Our family has always spelled the family name 'Johnston' with a 'T', but we have found that some of our family members have chosen to leave the T out of their name So when writing the name on this site, I will spell the name just as I have found it was originally written on the file.
I have done a lot of research on this family and have become familiar with the Johnson family, their inlaws and even their neighbors, so much that I feel as though I have known them personally. The evidence I have found is conclusive, at least to myself. If you have any documented evidence that proves otherwise, I would love for you to share it with me. I hope that the information I present here, will help others that are researching this family to apply it to their own findings and will guide them around that 'brick wall' they may have been up against. You may contact me on the 'Home' page of this site.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ These are the generations of the Johnson Family.....
Benjamin JOHNSON Sr. b: 15 APR 1705 in Louisa, VA Married: 19 Dec. 1728 - Cedar Creek Meeting; Hanover, VA Spouse:Agnes CLARK b: 1712 in Mecklenberg, VA d. after 1754
Children of Benjamin Johnson Sr. and Agnes Clark:
1. Agnes Johnson b. 30 Jan 1729 2. Christopher Johnson 3. William Johnson b: 25 JUN 1734 4. Benjamin Johnson Jr. b. 24 Aug, 1736 New Kent Va. (Our Line) 5. Collins Johnson b. 8 Sep 1741 New Kent, Va. 6. Penelope Johnson b. 27 Feb 1739 New Kent, Va. 7.Edward Johnson b. 4 May 1744 New Kent, Va.8.Agnes Johnson b. 11 FEB 1747 (Mark Twain Line ) More on Benjamin Johnson Jr.
Benjamin Johnson Jr. b 24 Aug, 1736 Albermarle Co., VA d. August 18, 1769 in Bedford Co., Va.
These statistics are from the Cedar Creek Quaker church records:
1st Marriage
Mary Bolling m. August 19, 1748 Cedar Creek, Hanover Co., VA Mary Bolling Johnson b. December 19, 1730 Cedar Creek, Hanover Co., VA d. August 14, 1756 in Cedar Creek, Hanover Co., VA
Children of Benjamin and Mary Bolling Johnson
1. Child born - January 14, 1749/50, Hanover Co., Va
2nd Marriage - Lucy Moorman - married: 14 FEB 1756 Lucy Moorman b. 21 Feb, 1740 Campbell Co., VA d. September 06, 1814 in Bedford Co., Va.
Unnamed Child Died: August 13, 1756, Bedford Co., Virginia
Children of Benjamin Johnson Jr. and Lucy Moorman
1. David Johnson b. 1759 in 1790 Union Co SC census 2. Benjamin Johnson III b. 1760 " (See below) 3. Collins Johnson b. 1761 " 4. James Moorman Johnson b. 1763 SC " (See below) 5. Lucy Johnson b. 1764 6. Charles Johnson b. 24 Feb, 1765 SC 7. Sarah Johnson b. 1766 8. Samuel Johnson SR. b. 1767 SC more on Samuel 9. William Johnson b. 1768 10. Judith Johnson b. 1776
Benjamin Johnson III b. 1760 Campbell Co., VA d. 1805 Richland Co, SC Spouse: Nancy Ann b. 1765 SC or VA d. 1821 ( Nancy Ann's will was proved Oct 1821 - Cocke Co. Tenn.)
Note: Benjamin Johnson III - Religion-Quaker: Under care at South River in 1778 for enlisting in the army. Condemned the same and was put on probation. Disowned in 1778 at South Creek for enlisting in the army.
Children of Benjamin Johnson III and Nancy Anne 1. Unity Johnsonb. 1784 d. 1815 Cocke Co. TN Married: 1805 in Richland CO, SC Spouse: Alexander Brent b. 1795 Richland, SC ( Unity and Elizabeth married Brent Brothers) Children of Unity Johnson and Alex Brent John T. BRENT b: 1805 Columbia, Richland Co., SC William BRENT James BRENTThomas Alexander BRENT b: 12 Jul 1812 in Richland Co., SC
2.Elizabeth Johnsonb. 18 Nov 1790 Union Co. SC d:9 Nov 1860 Choctaw Co Ms
Spouse 1 : Wade Brent Married about 1810 Children of Elizabeth Johnson and Wade Brent William BRENT b: 20 Oct 1811 Benjamin BRENT b: 2 Feb 1814 - died young Nancy BRENT b: 2 Feb 1814 - died young
4. John C. Johnson b. 1796 SC d. 1860 Choctaw Co. Miss Spouse: Darcus Crossland b. 1800 Darcus Crossland was daughter of Samuel T. Crossland and Anne Johnson
Source 1850 Census Choctaw Co, Mississippi Note: I have seen John C. Johnson's middle name written as 'Cottrell', but I have never seen any source for why someone first wrote his name as Cottrell. I am guessing that someone supposed that his name was Cottrell, because most people have him listed as a son of James Moorman Johnson and Marianne Cottrell, which I think is another wrong assumption. I am also guessing that since his grandson and great grandson are named John Carol Johnson, John C. Johnson Sr. may have had the middle name of Carol also.
