Person:Richard Johnson (80)

Records

22 Sep 1752, Louisa, VA - Edward Arnold of St. Martin's Par. Louisa Co., Planter, and Benjamin Arnold of same, Planter, and Anne his wife to Richard Johnson of same, Gent. # 84 curt. money. 200 acres in St. Martin's Par ... beginning at Clark's (now Sarah Johnson and Robert Tenham's ) corner ...Richard Johnson's line... David Johnson line; granted by letters patent at Williamsburg 16 June 1727 to Lancelot Crost, late of Hanover Co.; conveyed to sd. Arnold by Indenture recorded in Hanover Co. Sig. Edward Arnold (EA) and Benjamin Arnold (B). Wit. Thomas Perkins, Michael Wright, David Harris, Pouncey Anderson, Nicholas. Johnson, Christopher Hudson, William Johnson. [Louisa DB A:523]

26 Apr 1758, Louisa, VA - Ann Cosby (late Anne Johnson) of Fredericksville Parish, Louisa Co. for natural love and affection to son Richard Johnson of St. Paul Parish Hanover Co. 14 Negroes Stephen, Dick, Toby, Arthur, Moses, Janney, Polley, Bettey, Janey, Margaret, Polley, Sarah, Judy and Milley. Sig. Ann Cosby. Wit. William Johnson, John Freeman, Thomas Perkins. [Louisa DB B:284]

24 Jan 1760, Louisa, VA - Richard Johnson and Dorothy his wife of Hanover to David Johnson of Louisa ?155 currt. money for 720 acres by patent on Maidlins Folly and branches thereof adj. William Johnson, upper fork of Maidlins folly, Robert Dupriests. Sig. Richard Johnson. wit. John Boswell, Richard Anderson, Robert Wilson, Nicholas Johnson, Thomas Johnson, Jr. [Louisa DB C:12]

[Note: the David Johnson mentioned was most likely the son of William Johnson and Sarah Tenham Johnson of Hanover. This William Johnson was from Scotland and not related to our Richard Johnson.]

25 Jan 1760, Louisa Va - Richard Johnson and Dorothy his wife of Hanover co. to Thomas Johnson Junr. of Louisa co.; #410 curr. money; 400 acres on north side of the Southanna River, part in Louisa and part in Hanover Co., where sd. Richard Johnson formerly lived; bounded by the river and by the lands of David Johnson, Richard Johnson, James Johnson, William Johnson and John Glen. Wit. Nicholas Johnson, David Johnson, Richard Anderson. Sig. Richard Johnson. [Louisa DB C:11]

12 Jan 1765, Louisa, VA - Richard Johnson of Hanover Co. and Doretha his wife to Sarah Johnson of Louisa ?128 for land and plantation of Richard Johnson in St. Martins parish, Louisa County adj. Sarah Johnson and Robert Tenhams corner in Richard Johnson now Thomas Johnson line, along David Johnson's line containing 200 acres granted by patent 16 June 1737 to Lanslott Crost late of Hanover and by Crost sold to Edward Arnold, by Arnold sold to Benjamin Arnold and by sd. Benjamin Arnold to sd. Richard Johnson. Wit. William Johnson, Richard Johnson, Isham Johnson. Sig. Richard Johnson. [Louisa DB C:256]

[Sarah Johnson is the daughter of Robert Tenham and widow of William Johnson.]

21 Aug 1772, Louisa, VA - Dorothy Johnson of St. Paul's Parish, Hanover county, Relict and executrix of Col. Richard Johnson, Dec'd., to John Fretwell of St. Martin's Parish, Louisa Co.; 55 Lbs. current money; parcel of land and plantation of Col. Richard Johnson in St. Martins Parish, Louisa Co. bounded by David Johnson, William Priddy, William Henderson, Thomas Henderson, Dec'd., Col. Dudley Diggs and William Johnson; containing by estimation 200 acres, all houses, orchards, buildings, etc. Wit. John Sanders, John Thomsson, Alex. Henderson. Signed: Dorothy Johnson. Rec. 8 Mar 1773. [Louisa DB D1/2:454]

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Johnson of King and Queen, Louisa, &c., in Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. (Richmond, Virginia: Virginia Historical Society)
   25 (1917):423-425.

   ... In the only remaining old record book of Hanover are the following:
   
   (1) Bond, February 1734, from Ann Johnson, widow of Thomas Johnson, as guardian of Richard, Jane, Ann and Thomas Johnson, orphans of Thomas Johnson, deceased;
   
   ... 6. Richard 3 Johnson received 1000 acres in King and Queen under the will of his uncle Richard Johnson. By an act in 1760 (Hening VIII, 455) the entail in this land was docked and 400 acres in Louisa and 14 negroes entailed in its stead. In the act the dower rights of his wife Dorothy are protected.
   
