Catherine (See) Johnson (abt. 1754 - abt. 1827)

Born about 1754 in Augusta Co, VA (now Greenbrier Co, WV

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 23 Apr 1827 at about age 73 in Muskingham Co, OH

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Sara Patton [send private message] and Dee Christophel D'Errico [send private message]

Sara Stevens Patton Notes:

With the exception of the name "Catherine Sea" appearing in the Indian Captive records, and her encounter with Felix Renick-her cousin's husband-in 1798, we have no strong documentation on this daughter of Frederick See. Some family histories claim she was the twin of Elizabeth (probably because the same UNDOCUMENTED birthdate is given to both.

Though there is no documentation for her birth date or location (there weren't any county birth records recorded during the 1750s on the Virginia frontier), we can safely assume that any See children born between 1750-1755, would have been born on the See farm, located near Muddy Creek in today's Greenbrier Co, WV (as VA land records show that her father had land surveyed there as early as 1751 and was probably on site at least a year before the survey.) In 1755, the See's and other families abandoned the area during the French and Indian War, returning about 1761-62. Where the See family relocated between 1755-1762 is not known by records. It is doubtful they returned to the South Branch which was also under heavy attack during this period. It seems more likely that Frederick See followed brother in law, Felty Yoakum eastward to Bedford Co, VA as they are found together in 1756 Augusta Co records and appear to have returned to Muddy Creek together ca. 1761. The Yoakums are documented in Bedford County during that period.

In 1842, Felix Renick, the husband of Catherine See's cousin, wrote an article describing his meeting with "Widow Johnson" in Ohio in 1798. He recounted the Shawnee attack on the Muddy Creek farms of the Sees and Yoakums in 1763 and the captivity of the See family, including Catherine. Renick's article does not give first names for either Catherine or her husband. But Augusta County court records show their names as James and Catherine Johnston. After moving to Muskingham and Coshocton Co, OH, tax records list Caty or Katherine Johnson/Johnston in 1810, 1812, and 1814.

Catherine was among those taken captive by the Shawnee and marched to Indian territory in Ohio. Based on the experiences of other captives, Catherine would then have been separated from her family and adopted into an Indian family. A Catherine See is listed in the captivity list of those whites released by the Shawnee but with no indication of how old she was. Whether this Catherine See is the mother or daughter is not known.

Some family stories allege that Catherine stayed in Ohio after her release by Bouquet and reportedly married David Johnson there at a later date. While there is a David Johnson listed in the Indian captivity lists, other documentary evidence shows her husband to be James Johnson/Johnston. No marriage records have been found so it is not know whether they married in the South Branch or in Monongalia Co, VA (now WV.) A court case shows that the Johnstons and the Robinsons (Catherine's sister and brother -in-law) both moved from the South Branch to Monongalia by 1769 and both couples later moved to the same area of Ohio. It appears that Catherine See remained close to her older sister, Margaret who married William Robinson after Margaret's first husband and baby were killed by Indians. At least two of Catherine's children married Margaret's children.

Augusta Co court records (Abstracts in CHRONICLES OF THE SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLEMENT OF VIRGINIA by Lyman Chalkley, Vol 2, pp 104) describes a land dispute case Shinn vs. Dean O. S. 89; N. S. 30, which involved the Johnstons.

"James Johnson assee to John Downs is intitled to four hundred acres of land in Monongalia County in the right of residence on the head of the left hand fork of Hellins Run and the headwaters of Teverbachs Run to include his Improvement made in the year 1769. [Hard to know if the 1769 improvement refers to James Johnson or John Downs.]

"James Johnson assee to Rudolph I. Cox is entitled to four hundred acres of Land in Monongalia County on the East side of the west fork nearly opposite to the mouth of Bengermans Creek adjoining Claim by Henry Snider to include his Settlement made in the year 1772. This tract, nearly opposite the mouth of Bingamon Creek, was one which, according to Augusta County Court records, was originally claimed by George Shinn, who complained he was "cheated out of it."

The case identifies JAMES (deceased by 1805) AND WIFE CATHERINE JOHNSTON of Monongalia Co and lists their children as Valentine, (probably named for uncle Felty Yoakum???), Ann Robinson, formerly Ann Johnston, who married William Robinson (now deceased), Catherine, Amelia, and James Johnston. The case notes that James Johnston had died before 1805.

The court case also states that settlement in Monongalia was made in 1772 and that James Johnston and Catherine his wife of Monongalia conveyed land to John Dean. Nicholas Shinn claims to be assignee of James JOHNSTON before 1779. (meaning JOHNSTONS lived there 1775-1779.

Deed 9th August 1796. James Johnston and Catherine, his wife, of Monongalia, to John W. Dean, conveys settlement made in 1775. Proved at October Court, 1796.

So we have James Johnston dead by 1805 which jives with Renick's description of "Widow Johnston" in 1798; they lived in Monogalia 1775-1779, and eventually end up in Muskingum according to both Renick and Augusta Co court records. 1810 tax list of Muskingum Co, OH lists Amelia; Caty; Caty Jr; and Valentine JOHNSON, and Benj, John & 3 Wm ROBINSONS; the 1812 tax list of Coshocton Co has Katherine, Sr; Katherine, Jr; Valentine & Wm JOHNSON (Lillian Densley said that Wm Johnson is not related). The 1814 list has Catherine, Valentine & Wm JOHNSTON and more Robinsons.

In addition, the Cemetery Records of Coshocton Co, OH Vol I & II, under 'Wm Robinson Fam Cem, Franklin Twp'. includes a Valentine JOHNSON 1776-1846 and his wf Rebecca, and 2 ch of a younger James & Matilda JOHNSON. And finally an Amelia Johnson/Johnston said to have married Elizabeth See Shoemaker's son Seth. Thus she also married another See cousin.

One researcher writes that Catherine See Johnston, as a widow, arranged the marriages of her children to their cousins (Shoemaker and Robinsons-all See cousins) as well as to the best lines in Coshocton Co, Ohio.

Some claim Catherine died in 1827, having outlived her children James, Valentine, and Catherine, but no documentation has been given.

SOURCES

Indian Captivity Lists Monongalia Co Deed Records Augusta Co Court Records Muskingham Co, OH Tax Records Coshocton Co, OH Tax Records "A TRIP TO THE WEST" by Felix Renick in The American Pioneer, a monthly publication of the Logan (Ohio) Historical Society, 1842.

This person was created on 22 February 2010 through the import of Christophel-WhittakerNew.GED.