Philip JOHNSON, Sr.

Notes:

Philip's gravestone is at Maple Root Cemetery, but he died in Ohio, so perhaps he is buried there.

According to Beaman's RI Genealogical Register, there was a Philip Johnson admitted to membership at Maple Root on 6 August 1814. This is probably the husband of Priscilla, and it was their son Philip who was born in Ohio in 1822. When, and for what reason, did they move to Ohio?

Supposedly there was another Philip Johnson admitted to membership at Maple Root on 30 June 1785, and this one died 13 July 1785. Who was this Philip? Was he an uncle, brother to Philip's father Ezekiel? Or perhaps his father wasn't Ezekiel at all, as stated in J.R.Cole's "History of Washington and Kent Counties," but rather was another Philip (?).

Ruth Nichols Reynolds, in her article titled " A Line of Descent from David Nichols of Coventry," writes that Prisilla Nichols, d/o Jonathan & Prisilla Nichols, married a Philip Johnson who was admitted a member of Maple Root on 30 June 1785 and died 13 July 1785. Where did she get this information from, that his wife was Priscilla? Could our Philip Johnson have been a son of this couple, born after the father died? If so, why does the "History of Washington and Kent Counties" say his father was Ezekiel?

What makes this confusing is that our Philip actually did marry a Priscilla Nichols, but not the one who was a daughter of Jonathan & Priscilla. She was a daughter of David, s/o Jonathan & Priscilla.

Philip married Priscilla NICHOLS Abt 1807. Priscilla (daughter of David NICHOLS and Mary GREENE) was born 30 Oct 1785; died 27 Jul 1879; was buried , Maple Root Cemetery, Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

1. Hiram N. Johnson was born 13 Aug 1808; died 17 Feb 1893; was buried , Greenwood Cemetery, Coventry, RI.
2. Alexander Johnson was born 27 Apr 1810; died 8 Mar 1900, Warwick, RI.
3. William G. Johnson was born 24 May 1814, RI.
4. Caleb Johnson was born 29 Jan 1818, West Greenwich, RI; died 13 Jun 1875, Mapleroot Cemetery, Harkney Hill Rd., Coventry, RI.
5. Philip JOHNSON, Jr. was born 30 Mar 1822, Marion County, Ohio; died 30 Jun 1914, Coventry, Kent Co., RI; was buried , Maple Root Cemetery, Coventry, RI.

Notes:

This may be the Ezekiel, Jr. who married Ruth Matteson, of Joseph, on 20 Feb 1783 by Isaac Johnson, Justice. I have assumed that these dates from the RI Cemetery Database belong to this Ezekiel. The membership list of Maple Root Baptist Church has the names Ezekiel Johnson, Mercy Johnson, and Philip Johnson for 6 Aug 1814. This may be our Ezekiel, his son Philip, and his daughter, or possibly second wife.

Ezekiel married Ruth MATTESON 20 Feb 1783, Coventry, RI. Ruth (daughter of Joseph MATTESON and Ruth JONES) was born Abt 1765; died Between 1800 and 1810. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The marriage record at Coventry identifies Ruth as daughter of Joseph.

Notes:

Ezekiel Johnson, Jr., and Ruth Matteson, of Joseph, were married at Coventry by Isaac Johnson, Justice.

Notes:

I have assumed that these dates from the RI Cemetery Database belong to this Ezekiel, because they are in the right time frame and the grave is in the right area.

Some genealogies show that Ezekiel married Elizabeth's sister, Abigail. It is a confusing puzzle that needs more research.

The will of Ezekiel Johnson, of Coventry, was dated 18 Apr 1789 and proved 7 Nov 1791. In it he mentions his wife Elizabeth, four sons, and four daughters, the last of which - at least - is under 18.

I have wondered if he had another son named Philip who died in 1785. There was a Philip Johnson who is noted in the Maple Root records as having died 13 July 1785. This might explain why Ezekiel Jr. had a son named Philip. Based on his age at death and place of burial (information from Linda Mathew), I am including him in this family group.

From Linda Mathew: "Ezekiel . . . when he made his [will] in 1789 left all of his real estate, undivided, to his sons Ezekiel, Edmund, and Daniel. Ezekiel, Sr., died in 1791 and the following year the brothers divided the land. Daniel received 50 acres in West Greenwich. Ezekiel and Edmund got the Coventry portions of their father's land, but Edmund sold his to Ezekiel a few years later when he moved to upstate New York."

Ezekiel married Elizabeth GREENE Abt 1754. Elizabeth (daughter of Uzal GREENE and Susannah HILL) was born 28 Jan 1735/36. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The name and birthdate of Elizabeth came from the database of Vicki Michael at Rootsweb's Worldconnect.

Notes:

Joseph was "of Thomas, of East Greenwich."

Joseph married Ruth JONES 6 Dec 1762, East Greenwich, RI. Ruth (daughter of Seth JONES and Deliverance BRIGGS) was born Abt 1740. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

I am making an assumption that this Ruth Jones belongs with this particular Joseph Matteson, father of Ruth Matteson.

The marriage record identifies Ruth Jones as "of Exeter, daughter of Seth, dec'd."

Notes:

Joseph & Ruth were married by Thomas Corey, Justice.

Notes:

I have estimated the birth years of some of the children, based on the order in which they are named in Elisha's will.

Some genealogies show Elisha as having an earlier wife named Mary Spencer. (needs more research)

Elisha's father Elkanah deeded to him on 4 February 1720 a piece of land located in Warwick that he had bought from Samuel & Susannah Gorton.

Elisha married Mary GREENE Abt 1726. Mary (daughter of John GREENE and Abigail WARDWELL) was born Abt 1706; died Between 4 May 1741 and Jul 1750. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

His will dated 11 Jan 1781 says he is 84, which would make him born in 1697. Perhaps he had lost track of his age. He is probably the "Usual" Greene who was a member of the Maple Root Baptist Church of Coventry, RI, in 1785.

Uzal married Susannah HILL Jan 1726/27, Warwick, RI. Susannah (daughter of Henry HILL and Elizabeth Unknown) was born Abt 1703. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Greene Usal, of John, of Warwick, and Susanna Hill, of Henry, of East Greenwich, Jan. --- 1727 (from Warwick city records)

Notes:

Thomas was "of East Greenwich." He may have been the Thomas who was a son of Francis Matteson & Sarah Nichols, who were married in 1700 at East Greenwich. Or, he may have been a son of Thomas Matteson, father of Mercy who was b c 1705, probably at East Greenwich.

Notes:

Seth was "of Exeter." The marriage records identifies him as "of Lieut. Jeremiah."

Exeter land evidence dated 5 July 1753 mentions Seth Jones of Exeter, cooper, kinsman of John Raynolds, Jr.

On 27 Apr 1757, Deliverance Jones, widow of Seth, petitioned the Exeter Town Council concerning the estate of her late husband. She requested that, as her husband had died intestate, that [Capt.] John Raynolds be appointed administrator, as he was one of the principal creditors of said estate.

Seth married Deliverance BRIGGS 28 Oct 1732, East Greenwich, RI. Deliverance (daughter of Daniel BRIGGS and Lydia UNKNOWN) was born Abt 1710. [Group Sheet]