Jottings on my Family History

Will of John Johnson 1762 proved 25^th Oct 1765

Reference LCC Wills 1765/96

This is crucial I believe he is the grandfather of Joseph Johnson b 1779 Beckingham and later of Claypole

In the name of God Amen I John Johnson of Beckingham in the County of Lincoln grazier and farmer being sick and weak but of sound disposing mind and memory (thanks be to Almighty God for the same) do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following. I will that all my just debts and legacies and funeral charges be paid and discharged and if my personal estate be not sufficient to discharge my debts and legacies I then give all my estate to be sold for the better payment thereof. I give to my son John and to his heirs for ever the house and homestead situate in Sutton in the parish of Beckingham together with half an oxgang of land and all the commons thereunto belonging [that way bought —]. To my son Joseph I give one hundred pounds when he shall arrive at the age of twenty four years. I give to my son Richard eighty pounds when he shall arrive at the age of twenty two years. And to my daughter Elizabeth forty pounds. All the rest of my houses, lands, tenements, goods and chattels wheresoever situate or lying I give to my dear wife Elizabeth and to her heirs for ever. And I do appoint my wife Elizabeth sole executrix of this my last will and testament.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this second day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty two.

Signed sealed published and declared by the testator John Johnson for his last will and testament in the presence X   his mark

of us who at his request and in his presence subscribed our names as witnesses thereto

Thos Robinson James Wadeson William Lyon

Will proved 25^th October 1765.

This agrees with John Johnson farmer aged 71 bur 3 Dec 1764 (b 1693). If this is so then his parents cannot be Robert Johnson and Alice Wadeson as claimed in Ancestry Trees.

Key points;

Son John receives a house and land

Son Joseph £100 when 24 [about 17 in 1762]

Son Richard £80 when 22 [about 16 in 1762]

Daughter Elizabeth £40 [about 21 in 1762]

His wife Elizabeth receives the residue.

I believe the following will is of his wife Elizabeth.

Will of Elizabeth Johnson 1789, proved 1797?

Reference LCC Wills 1797/11/1

This is the last will and testament of me Elizabeth Johnson of Beckingham in the County if Lincoln Widow, made this twenty seventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine as follows. First I give and devise unto my son Robert Johnson all that messuage house or tenement wherein I now dwell situate standing and being in Beckingham aforesaid with the homestead and appurtenances thereunto belonging to hold him and his heirs and assign for ever. Also I give and devise unto my son Joseph Johnson all that close or parcel of inclosed ground now in my occupation situate and lying and being in Brant Broughton in the said County of Lincoln called or known by the name of the Eight Acres Close (be this the same more or less) to hold him and his heirs and assigns for ever. Also I give and devise unto my son Thomas all that close or parcel of inclosed ground now in my own occupation situate lying and being in Beckingham aforesaid called or known as the Little Mill Close containing by estimation two acres (be the same more or less) to hold him his heirs and assigns for ever. Also I give and devise unto my son Pattinson all that parcel of inclosed ground now in my occupation situate lying and being in Barnby in the Willows in the County of Nottingham called or known by the name Top Mill Close containing by estimation four acres (be the same more or less) to hold him his heirs and assigns for ever.  Also I give and devise unto my said son Pattinson Johnson and my daughter Mary the wife of William Elston all that messuage house or tenement wherein they now dwell situate standing and being in Beckingham aforesaid with the homestead and appurtenances thereunto belonging to hold them the said Pattinson Johnson and Mary Elston their heirs and assigns for ever tenants in common and not as joint tenants. Also I give and bequeath unto my said Joseph Johnson my best bed and the furniture standing and being in my best room. Also I give and bequeath unto my said son Thomas Johnson the sum of [ten] pounds to my said daughter Mary the wife of William [Elston] the sum of twenty pounds. To my daughter Catherine the wife of Robert Hall the like sum of twenty pounds. To my daughter Elizabeth the wife Robert Smith the sum of [ ] pounds all which pecuniary legacies I will shall be paid within twelve calendar months next after my decease. I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Elizabeth Smith the sum of five pounds to be paid by my Executor hereinafter named when she shall attain the age of twenty one years. And lastly as for and concerning all the residues and remainder of my money securities for [money] goods cattle chattels personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever I give and bequeath the same unto William Johnson (subject nevertheless to the payment of just debts the above mentioned legacies and my funeral expenses) whom I do hereby make constitute and appoint executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoke and making void all other wills by me at any time [before] made. In witness whereof I the said Testatrix Elizabeth Johnson have hereunto set my hand and seal the day [ ] year first above written.

Signed sealed published and declared Elizth   X   Johnson

by the said testatrix as and for her last will and testament in the presence of us mark who in her presence and at her request have subscribed our names as witnesses.

