Person:John Johnson (400)

Children of William Johnson and Elizabeth Bunker: 1) John Johnson, bp. Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England 5 Sep 1632, m. (1) Charlestown 15 Oct 1656 Elizabeth Maverick, m. (2) Haverhill 3 Mar 1674/5 Sarah (Keywser) Gillo, m. (3) Haverhill 8 Sep 1680 Catherine (Skipper) Maverick.

It appears that the inhabitants (of Haverhill) suffered considerably for the want of a blacksmith. To obviate this difficulty, a contract was signed by Mr. (John) Ward and nineteen others, in which each agree to pay Mr. (Joseph) Jewett his proportion of twenty pounds, to purchase his house and land, which the contractors gave to John Johnson, “provided he live here seven years, following the trade of a blacksmith in doing the town’s work; also, the said John Johnson doth promise to refuse to work for any that refuse to pay towards this purchase, untill they bring under the Selectmen’s hands that they will pay.” This house stood on the ground now occupied (1861) by the Exchange building, Water Street. Until recently, this land has been owned by the heirs of Hon. Bailey Bartlett, a lineal descendant from the above John Johnson. He was also the ancestor of most of the Johnsons in the town. Johnson came from Charlestown, where he married, 15 October 1656, Elizabeth, daughter of Elias Maverick, and had one child, John (born 3 August 1657) previous to his removal to Haverhill. It is worthy of note, that the same trade has been almost or quite constantly carried on in this town, since that time, by his lineal descendants. Washington Johnson, son of John, (who was also a blacksmith,) still exercises the trade, and his shop stands on land once belonging to the original John Johnson.

John (Johnson), Charlestown, m. 15 Oct. 1656, Elizabeth d. of Elias Maverick, had John, b. 3 Aug. 1657; and prob. others, certain. Ruth, wh. in 1681 is nam. in the will of gr.f. Maverick, as liv. with him; rem. bef. 1662, to Haverhill, was the first blacksmith there, freem. 1666, rep. 1690.

Page 555, l. 12, aft. 1690; add, had m. sec. w. 8 Sept. 1680, Catharine, wid. of John Maverick, br. of his former w. [Additions and Corrections, Savage 2:599].

John² (Johnson) (William¹) was born in England probably about 1631, was brought to New England in 1634, and lived in Charlestown, where he received a grant of land, until 1638. In this latter year he removed to Haverhill, Mass. where he founded the first permanent smithy in the town. He became a prominent and influential man in Haverhill where he was a tithingman and deacon in the church, a proprietor, selectman, juror, and moderator of the town meetings, and in 1691 a representative to the Great and General Court of the Colony. He was also a lieutenant in the militia. … He was killed in his own house by Indians in an attack on Haverhill August 29, 1708. His wife, granddaughter-in-law, and others in the house were killed in the same attack; but his great-grandchild, Lydia Johnson, who was in his wife's arms, somehow survived. His property was divided by will.

Johnson, John, lt., "killed by ye enemy", Aug. 29, 1708. [in his 76th y. GR1]
[Age 75 so born about 1633. GR1=Pentucket Cemetery.]