Second Generation

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Family of Captain John Johnson (1) & Mary Heath

2. Isaac Johnson (John¹). Died on 19 Dec 1675.

Isaac was the eldest son of Captain John (1), and came to this country with his father. He was made a Freeman March 4, 1635. He was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1645, and was chosen its Captain in 1667. He was Captain of the Roxbury Company in the Narragansett Expedition, and was killed at the head of his company in the famous Fort Fight on December 19, 1675, (near Four Corners, Sakonnet River, Rhode Island, Ed.). He was an original donor of the Free School.

Illustration caption: (from an old wood cut of the attack on the Indians) Captain Isaac Johnson was Killed in the "Great Swamp Fight" Dec. 19, 1675, "gallantly leading his men across the fatal tree-bridge at the entrance to the Fort".... "the companies of Captain Davenport and Johnson came first to this place.... Johnson fell dead at the log,"... "in the bloodiest battle of Colonial history." (see "Mass. Archives.")

Sources: Coe-Ward memorial, pp 62-67.
History of Roxbury, by Ellis, pp. 16, 20.
Roxbury, Mass. to 1850 -- Marriages, p. 223, Deaths, p. 563.
Records of Mass. Bay, Vol. V, pp. 175, 379.
Town of Roxbury.
Thirty-fourth Report Boston Records, p. 17.
"American Colonies in 17th Century," by Osgood, Vol. I, p. 510: "The years 1634 and 1636, while Massachusetts Bay still possessed only an infantry force, witnessed the organization of trained bands (hence "Train Band") and regiments. In December, 1636, an act was passed which definitely accomplished this result. One of these included the companies of Boston, Roxbury, Dorchester, Weymouth, and Hingham, with John Winthrop as Colonel, Thomas Dudley as Lieutenant Colonel" (and Isaac (2) Johnson as Captain).

SML Comment: The battle took place in South Kingstown, not "near Four Corners, Sakonnet River, Rhode Island" as the author states.

He married Elizabeth Porter, daughter of Adrian Porter & Elizabeth Allott, on Jan 20, 1636/7 in Roxbury, Mass. Died Roxbury, Mass., on 13 Aug 1683.

They had the following children:

	7	i.	Elizabeth (1637-1701)
		ii.	John. Born on 3 Nov 1639. Died on 16 Dec 1661. Died Dec. 18 in town records, Roxbury, Mass.
	8	iii.	Mary (1642-)
	9	iv.	Isaac (1643-1719)
		v.	Joseph. Born on 9 Nov 1645. Died Roxbury, Mass., on 12 Dec 1645.
	10	vi.	Nathaniel (1647-1698)

3. Mary Johnson (John¹). Born England. Died on Jan 5, 1678/9. Buried on Jan 29, 1678/9.

Sources: Supplement to "The Descendants of Nathaniel Mowry of Rhode Island" by Wm. A. Mowry. Boston, 1900. p. 3.

She first married Roger Mowry. Died on 5 Mar 1666.

Died Jan 5, 1666 G2.
Roger Mowry was a friend of Roger Williams. They removed with him to Rhode Island, where Mowry held many important positions. He was a Representative to the General Court in 1658 from Providence.
Member of 1st Church, Salem, Mass.
Roger arrived in Boston from England early in 1631.
The "Olney House" with its fire place measuring ten feet inside, on Abbott Street near Main N. in Providence, Rhode Island, was built by Roger Mowry in 1653. He and Roger Williams applied at the same time, May 18, 1631, to Boston for the privilege of Freeman -- both went to Plymouth, then to Salem, then to Providence, where they lived side by side. "He sold his land in ye woods into Emanuel Downing -- and I do further testify ye a parcel of upland and swamp and meadow land being apart of and belonging to the said Mowry's land lying in ye township of Salem, about 3 miles westerly from ye town" etc.... 1700, Jan. 28. His wife, Mistress Mary Johnson, was a woman of strong character and much loved by her neighbors. Rev. Heath in Roxbury was a kinsman of Mary.

