tatom", there are several items confirming my (James "Jamie" Arthur Johnson - http://family.beacondeacon.com) findings in regards to John Johnson. On p. 2 it mentions a Rowan Co., NC, tax list from 1815 featuring the interchanging Johnston/Johnson spellings of surnames for Abraham and Randle. Further, the author Sam Houston Johnson, Jr., indicates that he cannot confirm that his ancestor Harris Johnson is descended from this John Johnson: "If this John Johnson was Harris' father..." (p. 2). The Y-DNA research supports that my John is not the father of his Harris, though my John had a son named Harris, who was a brother to my ancestor Jimmy Johnson. Yet, Sam Houston Johnson, Jr.'s research uncovered documents that I have uncovered, which confirm my findings, as well as a document confirming which John Johnson is my John Johnson, namely this John Johnson featured in this profile. Sam's book mentions a document on pp. 2-3 which itself mentions Randle and Abraham Johnson being executors of the deceased John Johnson of Rowan Co., NC. In that document, the land is granted to James Johnson. This is Jimmy Johnson, my ancestor, since the bottom of the document lists witnesses Robert Sexton and Osborn Skeen. While the book offered information I had seen before, this was a new find directly affirming the John Johnson I had on paper was indeed my John Johnson and not one of the other John Johnsons. The names at the bottom of the document are Robert Sexton and Osborn Skeen. Not only am I a cousin to multiple Sextons originating from that area near, around and in Denton, Davidson Co. NC, more importantly, Osborn (or Osbourn) Skeen is the brother of my 4x great grandmother Nancy "Charity" (Skeen) Johnson, wife of Jimmy Johnson (my great-great-great-great grandparents). On pp. 2-3 of Sam Houston Johnson, Jr., wrote: "This area of Rowan County is now part of Davidson County, North Carolina. I found that Randol sold 2 parcels of land, one in Bk 23 and the 2nd in Bk 25, pg 77, 10 acres on Cabins Creek for $70... in 1809 ...." The land was sold after John Johnson's passing, supporting the 1808 death date. Refer to the land grant document at http://family.beacondeacon.com/john-johnson-landgrant.png proving the John Johnson profiled here is my John Johnson and also the one in the will featured here.

Geography: It is interesting to take note of some of the nearby places, too: Denton to the north of the marker on Rt. 109 is where my father, his father and his father grew up. Jackson Hill to the southwest of the maker (at Rt. 8 and Jackson Hill Rd.) is where John Johnson settled after the Revolution and where his son Jimmy is buried. And Handy, just east of the maker (intersection of Rt. 109 and Handy Rd.), is where Jimmy's wife Nancy Charity (Skeen) Johnson is buried. Not only have I been there to visit relatives, but multiple roads in that area have ancestral names: Cranford Rd., Surratt Rd., Bob Loflin Rd., and Skeen Rd.

Will of John Johnson (1757-1808):

In the name of God: I John Johnson of Rowan County & State of North Carolina being in a weak and lost condition of health, through the mercies of God in a good and sound memory & understanding at this present time do make and constitute this my last will & testament & desire it to be received at all as such. Imprimis I most humbly bequeath my soul to Almighty God, beseeching His most gracious acceptance of the same. I give my body to the earth from whence it was taken, in full assurance of the resurrection from thence at the last day & as for my burial I desire it to be at the discretion of my wife. As to my worldly estate I will & positively order that all my debts to be paid & all that is owing to me be well & truly collected by my executors, hereafter named. Item I give and bequeath to my dear wife Sarah Johnson all & singular my personal estate & the plantation I now live on after all my just debts is paid, likewise two tracts of land where I now live on, until my youngest son William comes to be sixteen years of age, if she continues my widow, if she should not continue my widow, to have a child's part of my estate. Item I give to my sons Randol Johnson and Harris Johnson, John, Abraham, Willis, James, Lewis, Allen & Mary Johnson; William Johnson & Nancy Johnson, to have each of my children equal share of my estate, both real and personal, excepting fifty dollars out of Harris & John two of my sons, out of their part to be paid to my son William Johnson & daughter Nancy fifty dollars each paid by my executors hereafter named, one still & three head of horses, one tract of land lying on Mores Road, containing two hundred & seventy-five acres of land or less & my tobacco to be sold at my decease, likewise one gray horse I give to my son Abraham, the other half of the value of the horse at twelve months from Christmas next from this date. Likewise I do nominate and appoint my son Randol & Abraham Johnson my two sons my executors after my decease.

In testimony hereof I do hereunto set my hand & seal this 7th day of November 1807.

Witness Present

William Warel

Lewis Lanier

John Johnson SEAL

"Also I leave my son Randol & James the legacy left by my father Abraham Johnson to be left equal between my sons Randol & Abraham & Willis, Lewis, & James, William & Allen."

Census Records

There are four John Johnston in Rowan County, North Carolina in 1790. They are in loosely alphabetical order by district/community. This one appears to have the correct number of people to be closest to this John Johnson. ^[1]

This John Johnston also has ten people in his household.^[2]

The 1800 census for Rowan County has seven John Johnston or Johnson's recorded.

This profile is a collaborative work-in-progress. Can you contribute information or sources?

Sources

↑ 1790 Census: "1790 United States Federal Census"
The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC; First Census of the United States, 1790.; Year: 1790; Census Place: Rowan, North Carolina; Series: M637; Roll: 7; Page: 300; Family History Library Film: 0568147
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 5058 #194934 (accessed 7 February 2023)
John Johnston in Rowan, North Carolina.
↑ 1790 Census: "1790 United States Federal Census"
The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC; First Census of the United States, 1790.; Year: 1790; Census Place: Rowan, North Carolina; Series: M637; Roll: 7; Page: 300; Family History Library Film: 0568147
Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 5058 #194934 (accessed 7 February 2023)
John Johnston in Rowan, North Carolina.

John Johnson (1757 - bef. 1808)

Biography

Census Records

Sources