Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-19
sir william Johnsou.

There is always something interesting in the
| history of pioneer. To go back to 1920, there
was Sir Peter Warren, an admiral in the Brit
ISL navy, who secured u grant of five thousand
acres at a spot where two streams met in the
| distant wilderness. These lands were of no
| benefit TO him, and in order to turn them to an
| account and get at least a shilling an acre,
| which would amount in all to two hundred and
| fifty pounds, he writes his nephew TO take an
4 agency. This nephew is a young lrishman
| who is anxious for employment, and is willing
| to contend with forest life. Having arrived at
| the spot, (the junction of the Mohawk and
| Schoharie,) he opens land office and starts
| trade with the Dutch settlers who are seeking a
/ new home. Sir Peter writes him advisory let
| tiers, in which he addresses him as "Dear Billy"
| and among other suggestions advises him mot
| 10 make fun of the PATRONS horses. The
Young agent took companion from a German
| family and she became the mother of his chill
| dren, who were legitimatised by his marriage
| with her towards the close of her life. On her
| death he employed an Indian housekeeper
named Molly Brant, whose father was noted
chief johnson, indeed seems to have had a
strong affinity with the Indians, and by taking
| Molly he must TO a large degree have adopted
| their habits He had small store, and the
difficulties of life may be Judged from his state
ment that he had to 90 fifteen miles horseback
| to the grIst mill.
As the young Irishman got money from the
settlers, his ambition rose and he constructed
| large stone mansion, which stands near Amster-
| dam and which he dignitied with the title OF
| "MOunt Johnson" Here his influence became
so great that the attention of the governm ent
| was attracted. The latter was in need OF
| ''crown agent or executive officer for the in
| terror, and johnson found himself honored by
| that appointment, accompanied with the rank
of colonel in the regular service. But h0nors
did not stop here. The Indians were so much
pleased with the promotion of their patron that
grand council was held and they elected him
their chief, with the high sounding title of War
rehaha. johnson now assumed a higher style
of life, and the land agent became man of
state. The Indians camped on his grounds and
he occasionally appeared among them dressed
in their simple costume. On one occasion he
marched to Albany at the head of his tribe, and
entered that town in feathered head dress,
leggins and blankets, making great sensa-
ton
Johnson had been preparing the Indians for
war, and in 1856 England and France were again
in hostile array. No man now appeared so
adapted to Il command as johnson. When he
was made major general OF the British forces,
he showed ut once that he was equal TO the oc-
casiOn. Four expeditions were fitted out in diff
ierent colonies against the French, and all of
them failed except that conducted by him.
Among these failures the worst was BraddOck's,
which involved the loss OF an army. johnson
attacked the French forces in the ncighborhood'
of Lake George, and routed the entire French
army, whose leader was slain. AT this action
dian boy of fifteen showed his ability to fill his
place. This was Joseph (brother of Molly
Brant, whose bloody history is so well known.
For this achievement johnson was made baro-
net, with the title of "Slr William" and Il grant
of five thousand pounds was voted him by par
Lament.
1t was now the Indians turn to honor him.
The great chief Wafrehaha must receive from
them corresponding testimonial A council
was held, and Il large tract of their most valu-
able territory was presented to him. johnson
accepted if, but would not enter into possession
until the king had added his confirmation. This
was done at once, and the former adyeh turer
now found himself the greatest landholder Amer
lea had ever seen, except William Penn. In all
his papers the tract thus conferred is called the
royal grant" and it was Johnson's ambition to
have it perpetuated in entail agreeably to En-
glsh custom. Its boundaries were from East
Canada creek TO West Canada creek, a distance
miles on the north bank of the Mo-
hawk, and it extended eleven miles to the north |
1t contained sixty-seven thousand acres and its |
cludes the present site Of Graysvie, Little Falls
and other towns in Herllimer county. johnson
was now a great landholder, but his thirst for
territory was but just excited He purchased
what then were called "the salt springs" aud
also belt two miles broad enclosing Onondaga |
lake. Had his manor existed to this day il |
would have included Syracuse and his estate |
would have been greater even than that of |
Aston. |
He now gave Mount Johnson to his son John. |
and removed to new spot about ten miles dis |
tant Here he planned a governmental station. |
and, acting as public man, he erected the pub |
lie buildings to which have referred The new
settlement was called" Johnsonstown (which has |
since been abridged to Johnstown. Having thus
established his private interests, and also those
of the public, on what appeared to be an endur
ing basis, he devoted his attention to public i'm
and made several journeys to "the
great lakes" as Erie and Ontario were called
He was the chief representative and pillar of
British interests, and his sudden death in IVA
relieved the colonies Of dangerous foe. Just
at the time Lord Give, the eonqueror of India
had returned to England, and his appointment
as commander-in-chief of the forces in America
was contemplated, but was prevented by suicide
Had these two men lived the history OF Ameri-
ca would probably have been very different.
Six months before his death Sir William
wrote the future destiny, as he thought, of his
family and estate. After making liberal pro-
vision for the children OF his Indian housekeep-
err he bequeathed his plate and heirlooms TO his
son Sir John, whom he also enriched with the
royal grant excepting small reservation), and
in his will added the solemn Injunction that 'it
is never to be alienated." To other children he
gave small parts of the reservation, and repeated
the same impressive words, (which is never TO
be alienateC." These words Indicate his ambi-
ton to leave name and house like those of
Tue DrltlSn arlStOcracy. 1t was the pleasing
dream of the great landholder that future line
of mobiles would honor him as their founder.
How little did he forecast the fnturel Seldom, |
indeed, have the dreams of ambition been more
suddenly and efiectually blasted.
Hardly had Sir William been laid in his grave
when the revolution broke out, and his family
at once took a bold stand for the crown But
resistance wss in vain, and within one year from
the execution of thar will the entire family fed
to Canada, and the princely estate was confs-
Gated. The royal grant was aiterward filled
with settlers who may have lived and died in
ignorance of his name. Mount johnson and
also Guy park 1.-THE residence of Guy Johnson)
passed into new hands, and the entire race and
proprietorship of the JohnSons were swept out
of existence. Mount johnson is now called
"the old for" and is occupied by Ethan Aiken,
while Guy Park" belongs to the Stewart fami.
ly. With the death Of Sir William the family
sank into obscurity. None of his descendants
inherited his greatness, although Sir John dur
ing the war led bloody foray into the Mohawk
valley. Sir William was the most loyal and the
most public-spirted, as well us the ableSt of all
the kings colonial officers, and we have no sim
liar instance of an adventurer's winning such
distinction on this continent