Return to main file

William Johnson (c. 1608–1677)

Elizabeth Bunker (c. 1607–1684)

---

William Johnson was born about 1608. William, bricklayer of Charlestown, died on 9 December 1677 in Charlestown. [1, 100] He married Elizabeth Bunker on 14 October 1630 in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. [2, 9, fn.][3]

William was probably the brother of the historian Captain Edward Johnson. [2, 9] Matthew Johnson, Sr., yeoman of Woburn, refers to William as his brother in his will of 12 November 1693. [4]

Elizabeth Bunker was born about 1607. She died on 6 October 1684, age 77. [3] She married second Thomas Carter, Sr. on 24 October 1679 in Charlestown. [1, 107]

George Bunker was from Odell, Bedfordshire. [2, 9, fn.]

William, a 26-year-old bricklayer, came to New England in 1634. [2, 27]

William was part of the Dunstable contingent of the Great Migration; these were followers of Reverend Zachariah Symmes, who came on the Griffen in 1634. It included Anne Hutchinson, Reverend John Lathrop, William Johnson, and his brother-in-law George Bunker. [2, 8–9]

William and Elizabeth were admitted to the Charlestown church on 13 February 1634/5. [3]

William was on the committee to set wages for workmen, laborers and servants on 28 November 1638. [3]

William was a hog reeve in Charleston in 1650. [2, 63] He was a field driver in 1650, 1651, 1652, and 1656. [2, 72] He was a fence viewer in 1651, 1652, 1663, and 1664. [2, 70] He was a grave digger in 1651. [2, 74] He was a constable in 1667. [2, 62]

William made his will on 7 December 1677; it was proved on 2 April 1678. He left bequests to his wife Elizabeth; his son Joseph Johnson, his son Jonathan Johnson, his daughter Elizabeth Wyer, his granddaughter Elizabeth Bacon, His son Nathaniel Johnson, "if he be alive," and his wife Joanna, his sons Zachariah and Isaac Johnson. Inventory was taken on 18 December 1677. It included books and a "firelock, musket & a sword." The value of William's real estate was 260 pounds. [3]

Children of William Johnson

i. John Johnson was baptized on 5 September 1632 in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, [3] He married first Elizabeth Maverick on 15 October 1656 in Charlestown. [1, 20] She was the daughter of Elias Maverick. [3] He married second Sarah (Keyser) Gilo, the daughter of George Keyser and widow of John Gilo. [3] He married third Catherine (Skipper) Maverick, the daughter of William Skipper and widow of John Maverick, on 8 September 1680 in Haverhill. [3]

ii. Ruhama Johnson was born on 1 February 1634/5 in Charlestown. She died between 4 November 1657 and 1663. She married John Knight.

iv. Elizabeth Johnson was baptized on 17 March 1638/9 in Charlestown. [3] She died on 14 December 1714. [3] She married first Edward Wyer on 5 11 mo. 1658 [January 1658/9] in Charlestown. [1, 37] She married second William Monroe. [3]

v. Jonathan Johnson was baptized on 14 August 1641 in Charlestown. [3] He married Mary, the daughter of Richard Newton, on 14 October 1663 in Marlborough. [3]

Jonathan lived in Marlborough with his wife and children, and took refuge at his father's house in Charlestown during King Philip's War in 1667. [2, 483]

vi. Nathaniel Johnson was born say 1643. He married Joanna Long on 24 November 1668 in Charlestown. [1, 70] She married second Christopher Goodwin on 10 December 1678 in Charlestown. [1, 106]

vii. Zechariah Johnson was born about 1645. [2, 403] He married Elizabeth, the daughter of John Jeffs, by 1673. [3]

Zechariah was a mariner. [2, 403] Zechariah was 22 years old in 1667. [2, 403]

viii. Isaac Johnson was born about 1651. Isaac Johnson, Sr., gunsmith, died on 31 August 1711, age about 60, in Charlestown. [1, 229] He married Mary Stone on 22 November 1671 in Charlestown. [1, 82]

References:

1. Vital Records of Charlestown, Massachusetts: "Massachusetts Vital Records, 1620–1850," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org > Charlestown, vol. 1.

2. Roger Thompson, From Deference to Defiance: Charlestown, Massachusetts, 1629–1692 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2012).

3. "Great Migration, 1634–1635, I–L," digitized book, originally published as Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration to New England, 1634–1635, Volume IV, I–L (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2005), 84–90.

4. "Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648–1871," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org, 12726

---

25-Nov-2023