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Descendants of Richard Johnson

Descendants of Richard Johnson
and Lucy Hunter

Submitted by Erick D. Montgomery

© 2006

Rev. Richard Johnson settled in Sumner County, Tennessee in about 1806. He moved there with his wife and children from Louisa County, Virginia.  He was born abt. 1760, in Hanover County, Va.  At this writing the names of Richard’s parents are uncertain. It is inferred from his pension application, and that of his brother, John Johnson, that the family lived in Hanover County, Virginia at least through the end of the Revolutionary War.

The Revolutionary War pension file of John Johnson includes in his affidavit that he was born in Hanover County on 14 May 1762.  His application was made in Marion County, Indiana on 6 October 1835 and there is a reference to his brother, Richard, who was a minister of the gospel in Sumner County, Tennessee.  Obit of John Johnson.  Richard Johnson gave a deposition in Sumner County in 1829 for his acquaintance, Samuel Higgason, who was also born in Hanover County.  (See Richard Johnson, 1829)

Richard Johnson was also soldier in the American Revolution, and entered the service from Hanover County, Virginia in May 1777 for seven weeks in the regiment commanded by Col. William Dandridge and Major Thomas Johnson. He was in Capt. Robert Dabney's militia company and marched from Hanover to Williamsburg, and was discharged at the end of seven weeks. In July 1778 he again entered the militia for three months from Hanover County in the regiment commanded by Col. Flemming, and Major Robert Dandridge in Capt. John Anderson's company. He marched from Hanover County through the City of Richmond, James City and Charles City and was stationed at Cabin Point in Surrey County, Virginia. He was then "pressed" by Capt. James Waller in July 1779, one of the commissioners of the Army of the United States, and served for three months, being discharged at Meadow (?) Bridges in the State of Virginia. Once again he entered the militia service from Hanover County in the year 1781 [sic. Probably should be 1780] and served one month in the regiment commanded by Col. Charles Dabney, in Capt. Fox's company. In January 1781 he enlisted in the Continental Line of the United States from Hanover County, Virginia and served twelve months in the regiment commanded by Col. Harvey, in Capt. Martin Hawkins company as an artificer in the shoe making business. They marched from Hanover County to the Old Barracks in Albemarle County, Virginia and then to the City of Richmond, where he was discharged at the end of twelve months.  

On 21 February 1783 in Louisa County, VA Richard Johnson was married to Lucy Hunter, daughter of George and Mildred (Austin) Hunter of Louisa County, and granddaughter of Andrew  and Jane Hunter of Hanover and Louisa Counties, Virginia. Lucy was born there on 25 November 1763 and was baptized by Parson William Douglas on 5 January 1764. (Her tombstone gives her date of birth as 25 November 1764, but is evidently off by one year). Her siblings were Austin (b. 6 June 1761, and baptized 5 July 1761), Ann (b. 9 August 1766, and baptized 20 September 1766), David (b. 24 March 1769, and baptized 21 May 1769) and Samuel (b. 12 January 1773, and baptized 9 May 1773). George Hunter died in Louisa County, Virginia in about 1805, survived by his wife, Mildred and three children, Austin Hunter, Samuel Hunter and Lucy Johnson.

Richard and Lucy (Hunter) Johnson were the parents of eleven children: George H., Mary, Richard C., Benjamin J., Samuel, Nancy M., Austin, David L., Nathan S., Andrew W. and Sarah W. The Johnsons moved to Sumner County, Tennessee in about 1806. All of their children were born in Virginia, except Sarah, who was born in Tennesee after the family's move.

By 1816 Richard Johnson was listed in the Sumner County, Tennessee tax records as owning 167 acres on the East Fork of Bledsoe Creek. This continued for a number of years, although he sold 50 acres to John Mabry in 1818 and 24 acres, also to John Mabry in 1823. In 1837 he sold land to his son, Benjamin Johnson.

Early in life Richard Johnson espoused the cause of Methodism, and became an active local preacher in Virginia. He was ordained as a deacon of the Methodist Episcopal Church by Bishop Francis Asbury in September 1799 while still living in Virginia. In November 1812 he was ordained elder of the M. E. Church by Bishop McKendree at Fountain Head, Sumner County, Tennessee. He was well known in the Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Richard Johnson deeded a one acre lot on 20 March 1819 to the Trustees of Providence Methodist Episcopal Church, who were named as Richard Baskerville, John Crenshaw, Richard Johnson [the grantor], Samuel Johnson, Richard C. Johnson, Austin Johnson and Chism Davis. According to the deed, "they shall erect a house of worship for the Methodists in the United States of America." This was taken from his own land on the waters of the East Fork of Bledsoe Creek just south of Bethpage.

