Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-03-19

lhOS OI young nduchp named ON
Johnson. He was the intimate and
trusted friend of Washington. on
whom Washington leaned in the
darkest hours of our struggle for in
dependence, aud upon whom Wash
Ington, in after years, thrust Office and
ShOwered honors, for he knew we'll and
had tried his man and never fourd hi,
wanting as friend. soldier or states
nIan. WITH Dd\Ii Stewart ana Dance
Carroll, he was appointed by Washing
ron one of tn" commissioners of tn,
District of Columbia to plan and Law
ont this magnificent Capital, the plan
OF which is unrivaled : aud he aided in
giving to it the name of the immortal
| Nlrginiau.
His grandfather. Thomas Johnson.
a barrister, of Yarmouth. England.
who married Mary Baker, emigrated
to Calvert county, Md, about 1860.
They lie buried at St. Leonard'S Creek
In that county. Their son. Thomas
Johnson, married Dorcas SedgwIck.
Thomas Johnson, the subject of this
sketch, their fifth son, was born in
Calvert county, November 24 l732,
and married Ann jennings, the
daughter of Thomas jennings, the
hlng's Artorney-Geueral tor the
colony.
Like so many lawyers who have
attained distinction, Thomas Johnson
was reared in the Office of the pro-
vlncial court and mastered the pro
cedure. II also studied in the office
of Mr.. Bordley, an eminent lawyer at
Annapolis, and had attained eminencr
| At the bar at the outbreak of the
Revolution. Then il was that his
talents and courage brought him to the
front.
He was q member from Anne
Arundel county in the Maryland
Assembly, convened on September %,
| 100. When the circular from the
Massachusetts Assembly invited the
| other colonies to unite with them in
| the appointment of commissioners to II
| general congress in New York, the in
vltatlon was promptly accepted. and
| Nr. johnson was chosen member to
draft instructions for the commits
| slonerS from Maryland. When. in
| Ii6S, Massachusetts again sent out IA
| circular stating what had been done
there, and asking the other colonies
concurrence. the Maryland Assembly.
June s, l16S, appointed committee,
Of gentlemen distinguished for ability
and devotion to the cause of the col
onleS to act on it and draft "A remon-
STRANGE to tine King against the late
umpositions. Mr.. johnson was one Of
| this committee. Mcmahon. III his
| history of Maryland, says it was IAN
eloquent and affecting appeal to the
| justice of the cause" and speaks of
Johnson's virtues, afterward so con
~picuous in the discharge of his arduouS
and dangerous duties during the dark
hours of the Revolution. In opposing
the exactions of the crown johnson
was among the foremost. In the
presented the address calling the at
trntlon of the Governor to his illegal
| practices.
In the general convention at An
napolis. June -, 1774, he sat as a
delegate from Anne Arundel county,
and was one of the five deputies ap,
pointed to attend the Continental Con-
greSs which met September ), l774,
md i'll 1t was appointed with Richard
Henry Lee. John Adams and Patrick
Henry to prepare the address to the
crown. In Lees Memoirs, published
| Il, l. Il
lohnSnn .,Ha n,.', nma of thd . nII.l',,
~ tho IA Cn "''o ~ .I '.io '.,'i'',
/ uve in those times (which trie, mems
souls purer patriot or p more Of
ficlent citizen" In the Continental
CONGRESS. June Is. l775. Thomas
johnson nominated Coz. Georrn Wash
ington. OF Virginia. to be commanders
in-chief of the Continental Army. In
4 letter of John Adams. dated Auou,t
6, 1922, to Colonel Pickering. IN aIIud.
inc TO the leading part Virg1nia. Ibo
then most populous colony, took in the
Revolution. with the acouiesrenre of
The other colonies. and how her nre-
dominance had piven "a color. com
nIeyion and character 20 the whole
policy of the United States" Mr.
Adams goes on to say. "Wifhout it
! Mr.. Washington would never have,
commanded our armies. nor Mr.
Jefferson have been the anthor IF fine
Declaration of INDEPENDENCE. nor Mr.,
Richard Henry Lee the mover Of il,
nor Mr.. Chase the mover of foreirn
relations. If have ever had cause tn
repent of any par. of this policy. that
repeutance ever has been and ever will
be unayailine. | had forgot TO say.
nor Mr.. johnson been the nomination
of WASHINGTON for general"
Jonrso, ,y,. ona ,f ,1,.,.,oaa.
..pnn,';,,o,.l rn,,,,,it,oo 81 r'i;' ',,,>'
danoa :: In INV tx ,,,',-;,,,;,'I