Sources: Boston & Eastern Mass., Vol IV, p. 2090.
"Descendants of John Mowry of Rhode Island," by William A. Mowry, 1909, Chapter I, p. 19, etc.
"History of Woodstock," Vol. VII, p. 148, etc., by Bowen, 1943.

They had the following children:

		i.	Roger.
		ii.	Jonathan. Baptized on 2 Apr 1637. He married Mary Bartlett, in Jul 1659. Widow of Mr. Foster.
		iii.	Bethiah. Baptized on 17 Jun 1638.
		iv.	Mary. Baptized on 16 Feb 1639.
		v.	Elizabeth. Baptized on 27 Mar 1642.
	11	vi.	Nathaniel (1644-1718)
	12	vii.	John (1645-)
		viii.	Mehitable. Born in 1646. She first married Eldad Kingsley, on 9 May 1662. Died on 30 Aug 1679. She second married Timothy Brooks. Of Swanzey, Mass.
		ix.	Joseph. Born in 1647.
		x.	Benjamin.
		xi.	Thomas. Born on 19 Sep 1652.
		xii.	Hannah. Born on 9 Nov 1656.

She second married John Kingsley.

Of Rehoboth, Mass.

4. Sergeant Humphrey Johnson (John¹). Born England. Died Hingham, Mass., on 24 Jul 1692.

Sergeant Humphrey came from England with his father, Captain John. "He was a capable man in town affairs and often employed in the public business. He had an uncommon inclination to law suits and few men have left on the records of the court, so many evidences of his litigeous disposition." He settled in Scituate, Mass., and later was of Hingham, Mass., where he was an Innkeeper. He was a member of his brother's Company in the Narragansett Expedition. He was an original donor of the Free School. His farm house in Scituate was in later years owned by Joshua Lincoln into whose family there was much intermarrying.

Sources: History of Ancient and Honorable Artillery, Vol. I, p. 151.

"History of Scituate," by Deane, pp. 276-297.
"Serg. Huymphrey Johnson was in Scituate, 1651, and purchased lands in Umhatch on the North of Cornet Stetson's farm, a deep ravine dividing the two farms. His home stood near the bank of that ravine; it was afterwards owned by Joshua Lincoln. He had also several houses by purchase and claimed to be successor, in division of common lands, to Resolved White and Josiah Holmes. His wife's name was Eleanor Cheney, probably of Hingham; and Johnson removed to Hingham in 1673. He was a capable man in public affairs and often employed in Town business, in the early part of his life; but he had an uncommon inclination to law suits, and few men have left on the records of the court, so many evidences of his litegious disposition -- some of which we insert":
In 1693 he commenced a suit against the town for 3 shares in common lands. He had removed his residence out of the Colony ten years before to Roxbury, and the Town considered that his right to common lands was thereby canceled. He however, recovered an execution and John Cushing, Samuel Clap, and Jeremiah Hatch were apoointed to set off lands to satisfy the execution.
Among Winslow's papers in possession of John Davis, are several curious documents relating to Sergeant Johnson's claims at Scituate, and particularly a letter from Governor Josiah Winslow, dated march 14, 1673/4, addressed to Gen. Cudworth, which probably conributed much to the ending of the conroversy (note on page 402).
Again, in 1697, when Sir Edmund Andros, Governor General, and his council had the sole conrol of affairs, Johnson went with complaints to the Governor "that he had not had his ful rights in Scituate." The Town being notified, thus remonstrated and answered that "Johnson's claims had all been satisfied; that the original writ and process thereupon was altogether tortuous and wrong, and yet that was obtained by Jedgment of Court had been satisfied." Never the less Johnson was furnished with a warrant from Andros and came with his surveyor and laid out 100 acres at the head of Richard Dwelley's lot -- 100 acres at Burnt Plain, 100 acres at Halifax Cedar Swamp. On this the town with John Cushing and Samuel Clap as Agents, addressed the Governor in a very spirited declaration, showing there was much land laid out by Johnson "had already been appropriated to others" -- that Johnson "had already been accomodated with thrice 65 acres to the full amount of his claim as principal and successor to two other." We believe this grant was never confirmed, and probably the recall of Gov. Andros to England a few months after the date of the above declaration, put an end to Johnson's hopes and projects. "Johnson's Swamp" in Scituate (near the Hingham line, in the beaches) derived its name from Johnson's trespass. After the dispute he moved his house to Hingham, and atoned for his short comings by serving his country in the conflict then going on (Indian War).