Richard Johnson was allowed a pension of $68.80 per annum by the United States Congress beginning in 1832 based on his service during the Revolutionary War. His wife, Lucy (Hunter) Johnson died on Christmas Day, 25 December 1839. Richard continued to preach as long as he was able to ride horseback, and died 22 June 1849 of dropsy, in his 90th year. (Obit) Lucy's grave in the family cemetery on Chipman Road south of Bethpage, bears an inscription with her name and dates of birth and death, although the date birth is off by one year, giving it as 1764 rather than 1763 as shown in the Douglas Register. An indecipherable stone next to Lucy's is undoubtedly the grave of Richard Johnson, the Revolutionary soldier, shoemaker, Methodist preacher and farmer. Richard Johnson's Last Will and Testament was dated 19 November 1848 and proved in the Sumner County Court during the November term 1849. He specifically named ten living children and provided for the heirs of his son, Austin Johnson, but did not name them in the will. Estate of Rev. Richard Johnson.
Children of Richard Johnson and Lucy Hunter:

  1. George H. Johnson, b 1784 - 1790 in Louisa County, Va.  He married twice, first to Elizabeth Hunter in Louisa County, Va. on 9 December 1805. Elizabeth died before 1844 in Sumner County, Tn.  Children of George H. Johnson and Elizabeth Hunter:

    George H. Johnson married 2nd to Mildred Turner (b abt. 1820) in Sumner County, Tn. on 23 December 1844. Bondsman was A. K. Luckydo.  George made purchases at his father's estate in 1849, he is on the 1850 Sumner census, but neither he nor Mildred are found on the 1860 census for Sumner County.  Known children of George H. Johnson and Mildred Turner:

  2. Mary Johnson, b abt 1786 in Louisa County, Va. Little is known of Mary Johnson.  She is named in her father's will, written in 1848.  It is unknown who she married, but it is likely that she married a Johnson because of the information found in a loose record.  Possible child of Mary Johnson and Unknown:
  3. Richard Collins Johnson, b 19 November 1789 in Louisa County, Va., died in Lafayette County, Mo. 10 September 1881.  He is buried in the McKendree Cemetery.  He married Frances Turner, daughter of John Turner and Elizabeth Bailey.  Frances was born in Virginia and died bef 1850.  Deed of Gift: Lafayette County, Missouri Record of Deeds, Book G, Pages 470 - 471  Children of Richard Collins Johnson and Frances Turner:
  4. Benjamin J. Johnson, born abt 1791 in Louisa County, Va.,  died 20 May 1868.  Benjamin married 1st to Rebecca Turner, dau of John Turner and Elizabeth Bailey, sister of Frances Turner Johnson.  They had 8 children.  He married 2nd to Mary C. "Polly" Payne, dau of Robert Payne and Sarah Beard, and 3rd to Phebe Jane Northam, dau of Eli Northam and Mary McDowell.  Benjamin and Phebe had 5 children.  (See Descendants of Benjamin J. Johnson.)
  5. Samuel Johnson, b abt 1796 in Louisa County, Va.  The 1840 Sumner County census has the following for Samuel Johnson:  1 WM under 5; 2 WM 5-10; 1 WM 10-15; 1 WM 15-20; 1 WM 40-50 1 WF under 5; 1 WF 10-15; 1 WF 15-20; 1 WF 40 -50; 0 slaves. 10 total in household. 4 work in agriculture  It is unknown who Samuel married or where.  He is not in Sumner County after 1840.
  6. Nancy M. Johnson, b 9 April 1797 in Louisa County, Va., d 1 January 1877 in Gallatin County, Illinois. She married in Sumner County on 8 January 1822 to Thomas A. Johnson, b 21 October 1798 in Va., d 27 December 1852 in Gallatin County, IL.  Her brother, David, was the bondsman.  Nancy and Thomas are buried in the Crawford Cemetery, Ridgeway, Gallatin County, Illinois.  Children of Nancy M. Johnson and Thomas A. Johnson:
  7. Austin Johnson, b abt 1799 in Louisa County, Va., d 23 December 1847 by drowning in Davidson County, Tennessee.  Austin Johnson was married three times, 1st to Ann Elizabeth Corley, dau of Austin Corley, in Wilson County, Tn. (3 children) 2nd to Barodill B. White, dau of Robert White and Lucretia Unknown, in Sumner County, Tn. (2 children), and 3rd to Mary M. Holt in Sumner County, Tn. (2 children).  See Descendants of Austin Johnson.
  8. David L. Johnson, b 18 November 1800 in Louisa County, Va., d 25 October 1884 in Sumner County, Tn. buried in the Parker Cemetery.  David L. Johnson was married twice, 1st to Thankful Anderson, on 7 September 1830 in Sumner County, Tn., bondsman John H. Turner.  Thankful Anderson was b 9 October 1807, d  6 March 1849.  She is buried in the Anderson-McLin Cemetery in Sumner County.  Children of David L. Johnson and Thankful Anderson:

