EDWARD JOHNSON UPDATE MAR 1996 by Linda Sparks Starr It was not easy living in Virginia during the latter half of the 17th century. The poor farmers were desperate. Between weather, a "virus" which depleted cattle herds and the passage of the Naviga- tion Acts (c1670), their yearly income had dropped from about œ12 (in 1660's) to a few shillings a year by 1676. They grew food, but had no money for other necessities; and what money they had, was turned over to the tax man -- whose salary was periodically raised "behind closed doors" along with salaries of other offi cials. These same officials owned the most and best land -- a "bribe" from royally-appointed Gov. Berkeley to see things his way. Indentured servants, most of whom were brought in by the larger land owners to satisfy minimum requirements -- hut and cleared fields -- to get title to yet more lands. Those ser vants who actually lived to the point of freedom had no recourse but become tenant farmers or worse. It was almost hopeless to save the necessary money needed to get a plot of their own land. Interestingly, the poor farmers were angry with Berkeley, not the king. When Bacon Jr. tried to turn the rebellion against the crown, he lost major support. Living conditions didn't improve greatly after Bacon's Rebellion, but voting rights were expanded so people felt they had more of a say in their life. In 1682 in an attempt to raise prices by limiting quantity, a group of rioters went around Gloucester, Middlesex and New Kent counties destroying tobacco crops, not necessarily their own. Half of New Kent's tobacco crop was destroyed and the sheriff was arrested for encouraging the rioters. Within this setting, we find Edward Johnson, whom we all appear to agree is the father of Penelope, wife of Capt. Christopher Clark. Proof that Edward Johnson is son of Dr. Arthur Johnson is sup posedly found in an undated letter in which his "cousin" Elizabeth (Johnston) Keith says he accompanied her party to VA with William Edmundson. Schaaf (page 185-6 BIO SKETCH EDWARD JOHNSON ... in Scottish/American Gen., vol. VII) believes this letter comes from the research of Jesse Bryan and/or Mrs. Wirt Johnson Carrington. Unfortunately, the papers of both have been lost. The Quaker missionary, William Edmundson, made an earlier trip to VA (c1671) but, the above researchers are insistent it is the journey after Bacon's Rebellion that the Keiths and Edward Johnson were on. Schaaf cites both Hening's STATUTES..., page 545 and Steven Weeks, SOUTHERN FRIENDS AND SLAVERY page 198 for Edmundson's arrival the winter of 1676-7. According to them, his notes mention both cold weather and the hangings of the rebels. One points out the first rebel was hung January 11, 1677. King Charles II was dismayed to learn of the rebellion and, even more, by the extent of Berkeley's retribution. He sent 1,000 troops plus a handful of Commissioners to sort things out. Also, he ordered Gov. Berkeley back to England to report to him "in person". The Commissioners met with disgruntled farmers, gather ing a list of specific grievances to present to King Charles. I believe the men who signed these lists were very brave. Gov. Berkeley was still in the colony, and still hanging rebels as late as April according to Middleton, Colonial America: A History 1607 - 1760. Undoubtedly, the Royal Commissioners offered as surance no harm would come to those who presented their side; but, surely it crossed a few minds that Berkeley could win and return from England to wreck all sorts of havoc toward them! The list of 87 or 88 signatures from Blisland Parish appears page xliv - xlvii of The Vestry Book of Blisland (Blissland) Parish, New Kent and James City Co. VA 1721-1786 by Chamberlayne. [One signature was not completed.] Edward Johnson's name as well as Thomas Moorman's are among them. I think the fact that Edward Johnson's signature is on the list 2 April 1677 is PROOF Edward was here long before the rebellion -- thus is not the "cousin" named by Elizabeth Keith in the very elusive letter. A man "fresh off the boat" would have no specific grievance against the Gov. Would he risk his future by signing the list? Putting all that aside, Edward just did not have time from his arrival no earlier than January 1677, to find a wife and get settled in Blis- land Parish before April 2 as Bryan/Carrington would have him. Edward's presence is thus documented in Blissland Parish by April 1677; I've presented my reasonings for him being there earlier, but can not prove it. I can go on to say he might have even rid den with Bacon; but, that would be pure speculation and wishful thinking on my part. It is known that Bacon (Jr) recruited heavily in New Kent County and nearby West Point was one of the last strongholds for his followers after his death. It might be interesting to compare the number of signatures here to other parts of VA. Wertenbaker (page 59 of his JAMESTOWN Booklet No. 6: BACON'S REBELLION 1676) says these lists are located in the British Public Record Office CO5-1371; also, some were published in the VA MAGAZINE, vols. II and III -- the full extent of his bibliographical notes. [The following general information comes from the 50+ page for ward in Chamberlaynes