Will dated 27 Apr 1756; Proved 18 May 17567, Query-4633, 9 July

“John was born June 18, 1683; married Sarah ____; died _____. She was born _____, the daughter of _______ and died Nov. 27, 1757, aet. 62. If this age of Sarah (taken from gravestone) is correct, then she was only twelve years old when her first child was born. They were married, _______, and lived in Lebanon, Ct.

“It is not absolutely proved that this man is the son of John of Haverhill; but the probability is so strong that I have included him in the genealogy. Firstly it is known that this John was living when Lt. John of Haverhill died, as he left him a legacy in his will, but he was obviously not living in Haverhill. Second this John of Lebanon was first in Killingly, Conn. where he owned land, and where his half-brother, Nathaniel, settled at about the same time; and third is the name of John of Lebanon’s oldest son, which by itself may suggest, but proves nothing. His presumptive brother, Thomas, also named a son Maverick.”8

“John Johnson was born in Haverhill, Essex County, Massachusetts, 18 June1683 and according to his father’s will, had received a portion of land there sometime previous to 1 August 1723 [date will was drawn] and in addition, would receive “his fourth division of Upland and Meadow whenever it shall be laid out.” Is this John Johnson the same man whose name was first recorded in the Vital Records of Lebanon, New London County, Connecticut as the parent of Maverick Johnson born there, 1 January 1707? Descendants claim the use of this unusual given name [John Johnson’s grandmother was Elizabeth Maverick] a strong indication of such a relationship.

“It has also been pointed out that John Johnson’s half-brother, Nathaniel Johnson, settled in Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut and that “John was first in Killingly where he owned land.” An examination of the records does not support this theory. Nathaniel Johnson did not move to Killingly until 1722, some 15 years after John Johnson was recorded as living in Lebanon, a considerable distance away. The grantee and grantor indexes of Killingly deeds include the names William, John, and Elisha Johnson, but no identification of them has been made by the compiler. The earliest Johnson deed, written 1698/99, recorded 20 December 1711, was between William Johnson et al., grantee from Owanico [an Indian Chief] the grantor. (Killingly, Connecticut Deed 1:37)

“John Johnson of Lebanon, blacksmith, was a participant in many land transfers during his known 49 years of residence there. These began in 1711 when he purchased several parcels “by the highway from Lebanon to Windham” from Josiah Dewey and Hezekiah Mason, and, as his three sons came of age, he provided each with a farmstead. (Lebanon, Connecticut Deeds 2:290, 293) An intensive search of Lebanon deeds has not revealed a former residence or names of members of the Johnson Family of Haverhill, Massachusetts. Conversely, deeds in Essex County, Massachusetts indexed under the name “John Johnson” made no reference to Lebanon, Connecticut.

“Sometimne before 1707 John Johnson of Lebanon married, probably in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, Sarah Tisdale, daughter of James and Margaret (Avery) Tisdale. The Tisdale family had interests in Connecticut as Joseph Tisdale, uncle of Sarah (Tisdale) Johnson, purchased 200 acres “on a hill called Pattapaug” in the township of Norwich, 24 April 1703 from Thomas Tracy, Thomas Waterman, and Joseph Tracy. On 26 November 1711, recorded 4 December 1711, Joseph Tisdale for L300 conveyed to John Hazzen, weaver, of North “land on a hill called Pattapaug” ... and bounded by ... Francis Griswold, Thomas Waterman, and Jonathan Roice[sic]. Mary, wife of Joseph Tisdale acknowledged her right of dower, or power of thirds, at Taunton 26 November 1711. Witnesses: Thomas Perley, Abraham Jones, and eleazer Carver, Jr. (Norwich, Connecticut Deeds 1:35, 391, 350)

“About 1716 a western emigration set in ... and the Tisdales ... moved to Connecticut ... Richard Haskins [husband of Mary Tisdale and brother-in-law of Sarah (Tisdale) Johnson] sold his business in Dighton [Bristol County, Massachusetts] and purchased 199 acres in Norwich, Connecticut ... in the part now the town of Franklin ...” Richard Haskins died there, 26 December 1717 shortly after arriving, but several of his children remained in the area.

“James Tisdale, brother of Sarah (Tisdale) Johnson, married 2nd, Mindwell Mason and settled in Lebanon, Connecticut where he died, 3 may 1727. Mindwell Tisdale, widow and Ebenezer Tisdale, blacksmith, executors of the will of James Tisdale, deceased conveyed to William Throop of Bristol, Bristol County, Massachusetts for L32, land in Lebanon bounded by Samuel Williams, the Seabury Farm, Daniel Throop and William Throop. (Lebanon, Connecticut Deed 4:161; Edith F. Tisdale, Genealogy of Colonel Tisdale and Descendants, 1909, p. 36; Roscoe Conkling, History of the Fitch Family, n.d., Vol. II, p. 25)

“Sarah Tisdale, born in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts ca 1677; died in lebanon, Connecticut, 27 November 1747 (Hartford Times, 9 July, Query c-4633). After her death, John Johnson married 2nd, 20 July 1749 Susannah --- who survived him. He drew a will, 27 april 1756, proved 18 May 1756, and bequeathed to son, Seth Johnson, “all the lands that I have in the township of Coventry and hebron, all money and debts due to me after my debts are paid and the joynture paid [a joynture was executed 20 July 1749 between John Johnson and Susannah --- “the day of our marriage”] and that joynlture shall be exactly accomplished.” To son, John Johnson “all the farm on which I live ... with all buildings and all debts forgiven”; to grandson, Maverick Johnson, L200; and to son-in-law Ebenezer Johnson “I forgive all his debts.” The estate was inventoried at L1696.08.09. Witnesses: Joseph Fowles, William Bingham, and Tho. Miller. Debtors listed were: Antepas Tisdale, Tim. Dimock, Nath.l Eaten, Jon Metcalfe, John Johnson, Peter Merrill, Jabez Bingham, Silvanus Barrows, Gill Bingham, Joshua Ripley, Jo. Chamberlin, Amos Dodge, Pasco Hadlock, Eb.s Johnson, Mathias Marsh, Ja. Downer, Danl Johnson, Silas Sprague, Seth Johnson, Silas Crane, Ja. Clark Willm Cross, Ebs Tisdale, Aaron Clark, Benjn Wright, Jon Graves, Jere Mason, A. Snow (Probate Court Record, Box 34, Willimantic, Windham County, Connecticut)9