Jacob Johnson Pioneer History

THE JOHNSONS’ AMERICAN BEGINNING
By Leona Conger

In this year 1659, a ship sailed from the port of Ravensteyn, Holland, for America. On this ship, which was named Faith, was Jan Woutersen van der Bosh, his wife Adrienne and their daughter. The mother's name has also been listed as Arentie, Arents.

We do not know the exact date this little family landed in America, but he must have been a man of importance and material wealth because he owned much property in New York, Flatbush and Branford, Connecticut. He acquired a lot on what is now William Street, south of Wall Street, New York, This spot is now covered by the Atlantic Building.

It was New Amsterdam when the Johnsons arrived. Peter Stuyvesant was the last Dutch Governor. It was said that he ruled with an iron hand. But the English took New Amsterdam from the Dutch and turned it into New York. Jan was rounded up and is on record as swearing allegiance to King Charles and later to King William.

He held property in News York, Flatbush, Long Island, and Branford Conn. Several children were born and their births registered at Branford. They were later baptized in the Dutch Reformed Church in Flatbush. One of the children was Walter Johnson. He was our first ancestor to use the name of Johnson. Water is the English translation of Wouter which was his father's name. Johnson was for Jan's son. At one time his name appeared on a deed as Wouter Janeson but he preferred Johnson.

Much of Walter's early life was spent in Long Island and Flatbush. He went with his father to New Jersey and there he met the girl who would become his wife. Her name was either Hannah or Johannah. Her father's name was Neheminah Royce. They lived at Hanover. Hannah or Johannah died while still a young wife. She left behind her father, her husband and one child. His name was John. In his will Neheminah Royce bequested some money to his grandson, John Johnson.

John appears to have been raised in Wallingford, Connecticut. He married a New Haven girl, Mary Chatterton. They had six children born in Connecticut. Land records show that John Johnson, Sr. disposed of his Connecticut property sometime before 1722. They must have moved to New Jersey because their last child Alexander is on record as having been born there. The other children were: John b. 1711; Hannah b. 1712; Elisha b. 1714; Moses b. 1716; Keziah b. 1718; and Esther b. 1720. Alexander was born about 1722.

Our direct line is John the first born. He was only around thirteen years old when his father died. As the oldest child of a widowed mother, he assumed the responsibility of the family holdings.

He must have been an energetic youth to carry on the large farms and iron works under his control. He had the iron carried to Elizabethtown on horseback and one of his iron works was near to a mill on Morris Plains owned by Charles Johnson.

John Johnson Jr. was a loyal soldier under the king. His brothers and sisters married and settled near him. John married a Hanover neighbor girl by the name of Abigail Ball. Abigail's father was Caleb Ball. He had a second cousin named Mary Ball. She was the mother of George Washington.

John Jr. and Abigail had a large and interesting family. The Presbyterian Church records show that they renewed their covenants and had their children baptized. Jacob was their sixth child. He was born April 26, 1751. He was the last to marry and, like the other children, was.considered wealthy in land and stock. His father, John Jr. died in April 1776, just a few months before the Declaration of Independence was signed. He was 65 years old. Listed as the cause of death was: Inflammation of the Head.

The Johnson boys all had a talent for leadership and gave valiant service to their country in the war for independence.

Jacob was 26 years old when the Declaration of Independence was signed. No doubt he took part in the agitation against the oppression of King George the III of England and indignantly protested against the treatment of Colonists by the King.

When John Jr. died, he willed the homestead to Jacob who lived there with his wife, Anne Vail. They were married in 1772. Anne was the daughter of a Quaker minister. They had three children: Noah, Mahlon and Jacob. As heir to his father's estate, Jacob was supposed to be in good circumstances, but after his untimely death, his fortune was swept away by dishonest executors.

Records at Renton show that Jacob enlisted in the army. He left his comfortable home, his Quaker wife who hated war, and went forth to fight for freedom. The history of Morris County describes him as a bold rider in Col. Jacob Arnold's Troop of Light Horse Cavalry. History records that his Troop was on duty during the war and these men faced privations, exposure, hunger and finally death.

Jacob's young manhood had been tested to the limit of its endurance. He made his will on the 28th of February in 1780, in which he said, "First of all I devote my soul to God, its rightful owner," and shortly after that he died and was buried among his ancestors. He was 30 years old.

About his funeral was written: "The wagon upon which the coffin rested was an open one, and the coffin was entirely covered with a large flag. Proceeding the wagon rode the minister and doctor, each wearing a white linen scarf across the right shoulder tied in a sash under the left at the waist. This emblem was a mark of great respect to honorable citizens." One of the year books of the American Revolution states: "Jacob Johnson...the first soldier to be buried in Morristown with military honors."