BLISLAND book.] Edward Johnson was located in the area of the north church of Blisland Parish. Chamberlayne notes that 21 of the 88 men who signed were later listed as processioners in St. Peter's Parish -- that's not counting the ones located on Pamunkey Neck which became King and Queen Co. Thus, Edward didn't move; his property just lay in the area taken in by the newly created parish. Edward's name first appears in this new parish as father of children born during the 1680's. The Parish Register of Saint Peter's New Kent County, VA from 1680-1787, pub. by ...Colo. Dames, 1904, page 17, has the birth records for children of Ed ward JOHNSON and "wife Elizabeth". Thus we also find the first and only documentation for his wife's name. [Their marriage is NOT in the Blissland Parish book as given by several researchers.] Thomas b. 5 MAY 1680 Elizabeth b. 7 JUL 1682 PENELOPE b. 4 AUG 1684 Rachell b. 8 DEC 1686-7 With an eleven year gap between births, I think the following two children were either fathered by the above Edward with a second wife (the mother's name is not recorded in these entries) OR by an Edward (Jr.) who MIGHT BE a son of Edward and Elizabeth born in Blissland Parish. Rebecka b. 8 __ 1698, baptized 11 NOV 1698 Benjamin b. 17 AUG 1701 The earliest extant vestry book for Blisland Parish begins 1721; therefore, Edward Johnson could have had children before 1680 whose births were recorded in Blisland Parish, but are now lost. Documenting these "older" children will be quite difficult. (I don't believe, for an instant, the thesis that Quakers only regis- tered children's births in those years when taxes were due, etc. The lack of extant records is enough without conjuring up other reasons.) The Quit Rents of VA 1704 by Smith SUGGESTS only one Edward Johnson lived in New Kent Co. in 1704, for only one was taxed, and he on 150 Acres. A patent in Edward's name for this land has not been located; with the destruction of all New Kent County court records, we'll probably never learn how / when / even if this is the same Edward as Penelope's father. Penelope's father did have land in New Kent Co. for it appears in his neighbors' patent records in the area known to be near CLARK lands. [I'm questioning IF THAT land is the one taxed here.] On that note, I'm not satisfied the following entry is Penelope's father: The Vestry Book & Register of St. Peter's Parish, New Kent Co. & James City Co. 1684-1786 by Chamberlayne, page 21-22, presents a listing of processioners prior to OCT 1689. [I failed to note the date on a page I didn't copy.] This Edward's nearest neighbors are: And. Davis, William ATKINSON, Jose. Noon (?Moon--my note), Edward Johnson, Lyon. Morris. Yet, Nugent, Cavaliers & Pioneers vol. II shows John Underhill's patent for 2,317 acres, 21 APR 1690, beginning at his own land adjacent Edward JOHNSON on Powhite Swamp and Beaverdam Branch... adj. BASSETT and AUSTIN, down Brandy Branch... This is Penelope's father for the CLARK land were nearby. Five years later James Minge patented this same 2,317 acres (21 APR 1695) only this time the neighbors have expanded to Sam'l CHAPPELL, Tho MIMS, Jno Ward, Antho Ballard and William Hudson along with Bassett and As tings. Then Nugent's vol. III, page 21, shows this very same land changed hands again; Edward Johnson's neighbors on Powhite Swamp (thus proving this is the same Edward) are John Dennett (the 26 APR 1698 patantee), BASSETT and ASTINGS. Yes, neighbors did change, but not that drastically from summer 1689 to APR 1690. Based on Nugent, Edward's name SHOULD APPEAR with the following processioners (page 21 Chamberlayne's St. Peters...): Mr. Wm BASSETT, Mr. James MOSS, Char. Fleming, James AUSTIN. Putting this all into perspective -- the list entered into the vestry book immediately before this list included: Char. Brya[], Char. Bostick, Chris. Baker, Tho. MOORMAN, Tho. Snead, Jam. Moor, Edw. Qorill / Dorill and the one immediately after it: Jno. Baughan, James Woody, Tho. Jeves, Nick. LOSSEN, Tho. RENALLS. Do we have two Edward Johnsons in New Kent County 1689/90? I may be way off base here, for the list Edward's name is on is not that far removed in the vestry book from the one on which Thomas MOORMAN's name is found. But what concerns me is: the very first entry (1684) in the new St. Peter's vestry book is for a ferry across the Pamunkey River. This was for the conveniece of those parishioners who lived on the Pamunkey Neck. The first person charged with running the ferry is William ATKINSON. Is he the same Wm. Atkinson, near neighbor of Edward Johnson in procession ing list 1689? If so, he lived on the Pamunkey River, which was a few miles from Powhite Swamp. What was Edward doing on the Pamunkey River IF he owned land near Powhite Swamp? [Covering all bases: a Cor'll Johnson was living on Pamamuck Neck per page 22 Chamberlayne's Blisland; he is named "Col. Richard Johnson" living near James Minge in 1695 in King and Queen Co. on chart prepared by Dick Baldauf, using Nugent to chart neighbors of various early JOHNSONs. (Page 141 GEN. VA FAMILIES, vol. IV from the three qrtlys) say his family included (from headright claims) Jane, Richard Jr. and Susanne. Thus, this Edward Johnson isn't likely