Edward Johnson is said to have been born April 21, 1649, in Leslie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. [1] He died in 1704 at New Kent County, Virginia. [2]

Questionable Parents

It was suggested that Edward Johnson's parents were Dr. Arthur Johnston of Aberdeen, Scotland, personal physician to King Charles II, and his second wife Barbara Gordon. [3] [4] [5]


Dr Arthur Johnston was proposed as the father of Edward in the book by Dr Lorand Johnson, "The descendants of William and John Johnson, colonial Friends ... Johnson, Lorand V. , 1905-1986". Dr Johnson proof of this relationship rested upon a letter said to be written by Elizabeth Johnston Keith. A search of the Friends House Quaker library in London where the letter was said to be contained failed to find any such letter or any reference to it in their catalog [6]which casts doubt on Dr Arthur Johnston being his father.

Immigration to Virginia

Possible immigration record: Edward Johnson arrived in Virginia in 1664.[7] The actual date of his arrival in Virginia is uncertain.

By 1677, Edward was in Blissland Parish, New Kent County VA, where he signed his name to a list of grievances presented to the King's Commissioners who had come to investigate the causes of rebellion.

Marriage

Edward married Elizabeth Walker in 1677 in St Peters Parish, New Kent, Virginia Colony. The Walker surname is uncertain but thought to be Walker based on circumstantial evidence. [8] Walker was given as her maiden name in the book of Dr. Lorand Johnson which was based on circumstantial evidence. St Peter's parish records indicate that Elizabeth Johnson died Feb 20, 1725. [9]

Children

Births of four children are recorded in the new parish of St. Peter's, New Kent County, in the 1680s: Thomas, Elizabeth, Penelope, and Rachel. The mother of these children is named there only as Elizabeth, but there is some evidence that she was Elizabeth Walker, daughter of Alexander Walker of Aberdeen. Two other children are listed in the St. Peter's parish book, Rebecka b. 1698 and Benjamin b. 1701. It is not clear whether these belong to Edward and Elizabeth, Edward and a second wife, or another Edward Johnson, perhaps an older son. Blissland Parish records before 1680 have been lost. Dr. Lorand Johnson adds to this list Anthony b. 1678, Arthur, Michael, and William b. 1703. Anthony and Arthur may in fact be same person, really Arthur, since the name for one comes from a birth record and the other from a marriage record.

Children of Edward Johnson and Elizabeth Walker

Thomas Johnson , born May 30, 1680 [10]
Elizabeth Johnson , born July 07, 1682, baptised Aug 06, 1682[11]
Penelope Johnson m. Christopher Clark , Aug 04, 1684, baptised Aug 17, 1684 [12]
Rachel Johnson , born Dec 08, 1686, baptised Jan 02, 1687 [13]
Rebecca Johnson , born Nov 08, 1698, baptised Nov 11, 1698 [14]
Benjamin Johnson m. Margery Massie. born Aug 17, 1701 [15]
Questionable Children

There are 15 children said to have been born to Edward and Elizabeth Johnson between the years of 1675 and 1701. If the sheer number of children said to have been born to them doesn't raise questions consider that one or more were born before Edward and Elizabeth married and that at least in two cases they had two children born in the same year. And no documentation that there were any twins. Of the 15 children less that half have evidence to support their proposed relationship to Edward and Elizabeth Johnson. Could

Let's look at the evidence or lack of evidence and see if we can draw any conclusions.

Dr. Lorand Johnson includes the following as possible children of Edward and Elizabeth Johnson in his book on Johnson genealogy.

Anthony Johnson [16]
Arthur Johnson b 1688 m. Margaret Phares, said to be an ancestor of Pres Andrew Johnson, [17]
Michael Johnson m. Sarah ? said to be an elder son of Edward. YDNA results from his descendants reported do not match the results obtained for a John Johnson descendant, [18] If Michael is proved to be a son of Edward it would mean that Edward and John Johnson are not from the same Johnson family.

Sarah Johnson
Capt William Johnson m. Ann Chew, Often found in Johnson family trees as a son of Edward but no sources provided, Thought to be member of Johnston family of Caroline County, Va [19] [20] [21]
Property

Property: Pamunkey Neck of northern Virginia - acquired 150 acres
User ID: 49D34083-5108-4F30-ABE5-605135EABFAA
Record ID Number: MH:IF7447
Date: 1701 and 1704
Place: King William County, VA[22]


14 children born to this marriage - although only 4 are confirmed
Alexander Johnson,
Unknown Johnson,
Robert Allin Johnson,
Anthony Johnson,
James Johnson Jr.,
Thomas Johnson,
Elizabeth Johnston,
Penelope Johnson,
Rachel Johnson,
Rebecca Hix,
Arthur Johnson Sr.,
John Johnson,
Thomas Johnston Sr and
Benjamin Johnson