Daniel Johnson

Arnold married Rebecca Harrington Bef 1815. Rebecca (daughter of Job Harrington, III and Meribah Whitford) was born 18 Jul 1796. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

He is likely the Daniel Johnson of West Greenwich, whose will was dated 28 Nov 1833, proved 31 Mar 1834. The will mentions Daniel's wife Freelove and the following children: Josiah A., James R., Arnold (dec'd), Freelove, Abigail Greene, and Sally Matteson; also a grandson Daniel, son of Arnold.

A family tree at Rootsweb's Worldconnect shows his wife as Freelove Burlingame. However, the death record of son Arnold at West Greenwich has Daniel's wife as Freelove Arnold (as per RIVR NS Vol 6 p 153; I have not viewed the original).

See the following quote:

"Hiram Greene, son of Judge Benjamin and grandson of Col. Isaac. His first wife's only son died at manhood. His second wife was Abigail Johnson of Greene descent [Abigail, Daniel, Abigail Greene-Johnson, Usal Greene, John, John]. By her he had Tryphena and Benjamin. Hiram died, aged but 23, though twice married and the father of three children." (source: "The Greene Family and its Branches" by Lora S. LaMance, Mayflower Pub Co.)

See also notes for Daniel's daughter Abigail.

Daniel married Freelove ARNOLD Abt 1792. Freelove was born Abt 1770. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Daniel's will mentions a wife named Freelove. I am not sure her maiden name was Arnold, but based on the the fact that they had a son named Arnold, and that her maiden name is given as Arnold in RI Vital Records New Series, Vol 6 p 156, I have tentatively used that as her maiden name.

A family tree at Rootsweb's Worldconnect shows her as Freelove Burlingame. However, the death record of son Arnold at West Greenwich has Daniel's wife as Freelove Arnold (as per RIVR NS Vol 6 p 153; I have not viewed the original).

Job married Meribah Whitford 14 Oct 1781, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI. Meribah (daughter of Nicholas WHITFORD and Susannah CARR) was born Abt 1763, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI; died 5 Sep 1849; was buried , Job Harrington Lot, Division St., West Greenwich, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Rebecca Carr Harrington was Meribah's aunt, so it is a reasonable assumption that Meribah married her first cousin.

Notes:

One of the marriage records in Arnold's "Vital Record of RI" gives her name as Merebah; the other says Meribah.

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:

He is mentioned as Job Herrington, Jr., in the Exeter town records dated 10 April 1750, in an item regarding jury selection.

Job married Rebecca Carr 18 Mar 1748/49, West Greenwich, RI. Rebecca (daughter of Caleb CARR and Sarah RICHMOND) was born 29 May 1732, Jamestown, RI; died 15 Apr 1828, West Greenwich, RI; was buried , Harrington Lot, Division St. & Hopkins Hill Rd., West Greenwich, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

They were married by Samuel Hopkins, Justice. The groom was identified as Job, Jr. of Exeter.

Notes:

Some information on the Whitford family can be found in Beaman's Vital Records, Vol. 7, Washington County, pp. 408 - 414. This includes the marriage record of Nicholas and Susannah, as well as the births of several of their children.

The 1774 census shows Nicholas with 4 males over 16, 3 under 16, 3 females over 16, and 1 under 16, living in West Greenwich. The 1777 military census shows Nicholas of West Greenwich as 16-50 and able to bear arms. The 1782 census shows Nicholas Whitford of West Greenwich with 1 male over 50, 2 males and 2 females 22-49, 1 boy and 1 girl 16-21, and 2 boys under 16. (While there is a possibility that some or all of these records were for another Nicholas Whitford, most likely they pertain to this particular Nicholas.)

See his will dated 29 Oct 1785, proved last Mon Aug 1790, West Greenwich pp. 348-350. I have made an assumption that Nicholas died in West Greenwich.

In 1769 Nicholas Whitford bought from Thomas Comstock some property on Weaver Hill Road in West Greenwich. This became the Whitford farm and stayed in the family until 1866. Nicholas passed on the farm to his son Levi, and from him it went to Levi's sons Ezekiel & Nicholas. Ezekiel bought the rights from his brother Nicholas in 1814. In 1866 James A. Whitford, grandson of Ezekiel, sold the farm to Rhodes Greene & Ephraim B. Harrington; in 1884 Greene & Harrington sold it to Burrill Andrews. Along the way sections of it were sold to other individuals. In 1886 Andrews sold his portion, consisting of 70 acres and the house, to George W. Fish. Thereafter it stayed in the Fish family until 1979 when it was sold to John Searle. The house is still standing and occupied; the family grave plot is adjoining. (source: historical collections at the Louttit Library, 274 Victory Highway, West Greenwich, RI)

In recent years, descendant Ray Whitford and family of North Attleboro, MA, spent much time and effort cleaning up this family burial plot.

Nicholas married Susannah CARR 18 Nov 1752, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI. Susannah (daughter of Caleb CARR and Sarah RICHMOND) was born 3 Feb 1733/34, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI; died 1802, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Her will dated 24 July 1799, and proved on the last Monday of March 1802, describes Susannah as a widow, being aged. It mentions sons Levi, Asa, and Carmi, and daughters Mary (wife of Samuel Johnson) and Meribah (wife of Job Herington). A copy of this will is at the West Greenwich Town Hall.

I have made an assumption that Susannah died in West Greenwich.

Notes:

I have a photocopy of the original marriage entry in the Town of West Greenwich. They were married by Samuel Hopkins, Justice of the Peace.