In "History of Cohasset," p. 150"
Humphrey Johnson got 5 shares or 10 acres, when Cohasset, (best land along the harbor to the south of Bound Creek and to Little Harbor), was divided -- with one more share Dec. 6, 1676 -- only 8 men got more. P. 147:
"Joshua Hobart, Daniel Cushing, Jeremy Beal, Lt. Smith, Humphrey Johnson, and Moses Collier, are appointed a committee to get best advise on dividing up of the commons."

From "Hist. of Hingham," p. 236, Vol. I, part 1:
"Among the companies in teh Indian War was one commanded by Capt. Isaac Johnson of Roxbury, (Humphrey's brother) already a distinguished officer, who had led a company of preying Indians in the earlier days of the conflict. He was known as the brave Captain Johnson, and in his commend, it was the good fortune of a part of the men from our town (Hingham) to serve."
Humphrey's father-in-law, William Cheney, was an ancestor of Pres. William H. Taft.
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Americana, July, 1941, 3rd Quarter, p. 607, "Hinsdale Family," by Myrtle M. Lewis.
Suffolk County Deeds at Boston (Abigail -- end wife).
"Roxbury, Mass. to 1850" -- Births, p. 195; Marriages, pp. 69, 223, 224; Deaths, p. 563.
"Roxbury History," by Ellis, pp. 16, 20, and 39.
"History of Hingham, Mass.," Vo. II, pp 384-385.
"Framingham, Mass.," by Temple, p. 608.
"Scituate, Mass. to 1850," p. 384; Births, p. 206.
"Woodstock, Conn.," Vol. VII, by Bowen, p. 149.
"History of Scituate, Mass.," by Dean, pp. 296-297.
"History of Roxbury, Mass.," Vol. IV, p. 183.
"Franklin D. Roosevelt's Colonial Ancestors," by A. P. Johnson, pp. 162-165, and 165.
"History of First Church in Roxbury, Mass.," by Thwing, 1908.

He first married Elinor Cheney, daughter of William Cheney & Margaret, on Mar 20, 1642/3. Born England abt 1626. Died Hingham, Mass., on 29 Sep 1678.

Parents ancestors of President Taft.

They had the following children:

	13	i.	Mehitable (1644-1689)
	14	ii.	Martha (-1714)
		iii.	Deborah. Born Roxbury, Mass., on Jan or Nov 20, 1649/0. Baptized on 20 Feb .
		iv.	John. Born Roxbury, Mass., in Mar 1653. Died Hingham, Mass., on 12 Jun 1674. Drowned.
	15	v.	Benjamin (1657-1707)
	16	vi.	Margaret (1659-1739)
		vii.	Deborah. Born Scituate, Mass., in 1661. Died on 1 Apr 1669.
		viii.	Mary. Born Scituate, Mass., on 19 Apr 1663.
	17	ix.	Nathaniel (1666-1755)
	18	x.	Isaac (1667-1738)
		xi.	Joseph. Died Hingham, Mass., on 6 Sep 1676.

He second married Abigail May, on 6 Dec 1678.

Daughter of Samuel and Abigail (Stansfall) May, or the widow Abigail May, Samuel having died July 17, 1677. She was living in Roxbury, Mass., May 7, 1714, when she sold land. Possibly the widow Stanfield and widow May.

They had the following children:

	19	i.	John (1679-)
	20	ii.	Deborah (1682-)

5. Elizabeth Johnson (John¹). Born England. Died Roxbury, Mass., on 5 Jan 1683.

She married Robert Pepper, son of Richard Pepper & Mary, on Mar 14, 1642/3. Died Roxbury, Mass., on 7 Jul 1684.

