William Johnson (Deacon)

M, #12685, b. 14 April 1772, d. 6 September 1853
Father*Artemus Johnson1 b. 5 Apr 1740, d. 14 Aug 1784
Mother*Mary Barns1 b. 25 Jun 1747, d. 23 Oct 1820
Birth*14 April 1772 William Johnson (Deacon) was born on 14 April 1772 at Woodbury, New Haven Co., Connecticut; William, s. Artemas & Mary, b.Apr 14, 1772 at Woodbury.1 
(Witness) Event-Misc1797 Asahel Johnson and Zenas Cook came first to Sheshequin in the winter of 1795-96, and made that settlement their headquarters while they explored the country for a location. They made their selection in Orwell, Mr. Johnson purchasing of Towner Hill. Their report was so flattering, several of their neighbors determined to come also; a company was formed, and Marks and Cook were sent to view the land more thoroughly. Their report being favorable, the company purchased the township, which was to be divided among its members. Mr. Johnson remained a year at Sheshequin, and came into Orwell permanently in 1797. The town was six miles square, and was called Menden; Mr. Johnson owned 3,000 acres. He lived where Albert Conklin now lives, and his brother Truman, who came in 1796, lived on the farm now owned by Albert Allen and Lewis Darling. His brother William lived where Zebulon Frisbie lives, The family came from Burlington, Litchfield Co., Conn.
     Capt. Josiah Grant settled in the town in 1798, from Vermont. He was a captain in the Continental army during the Revolutionary War, serving under Col. Ethan Allen, whose cousin he was, in his brigade of "Green Mountain Boys." Capt. Grant lived about one hundred rods west of the present site of the Presbyterian church in Orwell. Samuel Wells, _who married a sister_ of Asahel Johnson, came from Burlington, Vt (sic, s/b Ct)., and settled on the farm just south of Johnson, in 1799. His eldest son, Theron, now owns the property.
     ... (different paragraph) Levi Frisbie, Richard Marks, Asahel Johnson, William Johnson, Truman Johnson, Zerias Cook, Asa Upson, and perhaps one or two others, formed the company, which, at the solicitation of Col. Ezekiel Hyde and Blisha Tracy, agents for the first Delaware company, purchased of these agents a township of land six miles square, as before stated, extending north and east from the present Orwell. Zenas Cook was the surveyor. Although they discovered the Connecticut title was worthless, yet so pleased were the company with the country, that they determined to settle herein. (Levi Frisbie came to Orwell from Bristol, Connecticut, in February, 1800.)2 
Death*6 September 1853 He died on 6 September 1853 at Pike Twnshp, Bradford Co., Pennsylvania, at age 81.3 
Last Edited1 Jan 2012

Citations

  1. [S153] CT Vital Records - Barbour Collection on Ancestry, Branford Vital Records pg 132.
  2. [S175] History of Bradford County PA 1770-1878, Rev David Craft, , SLC 1036550 , http://www.archive.org/details/historyofbradfor01brad, 473.
  3. [S175] History of Bradford County PA 1770-1878, Rev David Craft, , SLC 1036550 , http://www.archive.org/details/historyofbradfor01brad, pg 327.