A story while on military duty has been handed down through his descendants. He was an aide to General Washington and much liked by him. Since they were third cousins perhaps there was a special bond.

He was sent by the General on a secret mission to deliver important papers to the South. It was winter. There was a severe storm. The snow drifts were so deep that he and his horse were often completely covered. He struggled for hours through the storm and drifts, never stopping until the message was delivered. He returned and was commended by General Washington for his courage. But the assignment had been hard, the chill had crept into his body. It seemed as if his very bones shook. He wondered if he would ever be warm again. The cold he contracted turned into consumption, the records state, and he went home to die.

Anne's health began to fail and she lived only four years longer than her husband. She saw that her sons went to school. This was Jacob's dying wish, that the boys would go to school until they were at least 14 years of age. Often Anne called the boys to her bedside and with the Reverend Timothy Johnes in attendance, she gave her sons advice and instruction. At one such bedside meeting, she gave her three little boys back to the Lord and the ordinance of baptism was administered by the Reverend Johnes.

Anne died on the 11th of June 1784. She was 31 years old.

The boys lived at home with their Uncle John Vail and his wife who, no doubt, had moved into the home to help care for Anne. After two years they were separated. Noah went to live with a family and learned the blacksmith trade. Mahlon went to live with James Rogers and he became a carpenter.

Jacob went to live on the farm of another uncle and, so far as we know, that is where he grew up. He married Mary Elizabeth Edwards in about 1802. They had 13 children. Jane Vail was the 9th. She is our ancestor. She married Francis Lee the 24th of October 1835.

Jacob Johnson, Jr. died about 1848 and was buried in Union City, Indiana.

Jane Vail Johnson and Francis Lee joined the church in Nauvoo and came West to carve out a new home in the wilderness. They entered Panaca May 6, 1864, and, although Francis only lived for two years, Jane stayed on to put down roots and make a permanent home for her posterity.

It's a long way from Ravensteyn, Holland to Panaca, Nevada. 317 years have gone by. Scores of those with this noble blood have fought and some died for this great land which is choice above all lands. And many will yet take up the title of Liberty and fight for the truth.

This Johnson bequeaths us a noble heritage. From them comes the seed of greatness. We can trace our lineage to Charlemagne. We are connected with royal families of Scotland, England, Normandy and France.

I am the 10th generation from Jan Woutersen Van der Bosh. It's been fun to find out about this noble people. I'm grateful that God chose for me such a great heritage.

Jacob Johnson Patriarchal Blessing

Patriarchal blessing given to Jacob Johnson Jr. Nauvoo, Illinois 28 Feb., 1842, by Patriarch Hyrum G. Smith, on the head of Jacob Johnson Jr., son of Jacob Johnson Sr., and Ann Vail Johnson, born 26 Mar., 1777, Morristown, N.J.
Brother Jacob, I lay my hands upon your head in your declining years, with a blessing that shall commemorate your name from generation to generation and I seal upon you the promise of eternal life and of the second comforter as was spoken of in the testimony of John, which is the greatest of blessings and of riches, even riches of eternity, with the blessings of prosperity and enjoyment, in the Holy Ghost in the remainder of your days, which days shall be still lengthened out to a proper and good old age, for the age of this generation and for the days of your pilgrimage with the blessings of the priesthood and time to bear testimony and to labor in the eleventh hour of your day, that you may receive your penny equal with the first who have bore the burden, notwithstanding there is a reward for you, but if you bear testimony and will warn the people with the power of the priesthood you shall appear as a savior on Mt. Zion which priesthood and dispensation I place on your head. Even a dispensation of the gospel for a blessing in your old age, and I ordain you a high priest in the Holy priesthood in the church of Jesus Christ and to repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ and the endurance of faith on his name to the end, therefore this shall be a blessing unto you. Which you shall see hereafter, for you shall bear testimony without fear at all times and in all places. Let you lose not the blessings and go down to your grave without this honor and lose a blessing that shall be an honor to your name and stars in your crown for as you shall lift up your voice of testimony orally or by letter it shall be attended with prosperity and bring forth fruits to be remembered. The stars in your crown in the mansions of your Father and you shall be blessed with an inheritance according to your lineage, which lineage is in Ephraim in the tribe of Ephraim, for this is the blessing of your salvation and your reward for the integrity of your heart, in whose heart there is no rebellion and the promise of the crown of life to comfort your heart in you old age and you shall go down to your grave in peace, with honor to your heart that is delivered over with the name to be perpetuated by your posterity with honor to the priesthood by promise unto them unto the last generation.

These blessings I seal upon your head even so Amen.
Church Historians Office Vol. 4, page 297.