Samuel Johnson who removed to Hollis, NH

Looking into the identity of Samuel Johnson requires a look into his uncle, Edward Johnson.  The article Captain Edward Johnson, of Woburn, Mass., and some of his descendants by Hon. Edward Francis Johnson (The New England historical and genealogical register, Volume 59, on pages 275-6) shows the following:

The author identifies Samuel, father of Ezekiel, in the pedigree.  Going back to pages 152-153, we find:

Samuel⁶ Johnson (Samuel⁵, Samuel⁴, Capt. Edward³, Maj. William², Capt. Edward¹), who moved to Hollis, NH with his father’s brother Edward and was the father himself of Ezekiel, was born 20 Jan 1749 (probably in Woburn, MA) to Samuel Johnson and Elizabeth Kendall.  No other information on this Samuel is provided in the author’s article.

In the Woburn town records, we find two entries for a Samuel Johnson’s marriage within the same year.  The first is for a Samuel Thompson/Johnson* and Lydia Jones, of Concord, at Concord, May 10, 1770.  The second is for a Samuel, Jr., and Rebecca Connolly, Nov. 8, 1770.  However, the former couple does not have any children having been baptized in Woburn, but there are children baptized in Woburn for Samuel and Lydia Thompson.  This makes me believe that the Samuel Johnson I am interested in probably married Rebecca Connolly.  The author of “Captain Edward Johnson, of Woburn, Mass…” notes that Samuel and Edward Johnson removed to Hollis, NH around 1770–presumably shortly after Samuel’s marriage.

Marriage records of Hollis show that three Johnson girls married in 1790 and 1804. These are assumed to be 3 of the 4 daughters of Samuel which were enumerated in the census.  Polly Johnson of Hollis, NH married Daniel Lawrence in Hollis, NH on 6 May 1790.  Sarah Johnson of Hollis, NH married Gould Robbins of Dunstable in Hollis, NH on 30 Aug 1804.  Ann Johnson of Hollis, NH married David Roby of Dunstable in Hollis, NH on 30 Oct 1804.

I have not found record of Samuel Johnson in Hollis after 1800.

Ezekiel Johnson of Hollis, NH

In the book White Family Quarterly, Volume 3, page 18, there is an entry for

Rebecca Hartwell, b in Fitzwilliam NH, July 13, 1783; m pub June 27 1803, with Ezekiel Johnson of Hollis, NH.  They settled in Lexington, Mass, but removed soon to Sangerfield, NY.
Children
Luther H Johnson
William S Johnson
Franklin Johnson
Josiah Johnson
Rebecca W Johnson
Sullivan Johnson, d 1819

My next task was to find out more about “Ezekiel Johnson of Hollis, NH.”

In the time before their marriage, there were two Johnsons in Hollis, New Hampshire census records: Samuel Johnson and Edward Johnson.

In 1790, a Samuel Johnson was recorded with 1 free white male under 16, 1 free white male over 16, and 5 free white females. There was no Edward.  I assume that the head of the house, Samuel Johnson, was the male over 16, and that his wife was one for the 5 females.

In 1800, a Samuel Johnson was recorded with 1 male 16-25, 1 male 45 & older, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 16-25, and 1 female 45 & older.  I assume that the head of the household was the male 45 & older and that his wife was the female 45 & older.  That leaves what seems to be one son 16 to 25, one daughter 10 to 15, and another daughter, aged 16 to 25.  Between this census and the 1790 census, it would make the son be born between 1775 and 1784.

In 1800, an Edward Johnson was recorded as having 1 male 26-44, 2 females under 10, and 1 female 26-44.  I assume that the head of the house is the one male age 26-44 and his wife is the one female 26-44, and the two young females are their daughters.

According to Revolutionary War records, there was a Samuel and an Edward in Hollis in 1775 and 1776.

According to CAPTAIN EDWARD JOHNSON, OF WOBURN, MASS., AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS by Hon. Edward Francis Johnson (The New England historical and genealogical register, Volume 59, on pages 275-6), an Edward Johnson went to Hollis, NH with his nephew Samuel around 1770. This Edward died in 1779, and had two sons: Miles and Edward.  Accordingly, this would make the Edward Johnson in the census be the son of the Edward Johnson who participated in the Revolutionary War in 1775 and 1776.

Since these are the only two Johnsons in Hollis, and Edward Sr did not have a son named Ezekiel, I’m assuming that Ezekiel Johnson was Samuel’s son.

The next step is to look into the identity of Samuel Johnson of Hollis, NH and to learn about his family.