    David L. Johnson married 2nd to Elizabeth Collier in Sumner County, Tn. on 6 June 1850, bondsman Edward P. Tyree, marriage performed by Edward McMillian.  Elizabeth Collier b 23 October 1828 in Kentucky, d 9 February 1899 in Sumner County.  She is buried in the Parker Cemetery. Children of David L. Johnson and Elizabeth Collier:

  9. Nathan S. Johnson, b 16 November 1802 in Louisa County, Va., d 9 November 1860 in Dangerfield, Titus County, Texas. Burial in the Methodist Cemetery, Dangerfield.  Married Sarah Patton, dau of Neely Shaw Patton and Elizabeth Ann Vannoy abt 1833.  Sarah was b in Noah, Bedford Co., Tn. 13 November 1810, d in Dangerfield, Tx. on 16 February 1863.  Burial in the Methodist Cemetery, Dangerfield, Tx.  Nathan was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, just like his father.  Some resources say that he began his career in the ministry to the Tennessee Cherokees. He moved to Coffee County, Tn. before 1840, although he returned to Sumner at some point as is evidenced by his name being listed on the sale of personal items from his father's estate.  He moved to Titus County, Tx. before 1860.  Known children of Nathan S. Johnson and Sarah Patton:
  10. Andrew Waddell Johnson, b 4 May 1805 in Louisa County, Va, d 13 April 1885 in Marshall County, Tn. He married Susan Ellis on 4 September 1838. Susan was b on 12 January 1816, d 21 April 1898.  They are both buried in the Beechwood Cemetery, Cornersville, Marshall County, Tn. There are no deeds for Andrew in Sumner County but he is mentioned with the other children in Richard's will.   He was not listed in the sale of Richard's personal possessions in 1849. He was a witness to a deed of mortgage from Austin Johnson to Richard Johnson as guardian for Austin's three minor children, Martha, Richard, and Mary.  The deed is dated 13 April 1832. Andrew was living in Bedford County, Tn. in 1850 and married to Susan F. On this census, he was a merchant with no children, age 45.  His wife Susan F. was born in Tn., age 35.  A Tabitha Ellis, age 10 and J. W. Crutcher, age 23, a merchant's clerk (both born in Tennessee) were residing in Andrew's household. In 1860 Andrew was in Giles County, Tennessee (Cornersville, which later became Marshall County, Tn.) age 55 and a merchant. It appears the census taker made mistakes with names in this household and tried to make corrections, marking through portions of it.  Andrew's wife is listed as "Jane C." age 44, but in the household of William Harris, just below Andrew, his wife is  also Jane C., age 44. This William Harris was a merchant as well, and had the same property value as Andrew Johnson.  In 1870, Giles County, Tn. Andrew is 65 years old, a teacher of vocal music, born in Va.  His wife is Susan, age 56, born in Tn.
  11. Sarah W. Johnson, b 1 November 1808 in Sumner County, Tn., d 20 April 1882 in Gordonsville, Logan County, Ky. Burial in the Doyle Cemetery, Logan County, Ky.  She married William A. Saunders 17 Jan 1831 in Sumner Co, Tennessee. He was b 5 Jun 1805 in Virginia, d 12 Feb 1888 in Gordonsville, Logan Co, Kentucky, burial in the Doyle Cemetery.  Children of Sarah W. Johnson and William A. Saunders:

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