Jacob Johnson of Harpswell, Maine

DUPLICATE NYPL RL 3 3433 07736283 2 I <?. Mrs. Thankful Day (Johnson) Allen of Brunswick. Me., at 87 years. Tin- nil If si living of our Johnson Line, The years behind her brightly glow With helpful deeds, thoughts pure as snow. And true hearts led to paths divine: The Father whispers, " Child of mine, Because of many triumphs won, With rich rewards ror service done shall all future moments shine." thy I.N- JACOB JOHNSON OF HARPSWELL, MAINE AND HIS DESCENDANTS EAST AND WEST BY Rev. Charles Nelson Sinnett CONCORD, N. H. RUMFORD PRINTING CO. 1907 |,\i« 2^| ^o^o Ftq^ JACOB JOHNSON AND HIS DESCENDANTS PREFACE. The definite work of making this book was beguii nearly nine years ago. It was at the earnest request of some of the older members of the Johnson family. I was then visiting at Bailey's Island, Me. I at once placed before these relatives the fragments of our Johnson history which I had collected when a lad, of my grandfather, Capt. James Sinnett, who had married Mary John- son, granddaughter of our ancestor, Jacob Johnson. He was a man of wonderful memory in regard to past events in Harpswell, Me. His wife and her relatives had been a joy and strength to him in all the changing scenes of life, until he came to speak of their records as if they were his own. To my grandfather's home, more than to all others, had come on visits the widely scattered members of the Johnson family. They continued to make these pilgrimages long after the wife, familiarly known as "Aunt Polly," had passed away. He and his widowed daughter, Hannah, made these visits such pleasant seasons tbat the descendants of those wlio came to Bailey's Island still speak and write of them. My grandfather said to me one evening, as if the woman whom he, and all who knew her, loved so much, were with us still, "Your grandmother is so glad to think you are writing down what I tell you about the Johnsons. I have no doubt you will make a book out of it some day." And well did I remember the quiet, loving ways of this woman, who made every one of her grand- children feel that she had a special love for them, and that her prayers were speeding away before them to give light on all the pathways they might follow in the coming years. And I thought, "The book should be made for her sake, even if she had been the only Johnson the world had known." She was a strong type of our Johnson line through its many generations; loving, warm- hearted and making her home one of true hospitality for each one who came thither. And in the quiet hours she could tell us the legends of the early days with tbat rare skill and charm which has characterized our Johnsons, however far they have gone from our home town bv the sea. Hundreds who read these words of 4 JOHNSON GENEALOGY. reminiscence will see before them the shining faces, will feel the honest hand clasps and hear the tales of former years ringing in their hearts as no other stories have ever done. All my collections of records of our earlier Johnsons I at once spread before those who asked me to make this Johnson book, nnd calls were often made on the older members of the family in Harpswell, Portland, and many islands of Casco Bay. These papers were carefully corrected, with guidance such as this, and much constantly added to them. Then also began a correspondence with people of our race in every town where even a rumor of one could be heard. This quest has been kept up through the years. It was no light task to carry on such a work when I had charge of two parishes among the New Hampshire hills, and was writing much for papers and magazines. Then came many cares and a removal to a hustling town in the West. But in all the bard and weary places I have never ceased to see the shining face of my grandmother, or to hear the words of her husband. Memo- ries of other friends have cheered. And the finding of far re- moved members of our Johnson line has given still more inspira- tion. So, on land and sea, in clearest mountain sunshine, and in the swirl of the darkest prairie storms, the work has gone on, and its results are given to you with grateful thanks to the host of friends who have aided in every way they could to make this volume complete. Emphasis has already been laid on some of the strongest John- son characteristics. Wherever any representative of this line has made a home it has been one of truest hospitality. Many a child in such homes has been taught, "Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." And then a voice has added solemnly and tenderly, "Ay, and do not forget thy neighbor nor the stranger within thy gate." These golden rules have been handed down from generation to generation in word and example. And their glory and rewards are clearly seen if you mark to what a great age so many of our Johnsons have attained and are still attain- ing. The story-telling gifts of our people have been indicated. Old and young have felt the power of this inheritance. Some of the legends and witty sayings of our ancestors have been published in the writings of others, and have found wide praise. The power to hold fast to any chosen work of life, and out of this make a grand success, in spite of the thorny hindrances, is also a marked trait of our Johnsons. Study well the varied oc- cupations, by land and sea, of the people of whom this book tells. JOHNSON GENEALOGY. O and you will be astonished to see what they have achieved along hundreds of lines of duty and helpfulness. In the few cases of failure in the bearing out of this strong rule I have found the reason, not in any thinning of the Johnson blood, but in the per- sistent influence of some unwise teacher, or the lower ideals of some other family which has been allied with ours. I have set in the front of this book the picture of the woman who is the oldest living of our line. I have done this with the same clear purpose with which I have spoken of my grandmother and other women whose lives make glowing pages of history. It is that each reader may carefully note how much of the family sturdiness and love of truth has been transmitted through the female lines of the family. You will notice that all of the five daughters of our Ancestor Jacob Johnson married and moved into towns quite far inland from their native Harpswell. Some of their sons and daughters were widely scattered across this con- tinent. But through all the long ranks of descendants the family characteristics are clearly seen—truly a royal heritage. The addresses of most of the living descendants of our Johnson ancestor are given, that the widely-separated kindred may try and keep up the old custom of visits where it is possible, and of correspondence which shall bring us all into the close fellowship which should be felt. Let each branch of the family keep its record with care, that they may be added to this book from time to time. Edmore, N. D., Good Friday, March 29, 1907. OUR JOHNSON ANCESTOR. All accounts examined agree in the statement that our Ances- tor Jacob Johnson was born in England, and came to America when he was a young man. The date of his birth was about 1715. He and his wife, and other relatives, are buried in the cemetery at Bailey's Island, Harpswell, Me. His gravestone clearly states that he died in Cumberland, Me., October 15, 1803, aged 88 years. In another account the date of his death is given as June 29, 1802, but the inscription on the gravestone is no doubt correct. Many legends concerning Ancestor Jacob Johnson have come down to us, and it may be well to consider these. One writer states, "The first American Johnson of our line was Sir James Johnson, who is supposed to have been the son of an English lord." A part of this statement is no doubt derived from the fact that at Plymouth, Mass., was, at an early date, a Sir Isaac John- son. The legend has the germ of truth that there is no doubt our ancestor was of a fine old English family. Another writes: "Our Ancestor Jacob Johnson was English, and his real name was Hatheway. He took the Johnson name so as not to be discovered when he escaped from an English man-of-war." Some others give the original name as Hatheway. This seems to be partially accounted for by the following statement from the oldest family Bible preserved by the Johnson descendants: "Jonathan Hatheway Johnson was born in Sweden, and died of the plague, in London, England. He married Anna Frazier, the daughter of Jonathan Frazier of London, England." This Jonathan Hatheway Johnson would clearly appear to be the father of our Ancestor Jacob Johnson. He named his first son Jonathan, according to the custom in such old families, thus remembering his father—also his grandfather Frazier.

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