Histories

Story of Robert Johnson, as told to Milo Johnson by Robert's son William in 1902

"The following was told to me by Robert's son William in 1902, as we were working together planting potatoes."

When Robert was 12 he and a pal were playing with a gun, when the gun accidentaly discharged and his friend fell down. Robert thought he had killed his pal and threw the gun and ran. He ran to Liverpool and seeing a boat about ready to leave, he got on as a stow-away. The boat was bound for the new world, and the second day out he was hungry and showed himself. The Captain knew he was a run-away and thought to take him back on the return trip, and to pay his way, made him a cabin boy. When they got to Canada Robert slipped off without being seen and because he might be wanted for murder, he kept silent.

In Canada he met Jane Mary Storey who was the daughter of William Storey, Mother unknown, who was born in North Ireland of Scot parents who had immigrated to Ireland a generation before Jane Mary was born. They left Scotland because of religious pressures and crossed the approximately 14 miles between Scotland and Ireland at that point. Jane Mary had a sister too who came to Canada and the sister came to Michigan when Jane Mary did, but only stayed a year and went back to Canada.¹

Soon after marriage, they applied for a Homestead in an area that the Dominion wished settled, Robert being a farmer . They Homesteaded a piece of land, cleared it, built a home and farm buildings and had horses and cattle.They had 13 children, 11 of them born in Canada.

The French and Indian War of American History took place under the reign of King George II of England, but the treaty of peace wasn't signed until three years after his death under King George III in 1763. It was then that Canada became a British Possession, and for loyalty to the King and for sending his serfs to take part in the war, the King made a Grant of land to some Nobleman. This Grant was in S.W. Ontario, across from Port Huron, Michigan, in what is now Perth and Huron Counties.²

The Nobleman came and looked over the Grant and all he saw was a forest full of Indians. He said he wasn't interested and went home. But about the time Robert and Jane Mary were married [1851], Canada thinking the Grant wasn't going to be claimed, offered it for Homestead, and they took a parcel of it as homestead, near Seaforth in Huron Co. or near St. Marys in Perth Co.

About 1865-1866 the Nobleman or one of his heirs came back and liked what he saw, cleared fields, farm buildings, cattle and horses and good black earth. He started suit in the courts to dispossess the Homesteaders on the grounds that Canada had no right to dispose of private property that way.

The Homesteaders defended their claim with all they had, but lost the suit. All Robert had left was a big black horse which he sold and bought winter supplies. And fares for all his family and Jane Mary's sister on a sailing vessel that was going to Alcona, Michigan, a booming lumber and mill town in N.E. Mich., for a load of lumber. That was in the summer of 1866, a few months after his son Samuel was born. Alcona Co. wasn't organized until 1869.

Robert soon declared his intention to become a citizen [First Papers] I haven't found out in what court but it was probably in Alpena, Cheboygan or Iosco, the nearest. The Second Papers could be had in two years. Then all his minor children would take his citizenship.

Robert carried all those supplies to a section of State land [no roads] about seven miles from Alcona and got ready for winter, got jobs, and built a log house. There is a record in the Register of Deeds Office recorded May 13, 1881 at 11 A.M. that Robert Johnson, Acona Co., on the 9th day of April, 1870, purchased for $1.00 per acre, the N. 1/2 of the N.E. 1/4 of section 17, T. 27 N., R 9 E. - 80 acres. Recorded by B. P. Cowley, Register of Deeds.

His son William got the West 40 above and Samuel got the east 40, and when Samuel went west to Idaho or Tekoa, Washington he deeded the west half of his 40 to William. Rebecca bought the other half and it is owned by her daughter Blanche.

Incidently, the 4th marriage recorded in the new county was for William E. Towner [21] from Westskill, Greene Co., N.Y. and Frances Johnson [16] born in McAlpin Township, Canada West. They married June 28, 1869 by Rev. W. J. Johnston, no relation.

They had three children in Michigan before moving west. Robert, who died August 31, 1872 at 4 mo. of whooping cough, Rachel and Jennie.

Taken from the record of Robert's death in Alcona County, Michigan. Date of death - 1891 yr. - 6th mo. - 10th day; at age 58 yrs. - 8 mos. - 6 days; Subtracting 1832 yr. - 10th mo. - 4th day; Date of birth - October 4, 1832

Jane Mary was living at that time and probably gave this information. Headstone in Mt. Joy Cementary, Haynes Twp. shows 1832.

Genealogy of Robert Johnson Family compiled by his grandson, Milo N. Johnson in 1970 as best he could."

Milo N. Johnson

(Not quite the same as susans list version.)

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1. From records in Alnona Co., Mich.: of Jane Mary Johnson's death:
at age 73 yrs. 10th Mo. 6 days.
Subtracting 1830 yr. 3rd Mo. 11 days
Date of birth - March 11, 1830
She was living with her daughter Anna at the time so Anna probably gave the figures above. Anna said that Robert and Jane Mary were probably married in St. Mary's, Ontario in 1851. A copy of the application for license to marry and/or the marriage record might give the name of the town or city where the parties lived or rather, were born, so the genealogy could go farther back, so these dates could be documented fully.

2. (part of Huron Counties? Susans List)

3. (possible connection to Mrs. Steven Slack, Harrisville, Michigan of Jane Mary and her sister). Robert's daughter Anna thought that Robert and Jane Mary were married in St. Mary's, Ontario, Canada, in 1851. (from St. Mary's in 1971, came this report: "I am sorry that we do not have any information in regard to your inquiry as records whicih are available in this office date back only as far as the year 1880. Yours truly, Clifton Brown, Clerk-Treasurer".) Source: Susans List

4. (In November, 1970, Milo N. met a John Frechette, an acquaintance from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. When asked what he was doing to occupy his time, Milo answered that he was working on a geneology of his family but slowing up in Ontario. Frechette mentioned a land grant in Ontario that was made by King George III to a Scot named Frasier. Frasier was an ancestor of his (Frechette) mother's family - Susans List) Source: Susans List