The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-10-12
ITS BOOTH ANNIVERSARY
WEDNESDAY, TO MARK AN EPOCH IN
 STRATFORD'S HISTORY.

Johnson, Founder of Christ Church. Family History.
 Wednesday, the 14th, will be fete day at Stratford-the two hundredth anniversary of the birthday of Rev. Samuel Johnson, the founder of Christ church, Stratford and the first presi- dent of Kings, now Columbia college. A number of distinguished people from have signified their intentions to be present at the commemorative exercis- es at Christ church, Stratford, at 2:3O Wednesday afternoon. Papers will be read and addresses given on Johnson's career as an ecclesiastic and college president. The Bridgeport Farmer re- marks:
 No two personages of the Colonial era brought Connecticut into more prominent notice in England than Rev. Dr. Samuel Johnson and his famous son, Hon. William Samuel Johnson, LII. D., the second president of Colum- bia college, member of the first Coloni- al Congress, the framer of the remon- strance of the king, and agent of the Connecticut colony in London. In fact, William Samuel Johnson actively par ticipated in the framing of the Consti- tuition of the United States. To Rev. Dr. Cornwall, the rector of Christ church, Stratford, is due the credit of the happy thought of suggesting the celebration of Wednesday next. He has lately returned from tour of Eng land, where he preached a notable ser- mon at Stratford-on Avon, and also visited a celebrated educational insti- tution founded by a Johnson ancestor of the Stratford family upwards of five hundred years ago. The familiar Johnson coat of arms is cut in bas re- lief on the architectural ornaments of the buildings, and even embossed on the table china of the institution.
 Dr. Samuel Johnson was virtually Lord Bishop of Connecticut, and among the biographies written of him was a stout octave volume by the late D. Ed wards Beardsley DID,, IL. D., the historian of the church in Connecticut At the recent Columbia college celebra- iion in New York, no other of the his- torical characters of the college re- CGlNGQ SO IlluCll COIlSlQCl dllOll cS llo first president, Rev. Dr. Samuel John son. Besides the two Johnsons, presi- dents of Columbia college, seven other noted college presidents are connected with the family; among them Jonathan Edwards, Aaron Burr, Presidents Dwight and Woolsey of Yale, and Gill; man of the Johns Hopkins University The only member of the Johnson fami- ly living at Stratford is pr. Johnson's great at-granddaughter, Mrs s. E. Johnson Hubbard of New York, who occupies the Johnson homestead as a summer residence. She is the regent for the state of Connecticut of the La dies National Mount Vernon associa- tion, and active member of the Colonial Danes of the state of New York. Mrs. x William H. Carmalt of New Haven is also a great at-granddaughter of Dr. Johnson and a daughter of the late William Samuel Johnson of Stratford the head of the family now being Will liam Samuel Johnson of New York and Mamaroneck. x
 In connection with this notable two hundredth anniversary, much interest clusters around the Johnson homestead at Stratford; not because it stood in the time of the renowned ecclasiastic and his statesman son. for that is not SO; but because of its historic contents, and the celebrated people linked With its memories The original country house of Gothic architecture was much more elaborate than the present home stead, which was built during the fife time of Judge Samuel William Johnson of New York and Stratford. It was here he brought his bride, Susan Pierrepont, the daughter of Hon. Pierrepont Edwards, who was always respectfully spoken of as Lady John son. by the people of Stratford. One can easily imagine that the Pierrepont Edwards and the Edwards Pierreponts did not hob-nob over-zealousiy, for os- tentation and snobbishness have all ways been the instinctive aversion Of the Stratford Johnsons and their klth and kin.
 The Johnson homestead at Stratford, while spacious, has severely plain ex- terior and does not arrest the attention of the passer-by. The interior of the manse, in a quiet way is most signifi- cant and impressive. The library the most historic of it's rooms-contatns the combined libraries of Rev. Dr. Samuel Johnson. Hon. William Samuel John son, and Judge Samuel William John- son. A choice literary heirloom is an elegantly bound autograph copy Of Samuel Johnson's large folio dict1ona- ry. third edition, 1765; and an ensra- ying of the photographs from paint ing of Sir Joshua Reynolds, which he considered his best likeness. There are also on file letters written the family by Johnson. A letter from him to Hon. William Samuel Johnson of Stratford appears in Boswell's Life of Johnson" :" Personal letters to the family from George Washington, Benjamin Frank lin, Bishop Berkeley, the Van Ransse- lear Patroons, and the Archbishop of Canterbury also add to the value of the contents of the Johnson family arch ives. Over the mantel hangs portrait of Jonathan Edwards, from whom the last three generations of Stratford Johnsons are descended in double line. Over the doorway of the library hangs the Johnson, Edwards and Woolsey coats of arms, the late Will liam Samuel Johnson having married a sister of ex-President Woolsey of Yale. A curio of the book shelves is a volume on moral philosophy by Rev. Dr. Samuel Johnson, printed by Benja-
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