Note: ANNE CROSSLAND is also listed in the 1850 Choctaw Co. Miss. census, living with the John C. Johnson family. Her age is given as 69, born in Virginia in 1781 and blind. Ann Johnson-Crossland, widow of Samuel T. Crossland, is the mother of Darcus Crossland-Johnson. Darcus married her cousin, John C. Johnson. Anne Johnson-Crossland is John C. Crossland's aunt as well as his mother in law. Anne Crossland is the daughter of Benjamin Johnson Jr., and the sister of Benjamin Johnson III, which also makes her the sister of James Moorman Johnson. No wonder this has confused a lot of people, trying to figure out who is who in the Johnson family.
5. Joseph Johnsonb. 1797 d. 1870 Youngest son of Benjamin Johnson III and Nancy Ann Johnson His occupation: Miller Spouse: Phoebe b. 1798 Tenn Daughter: Nancy b. 1831 Tenn Source: 1850 and 1870 Cocke Co. TN Census ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Source of information for Benjamin and Nancy Anne Johnson: Estate Records and the will of Anne Johnson
Estate Records of Benjamin Johnson ( III ) are found in the Probate Court of Richland County South Carolina Box #16, Package #400 Benjamin Johnson died intestate in Richland County, South Carolina in 1805, (without a will) . His wife, Ann Johnson and her daughter, Unity Johnson, applied for a Letter of Administration of the estate on Sept 3, 1805. Unity assisted her mother because she was of age and literate (could read and write).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ More about Nancy Ann Johnson Birth: 1765 in SC or Virginia Death: Oct 1821 in Cocke Co. TN
Note: Ann Johnson, created a will on Feb. 3, 1821 in which she bequeathed to her son, John C. Johnson, " my land lying along the French Broad River and my negro man Jim and all my stock of cattle". She also left to her grandchildren ( Unity's children ), John Brent, William, James and Thomas Brent, $100.00 to be distributed to them by John C. , not before their 21st birthday. Ann's "negro boy Peter" was left to her daughter, Elizabeth Fox. $500.00 was bequeathed to her daughter, Dorcas Hughes along with "all my stock of hogs, horses and all my plantation tools and household & kitchen furniture". She left her son Joseph $0.25 because " I gave him half the land he now lives on."
WILL OF ANN JOHNSON In the name of God Amen, I Ann Johnson of the State of Tennessee and County of Cocke being very sick and weak of body but of perfect mind, thanks be given unto God. Calling unto mind the mortality of my body that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body I commend to the earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God; and as touching such worldly Estate which it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give demur and dispose of the same in the following manner and form principally and first of all my just debts and funeral charges to be paid; secondly I give and bequeath unto my son John C. Johnson my land lying on the French Broad River and my negro man Jim and all my stock of cattle. And I do give unto the children of my daughter Unity, deceased, namely John Brent, William, James and Thomas Brent one hundred dollars each which the said John C. Johnson is hereby compelled to pay to the above named children in consequence of his receiving the above mentioned land and negro and cattle, the children's money to be paid to them by the said John C. Johnson when each shall arrive to the age of twenty-one years and not before. Thirdly, I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Elizabeth Fox, mDorcas Hughes, for which reason I do give and bequeath all my stock of hogs, horses and all my household & kitchen furniture, together with all debts now owing to me and all the crop and plantation tools and every other individual except .25 cents I do give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Johnson which John C. Johnson is to pay to Joseph Johnson twenty-five cents only because I gave him half the land he now lives on, and I do hereby constitute and ordain my son John C. Johnson and y negro boy Peter. Forthly, I do give and bequeath unto my daughter, Dorcas Hughes, five hundred dollars, which John C. Johnson is hereby compelled to pay to the said Moses Atherton, Executors to this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and Seal this third day