Samuel JOHNSTON b. 1755 Bladen Co., d. between Mar and probably Jul 1816 Dickson Co., TN, m. Mary (Polly) FREEMAN. She was living in Jan 1817 when her husband's will was filed in court. CFR says Samuel's family moved to AL.
Samuel's will is #13, one of the earliest on file in Dickson Co., TN. They let me copy it. It is very brittle and must be handled very carefully. It is dated 25 Mar 1816, proved 7 Jan 1817, recorded 25 Jan 1817, Will Book A, Dickson Co. I have not been able to find the probate records on his estate.
He was a soldier in the Revolution and received at least 2 vouchers for his services, #151 and #262. He is listed as Pvt. in the Continental Line of NC. There are other Samuel JOHNSTON records hat might or might not be his.
He first appeared in the Bladen deeds when he received a land grant on 23 Oct 1782 and last when he sold what remained of his lands to John DICKSON of Cumberland Co., NC on 23 May 1807. Deeds of 1807 say he was the heir of his brother James. No mention is made of Rachel, the widow of James.
He was listed in the tax lists of 1781, 1784 and 1788. In 1781 he had a valuation of 131 L. In 1784 he possessed 1280 acres with one white pole and one black pole. The 1788 list of taxable property in Capt. Johnson's Dist. in the 2nd Dist. of Bladen Co., he still had 1280 acres and 1 pole.
In spite of the statement in CFR that he left Bladen Co. in 1801, Samuel continued to buy and sell land until he sold the last to John DICKSON of Cumberland Co. in 1807. With his brother having preceeded him and being established in Dickson Co., it would a reasonable place for him to go. When he left NC, he should have had quite a sum of money from his land sales. CFR says he bought quite a large tract in Humphreys Co. but the title was faulty. If so, he probably lost most of what he brought from NC. All he had in his will for his heirs was 50 acres, 1 slave, some hogs, cattle and 2 mares.
The Dickson Co. Court Minute books are missing from the March Term 1807 through the Jan. Term 1812. This may prevent us from ever knowing just when he arrived. He first appears in the extant Court Minutes of the Jan. Term 1813 where he was appointed juror as Samuel JOHNSTON along with Benjamin VOLENTINE for the April Term 1813. He was not selected in the April Term for the next term. Benjamin was "excused for reasons" that were not given. In July 1813, Samuel JOHNSTON was a juror for many cases. In Jan. 1814 he was summoned as Samuel JOHNSON for the next term. The next two years of minutes are missing. He is next mentioned when his will is filed on 7 Jan in the Jan. Term 1817. "The last will and testament of Samuel JOHNSON, deceased, was this day produced in open court and proven by the oathes of William GIVEN and John EPPERSON and ordered to be received and recorded." This is the last time he is mentioned. The minutes were checked until 1826 and no appointment of executor or final settlement was found. No minute books were missing for this period. The only persons mentioned by name in his will were his wife, Polly, and sons, William, Dunkin, and James. It fortunate that the minute books are not missing for the term when his will was filed.
http://xaa.tripod.com/johnstn1.html
