Zilpha Wood Johnson

Notes:

We have a nice five-generation picture which includes Philip in 1913, when he was ninety. There is another one taken around the same time in which he has Margaret Estelle Whitford on his lap. The story is that he was blind in his old age.

Philip's gravestone has been photographed. According to the RI Cemetery Database, the Maple Root Cemetery "is a very old cemetery containing many inscribed field stones for the earliest settlers in this area. Records at Town Hall indicate that the first lot in the newer section was sold to Philip Johnson on 7 Nov 1893." I would guess that this was my 3xGreat-grandfather Johnson, or else his son Philip R. Johnson.

In the 1860 Federal Census, Philip & Triphina H. Johnson are living in Coventry, RI. In the home are Hearty P. 10, Philip R. 9, and Triphina 5, as well as Persilla Johnson, 74, Philip's mother.

By 1870 Philip has remarried, and he and Phebe are at Coventry with three children in the household: Ednah P. 9, Patience J. 6, and Zilpha W. 1.

In 1880 they are still at Coventry, and two daughters are with them: Orvilla P. 24 and Zilpha W. 11. Orvilla is Phebe's daughter from her previous marriage to Isaac Paine.

Philip married Phebe Wood 11 Jul 1867, Coventry, RI. Phebe (daughter of James M. Wood and Zilpha Unknown) was born 1829; died 1917; was buried , Deacon John Wood Cemetery, Magnolia Lane, Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

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]

Notes:

She is named as his daughter Priscilla Johnson in the will of David Nichols, dated 8 Sept 1815, proved 6 November 1815 in Coventry. Her gravestone, located in the cemetery across from Mapleroot Baptist Church in Coventry, RI, says she died at age 93, 8 months, and 27 days.

James — Zilpha Unknown. Zilpha was born Abt 1806; died 22 Feb 1885; was buried , Deacon John Wood Cemetery, Magnolia Lane, Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

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.

David married Mary GREENE 1780. Mary was born 1762; died 1849. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Mary Nichols was admitted as a member of Maple Root in 1816.

One Greene genealogy has this Mary marrying three times: to Jonathan Joice, David Nichols, and Obed Harvey. However, Mary Greene is a very common name, and it may be that another Mary married one or two of those other men.

The same genealogy says her parents were Elder Timothy Greene & Silence Rowlands, but I am not sure about that (needs more research to confirm).

Notes:

John's will mentions his wife Phebe, son James M. Wood, and two daughters: Phebe Ann Wait (w/o Stephen), and Mary F. King.

John married Phebe Unknown Abt 1805. Phebe was born Abt 1785; died 30 May 1864; was buried , Deacon John Wood Cemetery, Magnolia Lane, Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]