Alexander Howard Johnson (1846 - 1930)

Born 23 Apr 1846 in New Bedford, Bristol, Massachusetts, United States [uncertain]

Husband of Mary A. Johnson — married 24 Feb 1870 in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

Descendants

Died 19 Mar 1930 at age 83 in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: K Raymoure [send private message]

Biography

Alexander was Narragansett.

Alexander Johnson is a part of US Black heritage.

Alexander Howard Johnson was born in 1846^[1] in Massachusetts^[2] or Virginia^[3]. He was the child^[4] of Hannah Niles Smith and W. Henry Johnson, and the husband^[4] of Mary A. Johnson. His father was born in Virginia^[3][5] and his mother was born in Rhode Island^[3][6].

His father was the first man of African descent to qualify for the bar in Massachusetts.

Occupations

• 1910: Factory worker
• 1900: Musician
• 1880^[3]: Carpet cleaner
• abt. 1870^[7]: Carpet layer with comrade-at-arms Charles Edward Reed
• 1863^[1]: Seaman

Residences

• 1920: Rented house at 21 Orchard Street, Worcester, Massachusetts with his wife, children and grandchildren
• 1910: Rented house at 21 Orchard Street, Worcester, Massachusetts with his wife, children, and grandson James Landers
• 1900: Rented house at 69 Central Street, Worcester, Massachusetts with his wife and chidlren
• 1890: 69 Central Street, Worcester, Massachusetts (US Veterans Schedules)
• 1880: 69 Central Street, Worcester, Massachusetts with his wife and children^[3]
• 1870: Worcester, Massachusetts^[7][4]
• 1863: New Bedford, Massachusetts (military enlistment)^[1]

New Bedford, Massachusetts was a port town and whaling community made up of mostly white Quakers, Portuguese Africans and fugitive slaves. Its early history saw people from all of these communities in school together, serving jury duty, etc.^[8] New Bedford also boasts the first Black man to qualify for the bar in Massachusetts, who happened to be Private Johnson's father.

Military Service

Musician (Drummer^[9]) in Company C of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first regiment in the United States to enlist men of color during the Civil War. Enlisted on 2 March 1863 from New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was about 16 years old, single and working as a seaman when he enlisted. Mustered out 20 August 1865 with his regiment.^[1]

Company C participated in the Second Battle of Fort Wagner on 18 July 1863^[10], the Battle of Olustee on 20 February 1864, and picketed at the the Coosawhatchie crossroads during the Battle of Honey Hill on 30 November 1864.^[1]

He was a member of the George H. Ward Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Post #10 of Worcester, Massachusetts.^[11]

Military Pension

Military Pension Application No. 693409 Certificate No. 515081 (11 March 1889)^[12]

Race

• 1920: Indian^[13]
• 1900, 1910: Black
• 1870^[4], 1880^[3]: Mulatto

Death

He passed away in 1930^[12] and is buried at Hope Cemetery in Worcester, Massachusetts.^[11]

Descendent Surnames

Bruso

Daughter Bertha married a Mr. Bruso.

Landers

Daughter Hattie married a Mr. Landers.

Moynihan

Daughter Addie married a Mr. Moynihan.

Research Notes

Raymoure-1 04:46, 31 May 2020 (UTC): He was also in the Navy! More research needed.^[7]

Projects

• 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

Sources

• 1880 United States Federal Census Year: 1880; Census Place: Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts; Roll: 567; Page: 100B; Enumeration District: 883
• 1890 United States Veterans Schedules for Worcester, Massachusetts
• 1900 United States Federal Census Year: 1900; Census Place: Worcester Ward 1, Worcester, Massachusetts; Page: 2; Enumeration District: 1710; FHL microfilm: 1240695
• 1910 United States Federal Census Year: 1910; Census Place: Worcester Ward 2, Worcester, Massachusetts; Roll: T624_631; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 1857; FHL microfilm: 1374644
• 1920 United States Federal Census Year: 1920; Census Place: Worcester Ward 2, Worcester, Massachusetts; Roll: T625_750; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 205
• Emilio, Luis Fenollosa. History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865, Boston, Massachusetts: Boston Book Co., 1891 (1st ed.) and 1894 (2nd ed.)
• Find A Grave: Memorial #113781124
• Fold3.com. "Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900." National Archives Catalog #2588825. "Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900, compiled 1949 - 1949, documenting the period 1861 - 1942." Free Access Black History Collection Records 5-28 February 2019.
• Shepard, Ray Anthony. Now or Never! 54th Massachusetts Infantry's War to End Slavery. Calkins Creek Books: October 2017.
• New England Historic Genealogical Society. Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840–1915. Boston, Massachusetts.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Emilio, McKay Roster
2. ↑ Find a Grave entry, 1900 census
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5} 1880 federal census
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} Massachusetts marriage record
5. ↑ 1900 census
6. ↑ 1900 census
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Deposition B of Alexander H. Johnson in military pension files of Private Charles Edward Reed, 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Company D
8. ↑ Shepard, p. 30
9. ↑ US Veterans Schedules
10. ↑ dramatized in the 1989 movie Glory
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Find a Grave memorial
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} military pension index card
13. ↑ Native American of the Narragansett People