Eighth Generation

164. James JOHNSTON died on 12 January 1785 in Brunswick Co., VA. He signed a will on 12 January 1785 in Brunswick Co., VA.³⁰⁵ In the name of God, Amen: The twelfth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty five, I, James Johnson, of Brunswick County, Virginia, being sick but of sound memory, thanks be to God for the same and calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die; Do make and ordain this my last will and testament; that is to say, Principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it, and for my body I recommend to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter mentioned; and, as touching such worldly estate herewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner, Imprimis ----

Item. I Give and Bequeath unto my son, Frederick Johnson, the land and plantation whereon he now lives, Beginning at the mouth of said Frederick Johnson's spring branch, Running up the said Spring Branch to the old plant patch; from thence to Benjamin Whitehead's line.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my son, Benjamin Johnson, the land and plantation where I now live to the above mentioned line.

Item. My land that is lying in Lunenburg I leave to be sold and the money equally divided among my five sons.

Item. My tract of land lying in Brunswick on Briery Creek I leave to be sold and the money be used to pay all my just debts.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my son, Bins Johnson, one horse, namely Trifle.

Item. My stock of all kinds, and all my household furniture I leave to be divided amongst all five of my sons. And I do likewise Constitute, make and ordain my well-beloved sons, Frederick Johnson and Benjamin Johnson, my only and sole executors of this my last will and testament. And I do hereby utterly disallow and disannul all and every other former testaments, Will, Legacies, and Executors by me in any way named before this time, willed and bequeathed, ratified and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year before written, signed, sealed, published and declared by the said,

his James (X) Johnson mark

in the presence of the subscribers: Benjamin Ogburn and William R. Samford
He was born in Isle of Wight Co., VA. James will was dated 1/12/1785 and probated 8/22/1785. James moved from Isle of Wight Co., VA to Brunswick County. He deeded two tracts of land in Isle of Wight Co. and Brunswick Co. in 1744. he apparently secured more land in Brunswick and Lunenburg Counties. Catherine DURHAM and James JOHNSTON were married in 1742.

165. Catherine DURHAM was born (date unknown).

Children were:

82
i.
George Presley JOHNSON.
ii.
Benjamin JOHNSON Sr. died on 5 December 1812 in Brunswick Co., VA. He signed a will on 5 December 1812 in Brunswick Co., VA.^306,307 In the name of Gad, Amen; I, Benjamin Johnson, of the County of Brunswick, and State of Virginia, being sick and weak of body but of sound and disposing mind and memory, do hereby give and dispose of what worldly estate it hath pleased God to bless me with, in the manner and form following:
1st: I desire that all my just debts be paid.
2nd: I give unto my beloved wife the crop made on the plantation in the present year. I also lend her during her natural life the land and plantation whereon I now live, together with the working utensils thereon, my blacksmiths, Peter and Hubbard with their tools. Also three Negroes named Moll, Mary and Polly. Household and kitchen furniture, two horses of her choice, together with all the other stock on the plantation.
Item: I give unto the children of my daughters, Betsy Smith, Jane Goodwin, and Tabitha Browder, the sum of one hundred pounds each; i. e., to the children of Betsy Smith one hundred pounds, to the children of Tabitha Browder one hundred pounds, and to the children of Jane Goodwin on hundred pounds; If sufficient, if not, the balance to be raised out of the sale of the perishable property loaned to my wife, at her death, to them and their heirs forever.
Item: The balance of stock of horses, exclusive of the two loaned to my wife, I will to be sold and the money to be applied to the payment of my just debts.
Item: I give unto my son Allen Johnson, two Negroes, Austin and Viney with her increase, to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give unto my son Julius Johnson, one Negro man, Tom, which he has in his possession; also one Negro woman, Rachel, and her child, Minerva, to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son, Gregory Johnson, one Negro named Abram, to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son, Littleberry Johnson, one Negro called Little Hubbard, to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son, Benjamin, two Negroes named Edmund and Lewis, to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son, Sylvanus Johnson, one Negro named Bob, in his possession, to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Polly Orgai, one Negro woman, Beck, with her increase, to her and her heirs forever.
Item: At the death of my wife, I give unto my son, Anderson Johnson, the tract of land whereon I now live, to his and his heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto the children of my son, Anderson, which he hath or may hereafter have, two Negroes named Nicholas and Jim, to them and their heirs forever.
Item: At the death of my wife, I give all the estate loaned to her, with its increase, to be equally divided between my sons, Allen, Julius, Gregory, Littleberry, Benjamin, and Sylvanus, to them and their heirs forever.
Lastly, I nominate and appoint my son, Benjamin Johnson, whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and disannulling all other wills by me heretofore made.
I witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 5th day of December, 1812.
Benjamin Johnson, seal
Signed, sealed, and acknowledged and delivered in the presence of: Green Hill, John Barrow, Jr., henry Johnson, Thomas H. Walpole, Bishop Oldham. Will proven for name at place on date.³⁰⁶ Served in Revolutionary War. Apparently Benjamin remained near home and inherited the home place. his will of 1812 indicates that he, in turn, left it to his son Anderson. Death date is will date - 12/5/1812. It was proved July 26, 1813.
iii.
Frederick JOHNSON was born (date unknown).
iv.
James JOHNSON was born (date unknown). Served in Revolutionary War.
v.
Edmund JOHNSON was born on 10 June 1763 in Brunswick Co., VA.²¹⁶ He appeared in the census in 1850 in 20th Subdivision, Roane Co., TN. Page 341 B, line 9, dwelling 273, family 285
Edmund Johnson, 88, M, Farmer, 1000, VA
Rebecca Johnson, 50, TN
He died on 6 April 1853 at the age of 89 in Loudon Co., TN.²¹⁶ Tried to enlist in Revolutionary War, but was turned down (too young?). Died in Stockton Valley, TN, Loudon County. Buried in Fooshee Cemetery. In 1825 he purchased 160 acres in Stockton Valley.