   It is stated in an account by a member of the family that her surname was Powers — probably Power.
   
   There is on record in Louisa a suit, begun Aug. 12, 1766, between Richard Anderson, Richard Johnson and John Boswell, Pets. vs. Thomas Johnson, administrator of Nicholas Johnson.
   
   Nicholas Johnson was J.P. for Louisa 1742, and qualified as Colonel of Militia of the County Jan. 1742. Whether he had issue is unknown to the compiler.
   
   He removed to Hanover and was the Col. Richard Johnson of New Castle, Hanover, who died in 1771 (Virginia Gazette).
   
   There is a deed in Louisa, 1772, from Dorothy Johnson of Hanover, widow of Col Richard Johnson, deceased.
   -----
   [Note: Family:Richard Johnson and Dorothea Powers (1) did exist, but they are of a different generation and resided in Goochland county, VA.]

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} [1], in Hetrick, Joyce. The Johnsons (website).

   Richard (Thomas 2, Richard 1)
   
   This Richard Johnson was born in 1715 according to his tombstone. Statements have been made that the month and day were July 7, but I have not verified this. He resided in Hanover County for most of his life & was buried there. He died on Sept. 29, 1771.
   
   Fortunately, the records of Louisa County and a surviving Chancery court case provide a wealth of information about him despite the loss of so many Hanover documents.
   
   It should be noted that at this time period and in this area, there were two couples by the name of Richard and Dorothy Johnson! The Richard discussed here probably married about 1740, but the surname of his wife is not known. Documents clearly show that he married a Dorothy at least by 1760. She was not a Boswell. This is sometimes reported, but seems to be based on a misreading of Boswell documents.
   
   The other Richard Johnson was married to Dorothy Powers and had some children recorded by the Rev. Douglas. He eventually moved to Buckingham County where his will survived in the contested election papers. His relationship, if any, to the son of Thomas Johnson and grandson of the original Col. Richard Johnson is not known.
   
   Richard first appears in the records in 1752 in Louisa County. ... [see Records]
   
   Although he was purchasing land in Louisa, he does not seem to have lived there for long. With his brother-in-law, John Boswell, he operated a mercantile warehouse in New Castle, Hanover County. John Boswell had married Ann Johnson, Richard’s sister. The firm traded in tobacco and family goods, but according to Abraham Kent, one of the employees, there was no store. (Glazebrook, Va. Migrations...)
   
   In 1758, he received several slaves from his widowed mother. His brother William seems to have witnessed the instrument: ... [see Records]
   
   One of the following deeds shows that Richard did live for a while on land that was in both Louisa and Hanover Counties. His neighbors on this land included David, Richard, James and William Johnson. At first glance, it might appear that these Johnsons were brothers of this Richard, but the David Johnson mentioned was most likely the son of William Johnson and Sarah Tenham Johnson of Hanover. This William Johnson was from Scotland. He and Sarah figure in surviving Louisa Court cases in which their children are identified and Richard is not included. ... [see Records]
   
   This deed was made out to Richard’s son Thomas who was probably of age in 1760. ... [see Records]
   
   In 1765, Richard & Dorothy sold some of their land to Sarah Johnson, daughter of Robert Tenham and widow of William Johnson: ... [see Records]
   
   Colonel Richard Johnson’s Louisa County 400 acre property was listed in the tithable lists of Louisa County from 1767 through 1771. He also employed an overseer there named John Fretwell who figured in later documents. Judging by his title in the tithable lists, Richard was apparently following in his family’s tradition of serving as Militia Officers.
   
   Richard wrote his will on Sept. 25, 1771 and it was probated on March 25, 1772. The will did not survive the destruction of Hanover County records, but Richard’s tombstone has:
   
   Hanover County, Virginia, Solitude Cemetery
   
   Here lyeth the remains of
   Col. Richard Johnson
   who was born in the year of our Lord One Thousand
   Seven Hundred and Fifteen and departed this life
   the 29th of September One Thousand Seven Hundred and
   Seventy-one. He was the son of Mr. Thomas Johnson
   of King William County and the grandson to Richard Johnson,
   Esq. of King William who was a member of his Majesty's
   Honourable Council in Virginia
   
   Richard’s wife Dorothy survived him and the year after her husband’s death sold the Louisa plantation to the overseer: ... [see Record]