to come from this family.] Are we dealing with "renters" versus "owners". Surely, the lines mentioned in patent records indicate land owners; but would renters be allowed to procession? Wasn't the idea behind proces sioning an insurance to owners their property boundary lines were duly noted? Notice in the above notations from Nugent -- the neighbors in 1698 are more similiar to those of 1690 than either are to the ones in 1695. An explanation may be as near as Nugent: for his 1695 patent, James Minge claimed credit for transporting Thomas MIMS -- a neighbor of Edward Johnson's within this patent line description. [I don't have the specific cita tion here to check the other names.] Did the larger land owners not worry that their indentured servants would err on boundary lines? Did the servants know more about the boundaries than the owners? Yes, Edward could have moved between the 1689 processioning list and April 1690 patent. But lets go back to the 1677 list of grievances. Assuming friends and neighbors would arrive together, sit together, and get in line to sign their names together, the signer Edward Johnson was flanked by Nicols LAWSONE and James AUS- TIN. If corrupted to "ASTINGS", then James Austin is a neighbor in all the patent records. Chamberlayne "muddies the water a bit" with a comment footnoted with AUSTIN's name that a patent dated 15 MAY 1670 to a tract of land on the south side of the Mat- taponi occurs in the name of Sam Oustin. [Pamunkey Neck?] Then he goes on to say a James AUSTIN was listed as a processioner in St. Peter's in 1689 -- on the same list with BASSETT which con curs with the Nugent entry. And Nick. LOSSEN appears on the processiong list immediately following the list on which James AUSTIN's name is found in the vestry book. In other words, the 1677 Edward Johnson IS the Edward Johnson in the patent records. For those still with me on the possibility of two Edward Johnsons -- page 57 of Chamberlayne's St. Peter's Parish... presents the order by New Kent Co. for families to assist Allexander Mackeney to clear roads. These families include: Christopher and Edward Clark, Burnell Chapell, Thomas and Samuel Moss and Michael JOHNSON where we MIGHT EXPECT to see Edward's name. [Admittedly, I'm stretching here.] I'm thinking, this Michael Johnson MIGHT BE an older son of Ed ward and Elizabeth. At this point, all we can really say is, he was at least 16 in 1689 (thus born no later than 1673) and living in the area of New Kent Co. NEAR Christopher and Edward Clark. One Michael Johnson fathered a son, Daniel, who was baptized in 1699. [listed along the "M's" in the Colo. Dames publication] The next children of "a" Michael Johnson were "Anne" baptized 1705; "Sarah" in 1707 and "Agnes" in 1708. Two of these names were given to daughters of Christopher and Penelope Clark; however, I acknowledge, outside of Mary and Elizabeth, these are the most common names for girls in this period. When I had the St. Paul's vestry book, I wasn't looking for MICHAEL Johnsons; the litmus test for this theory is if Michael's name appears in later processioning lists where Edward's name SHOULD be. The only entry for "Michael Johnson" in Nugent vol. III is for Dick Baldauf's Michael Johnson whom we think is too old to be the son of Edward. We haven't determined if he is the Michael of the "clearing roads" order. Continuing along this line, COULD the Edward of the 1689 proces sioning list with William ATKINSON also be an older son of Edward and Elizabeth? And digging the hole a bit deeper -- Did Edward Sr. die after DEC 1686 -- birth of Rachell -- but before 1689 when he SHOULD BE on the order to clear roads? Thus Edward Jr. would be the father of Rebecca and Benjamin and the one taxed in 1704. But, what happened to Edward Jr. after 1704 if Edward Sr. died c1688? For the record, The Colo. Dames also published the list of deaths recorded in St. Peter's Parish. An Elizabeth JOHNSON died 20 FEB 1725-6. If this is Penelope's mother, she lived a long time for the period. There are too many Elizabeth Johnsons to make any assumptions about this person. In summary, Do we have ONE Edward Johnson who: Signed list of gievances 1677 Blisland Parish Fathered children St. Peter's Parish 1680 - 1686 Processioned 1689 then moved Acquired land mentioned in patent lines 1690, 1695 & 1698 Acquired a new wife and fathered children 1689 and 1701 Paid rent 1704, after which he died OR Two Edward Johnsons -- one of which died before 1689, but whose land is mentioned in patent records through 1698 and his possible son who rented land near Wm Atkinson 1689 fathered children 1698 and 1701 paid taxes 1704 after which he either died or left area The sticky point for me on ONE Edward Johnson is -- land was sur veyed in the early stages of getting a patent. Did Edward have time to move to the land near Powhite Swamp before the surveyor came around? If he owned land near Powhite Swamp, which he did before April 1690, what was he doing near the Pamunkey River? That still leaves us with why wasn't this land processioned in 1689? Edward Johnson NEVER appears on a processioning list for this particular piece of land; yet, he was the "owner of record" in the Land Grants for at least ten years.