Richard Pepper, age 27 yers, and his wife, age 30 years, came from Ipswich, England, in the "Francis" in 1634. Robert was their son. The Pepper family had Crest and Motto. They resided in Roxbury.

Sources: "Descendant of Robert Pepper," bu Emily C. Landon.
"Colonial Families of U. S.," Vol. VII, p. 383, by McKenzie.
"Americana," 1st Quarter, 1932, Vol. XXVI, pp. 157-9.
"General and Family History of Western N. Y.," by Richard Cutter, Vol. II, p. 843.
"Savage -- Vol. II, pp. 168, 392. Vol. III, pp. 391-392.
"Americana," Faggett and Allied Families.
"Framingham, Mas.," by W. Barry, p. 357.
"History of Roxbury, Mass." by Drake, pp. 14, 164.
Thwing, in his "History of the First Church of Roxbury," says: "Robert Pepper, married Eliza Johnson; was made Freeman May 10, 1643, was an original donor of the Free School, a member of the 1st Church. He was given leave to brew, and sell penny beare and cakes, and white bread." Innkeepers were men of only the best repute, and the inns were the meeting place of towns people in these early days. Between church services the taverns furnished warming up places.
"History of Woodstock," Vol. VII, p. 148-149, by Bowen.
Pepper Code of Arms: from Americana, January, 1932, p. 159 -- Daggett and Allied Familes. Burke's General Armory. "Gules on a chevron argent between three demi-lions rampant, or, as many sickles sable."
Johnson Code of Arms: from Matthews American Armory. Burke's General Armory. Americana, January, 1932, p. 159, Daggett & Allied Families. "Arms-gules, 3 spear heads argent; a chief ermine; crest -- spear's head argent between two branches of laurel vert crossing each other over the spear's head."

They had the following children:

		i.	Elizabeth. Baptized on 3 Mar 1644. Died on 13 Mar 1644.
		ii.	Elizabeth. Born on 25 May 1645. She married John Everett, on 13 May 1662.
		iii.	John. Born on 8 Apr 1647. Died Dedham, Mass., in 1670. He married Bethiah Fisher.
		iv.	Joseph. Born on 18 Mar 1649. Died Sudbury, Mass., on 18 Apr 1676. Killed by Indians while fighting under Capt. Wadsworth. Sources: "History of Woodstock," by Bowen -- Vol. VIII, pp. 420-421. He married Mary May, daughter of John May & Sarah Brewer, on 4 Nov 1675 in Roxbury, Mass. Born on 7 Nov 1657. Her mother was daughter of Daniel and Joanna Brewer. Mary was married second on February 28, 1677 at Roxbury, Mass. to Joshua Seaver, who was born August 31, 1641.
		v.	Mary. Born on 27 Apr 1651. She married Samuel Everett, on 28 Oct 1669. Of Dedham, Mass.
		vi.	Benjamin. Born on 14 May 1653. Buried on 16 Jan 1669.
		vii.	Robert. Born on 21 Apr 1655. Captured by Indians at Northfield, Mass., Sept. 4, 1675. Died in captivity.
	21	viii.	Sarah (1657-)
	22	ix.	Isaac (1659-)
		x.	Jacob. Born on 28 Jul 1661. Resided Franingham, Mass. He married Elizabeth Paine, on 10 Feb 1685 in Rehoboth, Mass.

6. Sarah Johnson (John¹). Born England abt 1627.

She married William Bartram, in Lynn, Mass. Died Swanzey, Mass.

They resided at Lynn, Mass., where he was Constable. Later they removed to Swanzey (Swansea), Mass.

Sources: Savage -- Vol. III, p. 168.
History of Woodstock -- Vol. VII, by Bowen, pp. 148-149.

They had the following children:

		i.	Rebecca (Twin). Born on 3 Apr 1658.
		ii.	Esther (Twin). Born on 3 Apr 1658. Died on 20 Sep 1728. She married John Newhall, on 18 Jun 1677.
		iii.	Ellen. Born on 17 Oct 1660.
		iv.	Mary.
		v.	Elizabeth.
		vi.	Hannah.
		vii.	Susanna.

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