William Barnsdale Sam Birkett W Browne

Will proved March 14^th 1797 by William Johnson who took the oath that the goods chattels and effects of his late mother Elizabeth Johnson did not exceed the sum of twenty pounds.

Need to find the burial record of Elizabeth Johnson about 1797 at about aged 82.

Key points of the Will

Will made 27 April 1789, proved 14 March 1797.

Inheritances were:

Son Robert her house and homestead in Beckingham.

Son Joseph land at Brant Boughton [eight acres close] and best bed.

Son Thomas land in Beckingham and £10.

Son Pattinson land in Barnby in the Willows, Notts.

Daughter Mary wife of William Elston [NB Elston not Elson] land in Beckingham and £20.

Pattison and Mary to have the house they were living in.

Daughter Catherine wife of Robert Hall £20.

Daughter Elizabeth wife of Robert Smith £[ ].

Granddaughter Elizabeth Smith £5

William Johnson executor and to receive all the goods and chattels. Relationship not given but his sworn oath as executor makes it clear he is Elizabeth’s son.

Children of John Johnson and Elizabeth of Beckingham

	Baptism IGI	Death	Baptism PR	Elizabeth’s will	John’s will
Robert	7 Jul 1737		17 Jun 1740	Yes	No
John	3 Jul 1739	5 Jul 1739	both confirmed	N/A	N/A
Elizabeth	1 Apr 1741		26 Apr 1741	Yes	Yes
John	1742		25 Nov 1742	No	Yes
Catherine	1 Aug 1744	4 Sept 1744	26 Aug 1744 and OK	N/A	N/A
Joseph			8 Aug 1745	Yes	Yes
Richard	19 Oct 1746			Yes	Yes
Mary	1 Nov 1747		confirmed	Yes	No
Catherine	23 Jan 1748		23 Jan 1749	Yes	No
William	23 Apr 1750		confirmed	Yes	No
Ann	8 Jul 1751	6 Feb 1753	confirmed	N/A	N/A
Sarah	13 Nov 1752	17 Nov 1754	death confirmed	N/A	N/A
Thomas	12 Nov 1754	12 Mar 1827***	confirmed	Yes	No
Lattimor*	18Apr 1758	8 May 1758	confirmed	N/A	N/A
Pattison**	31 Mar 1761	25 Jan 1825***	confirmed	Yes	No

1. IGI baptisms under search batch no C026942 – Beckingham
2. Death ditto
3. Transcript of Parish Register.
4. Mentioned in Elizabeth’s will
5. Mentioned in John’s will

Only Elizabeth, Joseph and Richard were mentioned by both parents. The others were all mentioned by only one of the parents. John did not refer to any of his children born after 1746. Elizabeth referred to children across the age spectrum. Is it possible there were two contemporary couples John and Elizabeth Johnson and the children belong some to one and some to the other? The fact that the children are spaced about 18 months apart and there are no overlaps suggest it is just one family. However if John (the father) was born in 1693 and his wife in 1717  he would have been about 44 when he married and 68 when he had his last child. She would have been about 20 when she married and 44 when she had her youngest child.

Marriages of Elizabeth’s daughters referred to in the will [others deceased]

Mary Johnson to William Elson on 15 Dec 1772 Beckingham [register]

Catherine Johnson to Robert Hall 21 July 1770 [register]

Elizabeth Johnson to Robert Smith 3 July 1766 [register]. Their daughter Elizabeth referred to in the will was baptized at Beckingham on 15 June 1775. No other children found at Beckingham.

Son’s marriages 

Robert Johnson m. 16 May 1762, in Beckingham, Lincolnshire, to Jane Lamb.

John Johnson m. 5 Jul 1768, in Beckingham, Lincolnshire, to Ann Walker. 

Richard Johnson m. 19 Dec 1769, in Beckingham, Lincolnshire, to Mary Smith

William?

Thomas?

Patison Johnson m. Elizabeth Flinders 30 June 1787 ex parish register (Richard and John Johnson were witnesses).

Children’s deaths

Thomas Johnson cottager 12 Mar 1827 age 72 [born 1755]

Pattison Johnson cottager 25 Jan 1825 age 64 [born 1761]. Elizabeth wife of Pattion [sic] Johnson cottager 11 June 1825 age 69

Richard Johnson laborer 23 April 1818 age 73 [born 1745] or Richard Johnson aged 44 buried 7 July 1790 [born 1746]

William Johnson a poor man 12 Oct 1831 age 82 [born 1849]

Does the death of John Johnson a poor man 30 Aug 1824 age 79 [born 1745] fit here? He is about 3 years too young and death post 1789 does not fit with his omission from the will .

Robert Johnson farmer aged 72 buried 25 Dec 1810 fits well with his birth about 1737.