of February in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty-one. Signed and sealed and acknowleged to be the last will and testament in the presence of, - {Attest - A. Millikin - her X mark John Gillet Ann X Johnson (Seal) mark (State of Tennessee) This day personally appeared before me Abraham Fine & Thos Rogers two Justices of Cocke County } said County A. Millikin & John Gillet make the oath that they saw Ann Johnson make her mark to will as her act and deed and that said A. Millikin & John Gillet subscribing witness to said will believes the said Ann Johnson was of disposing mind at the time, Sworn to & subscribed this day 15 October 1825 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*More on James Lee Johnson Son of James Lee Johnson and Darcus Crossland: John Carol Johnson b. 08 May 1856 Greensboro, Choctaw Co. Mississippi Died. Blanchard, McClain County, Oklahoma Son of John Carol Johnson: Homer Oliver Johnson b 02 Apr 1889 at Yellville, Marion Co. Arkansas Died. 1 Sep. 1979, Tulare Co. Callfornia. (Information on James Lee Johnson contributed by John Carol Johnson II, Blanchard Oklahoma)
James Moorman Johnson b. 1763 Union Co. SC Married: 26 SEP 1780 , Bedford, Virginia Spouse: Marianne Cottrell
Children of James Moorman Johnson and Marianne Cottrell
James M. Johnson Jr. b. 1780 Spouse: Unknown James M. Johnson's wife may have been named Elizabeth. His daughter Jane Johnson-Shelton, named her first son, 'James M.' and named her first daughter 'Elizabeth C.' Jane Johnson's sister, Olleva, named her first daughter Elizabeth as well. The James Johnston who lived on the property joining Abraham Shelton Jr. in the year of 1804 ( the year after Jane's birth) was named James Major Johnston and had a daughter named Elizabeth Cheney Johnston who married William Shelton, brother of Abraham Shelton Jr. I have not been able to find a connection between that Johnston family and Jane Johnston.
Children of James M. Johnson and Spouse
Jane Johnson b. 1803 * ( more on Jane Johnston below) Haywood Johnson b. 1805 Anderson R. Johnson b. 1808 Va. Spouse: Amanda b. 1812 Tn. Andrew Johnson b. 1809 b. So Carolina 1850 census -Tippah MS Olleva 'Ollie' Johnson b. 1810 Harding Johnson b. 1812 (said to have owned a ship-lost at sea) Nancy Johnson b. 1817
Source of information - Shelton Bible
More on Jane Johnson / Johnston:
Jane Johnston was born 17 Dec 17, 1803 Died: 20 Jan 20, 1888 in Logan Co, Ark. Jane was buried at Paint Rock Cemetery near the community of Driggs, Arkansas. Spouse: George Abraham Shelton: was born Feb 21, 1790 in VA - Died: 21 Sep,1857 in Fayette Co. AL. George A. Shelton bought land in Fayette Co. AL.on 12 April, 1824. George and Jane Shelton were married in 1820 in Virginia. George Abraham Shelton was a Justice of the Peace in Fayette County, Alabama during the years 1839-1847. There is a record of George Shelton having officiated at the marriage of Cornelius Holleman and Elizabeth Rainwater on June 23, 1839.
Children of George Shelton and Jane Johnston:
Elizabeth C. Shelton b. Feb 14,1821 VA d. Sep 20, 1821 James M. Sheltonb. Oct 26, 1822 VA d. Jan 07, 1825 Laura Ann Sheltonb. Feb. 21,1824 VA d. Nov 03, 1884 Sps: Berry Pinkney Morris Olleva Wilson Shelton b. Oct 16, 1825 AL d. Oct 03. 1856 Fayette ALo Spouse: Edward Bryanes George Robertson Sheltonb. April 23, 1829 AL d. Feb 2, 1863 at Indianapolis IN George Robertson Shelton fought in the Civil War. He was 2nd Lt. in the CSA, and was wounded and captured at the Battle of Stones Hill near Murphreesboro, TN, and taken as a prisoner of war, to Camp Morton in Indianapolis where he died a month later. He was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis in a mass grave with other Confederate soldiers. Burrel T. Sheltonb. Feb 15, 1831 d. April 20, 1834 - there was also Burrell T. Shelton that lived in Fayette Co. AL - relation unknown Mary C. Sheltonb. Dec 24, 1832 d. Dec 12, 1873 Sebastian Co. Arkansas(married her sister, Olleva's husband, Edward Bryans, after Olleva's death) Martha M. Sheltonb. Aug 27, 1834 d. July 06, 1844 Nancy Shelton b. April 24, 1837 d. July 10, 1844 Albert Anderson Sheltonb. Jan. 02, 1839 d. June 14, 1853 Was crippled- died young Missouria Agnes Sheltonb. Dec 19, 1840 d. Feb 12, 1933 Spouse: James G. Humphrey
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