Person:Samuel Johnson (86)

Samuel Johnson Sr. Son of Elizabeth

Samuel Johnson Sr. was born in North Carolina on August 3, 1782. This author knows little of his early life. Recent research (1999) may indicate Samuel origin in North Carolina and will be discussed at the end of this history. Before arriving in Christian Co., KY where he settled, Samuel had married Ann. Her maiden name and exact place of birth are uncertain. She was born on November 24, 1782 in North Carolina. They were likely married around 1800. Records indicate they should have been in North Carolina in 1804 when their first son, Robinson Johnson, was born. Samuel and Ann came to Christian Co., KY about 1811. He purchased a 600-acre tract of land in the Northeast sector of the county on the waters of the Blue Lick Fork of Pond River. Samuel appears to have come to KY through Tennessee. The deed of land from Thomas Gooch on October 25, 1811, list him as "Samuel Johnston of the County of Robinson of state of Tennessee".

"This indenture made the 25th day of October 1811 Between Thomas Gooch of the county of Green and Sate of Kentucky of the one part, and Samuel Johnston of the County of Robinson of state of Tennessee of the other part Witnesseth that the said Thomas Gooch for & in consideration of the Sum of Sixteen hundred Dollars Currency money in hand paid before the ensealing and delivery of these persents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have Bargained and Sold and by there presents doth bargain and Sell unto the Said Samuel Johnston a certain tract or parcel of Land Situate in the County of Christian on the Lick fork of Pond River Containing by Survey Six hundred Acres be the same more or less it being a part of a Military Survey of one thousand two hundred and seventy five Acres granted to William Roberts by paten bearing date the 18th day of March 1795 and is bounded as follows"

They were unlikely in Tennessee for more than a few years. Their second son, Winfield Johnson, was born about 1809. Winfield’s birthplace is listed as North Carolina in all but the 1870 federal census, which lists Tennessee as his place of birth. Samuel Purchased 5 slaves after ariving in Christian Co., KY from and Edmond Johnson in 1812. "Know all men by these presents that Edmon Johnson of Christian County and Sate of Kentucky for and in consideration of the sum of one thousand dollars to me in hand paid by Samuel Johnson of the County and State aforesaid hath this day sold and delivered unto said Samuel Johnson his heirs and assigns forever five negroes two girls and three boys by the names of Cate and Guina and Gilfred, Mark, Aaron, Cate aged about forty years and Guina aged about eight years and Gilfed aged about fourteen years and mark aged about six years and Aaron aged about __ years, and I do by these presents for my self and my heirs warrant and will forever defend the title of the said Negroes to said Samuel Johnson and his heirs from the claim of any other person or persons whatever as witness my mark and seal the 16th of Febuary 1812." (Recorded in Clerks Office November 16th 1814).

Samuel and Ann had 7 children that are known to have survived to adulthood. The census of 1820 lists 8 children (6 boys and 2 girls), Mary Ann not having been born yet. Known children in order of birth are as follows: Robinson Johnson Sr., Winfield Johnson, Samuel Johnson Jr., Sarah Johnson Rasco, Elizabeth Johnson Bone, John R. Johnson, and Mary Ann Johnson. Most of the children married and lived in Christian and surrounding counties in adulthood. Sometime after 1820 Samuel’s mother Elizabeth came to live with his family. It is presumed she had become widowed between 1820 and 1830. Robinson Johnson married Miss Lucy Nash, daughter of George Nash, in Wake Co., NC in 1830. Elizabeth, Samuel Sr.’s mother, died in 1838 around the age of 80 years and is burried in the family cemetery at Johnson Chapel. Samuel Johnson Sr. owned over 1500 acres of land on the waters of the Blue Lick Fork. William Henry Perrin appears to have described him in a story in his history of Christian County Kentucky:

"William Rasco was one of the original settlers, and located in this neighborhood. He had a son, Moore, who was engaged to a daughter of Joshua Taylor, living near the county line. On the appointed day he, in company with the parson and a number of friends, went over to Taylor’s to claim his bride. When they rode up to the house, his fiancée, Miss Taylor, came to the door, waved him the back of her hand, and bade him go back to his own place. This, the spirited Rasco at once did, feasting his friends on the viands prepared for the expectant bride at his home, then getting on his horse and riding to another part of the county, where he forthwith courted and was married to a Miss Johnson, who accompanied him back to his home. Miss Johnson was the daughter of a rich farmer, who, by reason of his wealth and importance in that region, was long know to the people by the sobriquet of the Governor of Pond River".

The story about Miss Johnson and Moore Rasco is almost certainly the marriage of Samuel Johnson’s daughter Sarah Johnson to James Moore Rasco in Christian Co., KY on March 30, 1837. Samuel’s other two daughters married gentlemen from the Bone family, though not brothers. Elizabeth Johnson married John McWilliams Bone in Hopkins Co., KY in 1847. Mary Ann Johnson married Azariah Blackman Bone in Hopkins Co., KY in 1840. Descendents of both Robinson Johnson and Elizabeth Bone would marry about 100 years later. These being my grandparents, Ellis Johnson and Mary Lou Duke. In his will, dated May 8, 1846, Samuel bequeaths his properties including several tracts of land and slaves totaling 24 to his children. Samuel Johnson Sr. died on May 24, 1846 in Christian Co., KY. He is buried in Johnson Chapel Cemetery there. Ann Johnson lived until 1866. In 1850 at the time of the federal census, she was the head of the household, and living with here were her son Winfield, son Samuel, son John R. and grandson Mark Bone. Mark Bone lived with his grandmother for a time after the death of his mother Elizabeth Bone. In 1860 Ann was again living with her sons Winfield and Samuel Jr. Also in the house at that time was her grandson William, after the death of his father Robinson in 1854.

Details to the location of Samuel Johnson Sr. in North Carolina are few. There are a few counties that are likely the origin of Samuel and his family. Currently Surry Co and Wake Co. North Carolina are most likely. It is certain that his oldest son, Robinson Johnson, married Miss Lucy Nash in Wake County on December 12, 1830. Lucy was the daughter of George Nash of that county. There are records of a Samuel Johnson in Wake County circa 1800-1807. In addition, the Samuel Johnson listed in the federal census of Wake County for 1800 is of the appropriate age with a wife and no children (one male and one female in the 16 to 26 age category). There are Samuel Johnsons listed in other counties in North Carolina in 1800. It would also be worthwhile researching the records of Robertson Co., TN for his presence in deeds and the tax lists around 1809/1810.

The most promissing origin in NC for Samuel and his family has surfaced in Surry County, NC. We know from the Kentucky records that Samuel and his wife were born in North Carolina. Both Samuel and Ann were born in 1782. Samuels mother, Elizabeth later came to live with them in Kentucky and died in 1838 at the age of about 80 years. There are records in Surry Co., NC that fit many of these details. William Johnson who lived in Surry county in the late 1700 and died circa 1821 may be Samuel’s father. William was married to an Elizabeth, the same as Samuel’s mother. That Williams had sons named Samuel, William Jr., Jesse, Baley, and Thomas. His Samuel was also married to an Anne Ramsy on June 14th, 1803 and witnesses by Jesse Johnson. Further, William Johnson, the father, had his will written on February 1, 1821 and recorded in court on May 1821. Elizabeth, the mother of Samuel Johnson Sr, of Ky. moved in with him after 1820 and is recorded in the household in 1830 census as 1 female between 60 and 70 years of age.