First Generation
1. Captain John Johnson. Born England. Died Roxbury, Mass., on Sept 30, 1659 Will dated 30th.
Genealogy of Captain John Johnson of Roxbury, Massachusetts
Attempt the end and never stand in doubt;
Nothing so hard but search will find it out.
-Herrick
The home of our ancestor in England has not been learned. As his known relatives resided about twelve miles from London on the River Lee, it is safe to say that he probably came from the same locality. Neither has the maiden name of his wife Margery been ascertained. Through the relationship mentioned in certain legal documents, it has been assumed by some that she was Margery Heath.
John Johnson, with his family, came to this country in the fleet with Winthrop, landing at Salem June 22, 1630. He settled in Roxbury, where he, with his son-in-law Richard Mowry, (Roger Ed.) was made Freeman May 18, 1631. He was active in the business of the Colony, as Juryman, serving on Committees, as Surveyor laying out the bounds of Towns around Boston. March 4, 1634/5 John Johnson and Richard Dumer were ordered to build a bridge across Muddy River. Five towns were to contribute to the cost. Mary 25, 1636 or 1635 he was chosen one of a Committee to determine the valuation of the several towns. September 8, 1636 he was again chosen for that purpose. May 17, 1637 he was chosen one of the Deputies to levy on the towns for raising fifty men to send against the Pequots. He was also chosen Surveyor General, an office, which at that time, included the care of the stock of arms and the ammunition of the Colony. An interesting account of the burning of his house, with the Colony's stock of powder, also the Town Records of Roxbury, of which he was Town Clerk, is given in Governor Winthrop's History, also in Drake's History of Roxbury. He was chosen Deputy to the House of Deputies to represent Roxbury in 1634, the first year of that Assembly; and was chosen for twenty-one years afterward, nearly all consecutively.
"Captain John Johnson was the first Clerk of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery. His son, Isaac, was its Captain, and leader at one time. It is the oldest military organization in this country, founded March 13, 1638, and which still proudly maintains its existence. Upon the rolls of its members are to be seen the names of men who in their day, through the entire history of Massachusetts, were foremost in peace and war, and who occupied the highest place in science, art, and literature, and in social, political and military life. At no time could any but a distinguished citizen have become a member of its society."
Late in his life, John Johnson was granted one thousand acres of land in consideration of his great service to the Colony.
Duties and position of the Surveyor General are described by Osgood in "American Colonies in the 17th Century" Volume I, page 513:
"In the Massachusetts Bay System the germ of the modern military staff appears chiefly in the office ordinarily designated as that of Surveyor of Ordinance, or later as General Surveyor of Arms. Early in 1631 the general court chose a Surveyor of Ordinance, to be allowed £10 per year. But from 1632 to 1642 the business of the office was mainly transacted through committees. In 1642, owing to fear of an Indian attack and the desire that the colony might be well supplied with powder, John Johnson was appointed Surveyor General of the Arms. From that time until the downfall of the Colony government, the many references to the office indicate its importance. The Surveyor General of Arms was a custodian of the Colony's supply of ordinance, arms and ammunition; under authority from the general court, he delivered powder to the towns, and received back from them any excessive supplies which might have been issued. He could also sell ammunition. He was empowered to recover arms belonging to the Colony from individuals or towns that had them in their possession, to either preserve them pending an order of the general court, or to sell them at a fair price and procure others in their place. The purchases of ammunition were usually made through the Surveyor General, though in co-operation with the treasurer. Orders of the general court that he should loan munitions to individuals are common. When in 1643, arms and stores were brought from Castle Island, an invoice of the whole was given to the Surveyor General and the arms were delivered into his custody...."
Captain Johnson was married second to Grace Negus, widow of Barnabas Fowler. Grace died on September 29th, according to town records.
SML Comment: For detailed information on his life and possible ancestry, refer to THE BIOGRAPHY AND GENEALOGY OF CAPTAIN JOHN JOHNSON FROM ROXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS, by Gerald Garth Johnson (2000, Heritage Books, Inc., Bowie, MD), available from the publisher.
He married Mary Heath, daughter of William Heath & Agnes Cheney, in England. Died on 9 Jan 1655. Buried Roxbury, Mass., on 9 Apr 1655.
Many authorities add JOHN to the list of children and generally as first child. This seems to be an error, perhaps stated by Farmer's General Register, page 163, which give "1 JOHN: who died in 1661." The JOHN who died in 1661 was a son of Captain Isaak Johnson as shown by the church records. It is certain that no JOHN came over with the family. There is no evidence whatever that there was any child other than the five given .
They had the following children:
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