Alexander Johnson

Notes:

The following notes are excerpted from The History of Marion County, Ohio; Chicago: Leggett, Conaway & Co., 1883; online at (http://www.heritagepursuit.com/Marion/History1883/mhj1883.htm):

"WILLIAM G. JOHNSON, Sr., (Big Island Township) was born May 24, 1814, in Providence, R. I. His parents, Philip and Priscilla Johnson, came to Marion County about 1818. Philip Johnson dying soon after this, Mrs. Johnson returned to her native State. At five years of age, William was bound out to E. D. Bates, with whom he remained eighteen years, and by whom he was taught the tailor's trade. He was married to Elizabeth Bickford, daughter of John and Amy Bickford, of Marion. They have had nine children -- John B., Samuel C., Mary P. (wife of Edward Kesler), Newton M., Amy E. (wife of Benjamin Burns), Alexander (Baggage Master), Thomas R. (dead), William G., and Lydia A. (wife of Ross Burns). The first three years of married life were passed in Big Island Township; then he went to Marion till 1857, supporting a family of fourteen by digging wells and moving buildings. He worked seven years upon the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad. Mr. J. has always been a hard worker, having cleared in his time seventy acres of forest, land. He bought a farm of eighty acres at Gurley Station in 1857. but has disposed of that property. Mr. J. has been failing the past few years, losing his right eye by brain fever, 1869. Mrs. J., by breaking both arms, at different times, is permanently crippled."

William — Elizabeth Bickford. Elizabeth (daughter of John Bickford and Amy Unknown) was born 1816. [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.

John — Amy Unknown. [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).