Isaac Johnson

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ISAAC JOHNSON (1714–by 1785), son of Lieutenant Joseph Johnson and Lydia Twitchell

ABIGAIL LELAND (1716–1745), daughter of John Leland and Abigail Badcock

Isaac, the son of Joseph and Lydia Johnson, was born on 28 March 1714 in Sherborn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. [1, 51] He married first Abigail Leland on 15 February 1736 in Holliston. [2, 226][3] He married second Elizabeth Jones on 21 September 1749 in Holliston. [2, 226] She was born in 1721. Elizabeth, the widow of Isaac, died on 9 January 1792, age 70 years and nine months, in Holliston. [2, 324] She was probably Elizabeth Bullard, who married first Aaron Jones on 17 March 1736/7. [3] Aaron died on 30 July 1742. [3]

Abigail, the daughter of John and Abigail Leland, was born on 28 March 1716 in Sherborn. [1, 54][3] Abigail, the wife of Isaac, died on 23 August 1745 in Holliston. [2, 323]

Isaac and Abigail's children Abner, Isaac, Rueben, and Hannah are mentioned in the 9 May 1755 will of Abigail's father.

Map: Middlesex County

Isaac Johnson was a selectman in Holliston in 1752, 1756, 1758, and 1762. [3]

On 11 August 1785 Samuel Parks, Esq. and Timothy Rockwood of Holliston and Captain Joseph Twitchell of Sherborn were appointed to take the inventory of Isaac Johnson, deceased laborer of Holliston. On 13 August 1785 Elizabeth Johnson, widow, Henry Leland, and Samuel Parks, Esq. posted bond on the estate of Isaac Johnson, a deceased laborer of Holliston who died intestate. On 5 September 1785 inventory was taken; it amounted to £168 - 02 - 03. On 11 October 1785 Isaac Johnson, Reuben Johnson, Ezekial and Hannah Hayward, Moses and Abigail Greenwood and Milla Johnson—and also Moses Greenwood as guardian of Eli, Jerusha, Miriam, and Abner Johnson—acknowledged receipt of £192–02-08 as their share of the estate of Isaac Johnson, gentleman, and released Elizabeth Johnson from further obligation. [4]

Isaac, Hannah Hayward and Reuben are the children of Isaac in the above estate settlement. Son Abner was dead by then; Abigail Greenwood and Milla Johnson must have been his grown children and Eli, Jerusha, Miriam and Abner his minor children.

Children of Isaac Johnson and Abigail Leland: Births recorded in Holliston as the children of Isaac and Abigail. [2, 83–86]

i. Abner Johnson was born on 10 September 1737. He died on 12 May 1777 in Holliston. [2, 323] He married Miriam Jones on 9 March 1761 in Holliston. [2, 225] Miriam, the daughter of Eli and Marcy (Underwood) Jones, was born on 1 June 1741. [3]

Abner Johnson was a private from Holliston in Captain John Stone's (Holliston) company of millitia which marched on the Alarm of 19 April 1775 to Roxbury. He was credited with six days service. He was also on a company return endorsed 1776, reported sent with the wounded. [5]

On 19 May 1777 Miriam Johnson said that she was unable to administer the estate of her late husband Abner Johnson and asked the court to appoint Samuel Park. James Rufrell, Esq., John Leland, and Joseph Bigelow were appointed to take inventory on 20 May 1777. Abner Johnson, yeoman of Holliston, died in debt. Captain John Stone and Mr. Joseph Bigelow were appointed on 6 January 1778 to settle with his creditors. [4]

ii. Isaac Johnson was born on 8 May 1739. He married Penelope Marsh on 31 December 1769 in Holliston. [2, 225] Penelope might be the daughter of Alexander March who was baptized on 26 February 1748/9 in Quincy, Massachusetts. [6] Based on their names and Penelope's age at death, Isaac might be the Isaac who died on 25 December 1807 in Oakham, Worcester County, Massachusetts and Penelope might be the widow Penelope who died their in 1820, age 71. [7]

Along with his brother Abner, Isaac, Jr. was a private in Captain Stone's company which marched on the Alarm of 19 April 1775. He was credited with three days service. [5]

iii. Hannah Johnson was born on 7 February 1740/1. The widow Hannah died on 9 or 10 January 1826 of "old age" in Hopkinton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. [8] She married Ezekiel Hayward of Bellingham after 25 April 1767 (intention) in Holliston. [2, 226] Ezekiel, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Partridge) Hayward, was born on 22 August 1741 in Bellingham. [9] He died on 4 or 5 November 1821. age 80, in Hopkinton. [8]

iv. Abigail Johnson was born on 26 May 1743. She died on 29 July 1745 in Holliston. [2, 323]

v. Reuben Johnson was born on 12 April 1745. He died on 8 January 1816 in Hopkinton. He married Lydia Johnson.

Endnotes:

1. Thomas W. Baldwin, Vital Records of Sherborn, Massachusetts: To the Year 1850 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1911).

2. Vital Records of Holliston, Massachusetts: To the Year 1850 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1908).

3. Abner Morse, Genealogical Register of the Inhabitant of ... Sherborn and Holliston (Boston: Damrell & Moore, 1856). This is not a completely reliable source. Benjamin Parker Richardson, Jr. remarks on the "low repute of the work of Rev. Abner Morse." [The American Genealogist 53: 38]

4. "Middlesex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1648-1871," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org, Isaac (case 12670), Abner (case 12610).

5. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, vols. 5, 8, 10 (Boston: Wright & Potter Printing Co., 1899, 1901, 1902), vol 8: 814–883.

6. "Quincy, MA: Vital and Church Records, 1672-1870," database, AmericanAncestors, entry for Penelope Marsh.

7. "Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620–1850," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org > Oakham, 123–4.

8. Vital Records of Hopkinton, Massachusetts: To the Year 1850 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1911), 426.

9. "Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620–1850," database with images, AmericanAncestors.org > Bellingham, 38, 115.

Map: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Middlesex County, Massachusetts Cemetery Directory (https://www.mass-doc.com/middlesex_county_cemetery_guide.htm).

21-Sep-2023 1:41 PM