Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-05-27
JOSHUA JOHNSON,
THE.FATHER ON Rs.J. q. ADAMS.
Written for Neaie's Saturday Gazeife.l

y OF Calvert county, Maryland, who America in the
reign Of Queen Anne Of England. His mother was Miss
BAKER, also of England the daughter Of the commander OF
an English vessel and possessed Of landed property
Maryland, where the family originally established in
handsome mansion the banks Of the Pauxen burn down
by the English in the Of 1872 but that time not in
their possession.) '
Mr.. IoHSsos was one of eleven children, fire Of ,ctom
sred ~ the Revolutionary uar and one Of whom Tnos.
JOHNSON the first Governor Of Maryland Judge Of the SUI
preme Court Commissioner for the Public Buildings and Dis
tict Of Columbia the first plan Of The city o. ashngon
and last, but least The personal friend Of Gen. WASH
ISGroN.
Mr.. j. Johnson, previously TO the Revolutionary war; had
been established in London (Epgand) merchant When
the declared he being sanch republican, could
longer remain in England with safety, and therefore removed
his family Nantz, in France, and presented by Dr.
franklin the King and Queen in the capacity of
ca AGENT being appointed by the Congress of the old cone
deraon in IT'S OF i779 At Nantz he remained until the
year l7s3 after the peace performing the duties of consul
and agent for the ports of Naniz, Brest and Morlax.
In 1855, after the peace, in the month of May, he
transferred TO London Consul General but with salary
totally inadequate TO support his family
When the constitution went into operation, Gen. WASH
IscroS then President of the United States renomnated
Mr. JoHSsaN the Office Congress having substituted
fees of Office instead Of the salary which had been annexed to
office of drudgey aud expense that station, quite insult
cen for support and unous his health and fortune The
fees Of office were small, and not well paid
Impressment for then at its height and the
steps of his house and the hall would be almost impossible
from the number poor sailors who would hang there for
safety of the consular privilege. The moment
their feet touched the street pavement pressgang stationed
,l, tba
resisted the cutass used without mercy, and they
carried oil tender and shipped the consul could
through the and ceremonies attendant upon the modes
OF appeal for their relief Sailors remarkable for their
thrift and their needless lbcaly leads them into trouble and
This be repaired by one, and the corsu
was necessarily called relieve their necessities their dan
gers their sickness their wounds their losses and furnish
them Clothes physicians, and funeral expenses while tie
tabshed fees were quite insufficient these heavy and
constant demands.
In 1886 Mr. JcaSsox offered his resignation Of the Office
but was accepted and in October 1897 he returned
his native country, involved in difficulties and without the
means to subs lie and children, six Of them daugh
ters with one son. who was after Mr. Johnsons death, APP
pointed postmaster New Orleans where he served faithful
" during many years
Mr. JOHNSON was nominated the Senate by President
j. ADANs superintendent Of stamps Temporary situation,
aud confirmed by the casting Of Mr. Jefferson Their
Vice President, who bad known him many years.
In very feeble health, he accompaniedhs daughter (Mrs
j. Q ADAMS, who had just arrived in America for the first
time in sOl) pass two short months with him, after
absence of four years. introduce her to bis relatives in Free
derckown Maryland where he seized with dangerous
illness which he died, after great suffering, the house Of
BAKKa JoassoS Esq, his BROTHER from whom he received
every Kindness well from all bis brothers and connexions
He expired on the 2lst April 1902 few days after his Of
fee had ceased leaving widow and family in the most dest
tute circumstances.
His vouchers destroyed by FIRE in the Department. and
his settled There yet persons
living who can testify the truth Of this statement and
testify The truth Of his character At the present me when
The station Of consul is made suitable its simple abors and
mpressment that Of seamen suppressed il is freed
from Inc cruel anxioes and the perpetual peril by which the
health and life Of Mr. JouSsoS endangered in visiting
the haunts of vice and murder which he inccsanty
exposed by the rusn press gangs with whom his duty obliged
him to interfere.