Individual Details
John Jay Johnson
(30 Nov 1833 - 14 May 1894)
See "The Titus Family in America" by Dorothy M. Titus dated July 1943: page 5 and the "History of the town of Stratford New Hampshire 1773-1925" by Jeannette R. Thompson.
The "History of the town of Stratford New Hampshire 1773-1925" by Jeannette R. Thompson dated 1925, page 401, found on LDS film #1321380, Item 11 shows him as the 4th generation, born in Stratford, 30 Nov. 1833. Married Ann Titus 4 Jan. 1862, and died in California, 14 May 1894. John J. Johnson enlisted in 1862, in the 13th N.H. Vol., and served through the war. He lived in Brunswick, VT., on his grandfather Marshall's farm, now called the "Flanders Place." He moved to California in the '80's. All the children are listed.
1928 - death certificate of his daughter, Grace J. Bresee, shows her father was John J. Johnson.
1894 - he died in Otay, San Diego Co., CA of a fracture of the leg after living in the county for 8 years, a married farmer age 61 (born 1833) who was born in New Hampshire and who last lived in Vermont per copy of his Certificate of Death. Death date also shown in the William R. Arthurs study. The "History of the town of Stratford New Hampshire 1773-1925" by Jeannette R. Thompson page 401 also shows death date and location.
1887 his uncle, James Madison Johnson, 1826-1905, also moved to San Diego and died there. This was found at the San Diego Genealogical Society library under "San Diego pioineer families" 979.498 S194p.
1886 Came to California by covered wagon (per family story told to me) to the city of Otay near the Mexican border after the Civil war. This is based on his death certificate which showed he was in San Diego County for 8 years prior to his death in 1894. In the study "A Genealogical Guide to the Titus Family in North America" by William Arthurs, Anson Titus, brother to Ann Titus, his wife, also lived in Otay after serving in the Civil War. The "History of the town of Stratford New Hampshire 1773-1925" by Jeannette R. Thompson page 401 also shows the family moving to California in the 80"s.
1880 census shows him as age 47 (born 1833) living in Brunswick, Essex Co., VT with his wife Ann age 37, son Henry M. age 17, son Jessie age 11, who were all born in New Hampshire, along with son M. Durwood age 7, son Charles F. age 5 and Grace age 3, who were all born in Vermont. In the 1870 census children Henry and Jessie were born in Vermont.
1877 - Grace, his daughter, was born in Vermont on 11 July 1877 to John J. Johnson and Ann Titus per Grace's death certificate.
1870 census shows him as age 37 (born 1833) and living with his wife Ann age 27 in Brunswick, Essex Co., VT along with their children Henry age 7 and Jessie age 1. The parents were born in New Hampshire and the children were born in Vermont. Also in the home was Eleazer Titus age 77 (born 1793) a retired carpenter who was born in New Hampshire. This should be the father of John Jay's wife, Ann. Both adult men were US citizens. The birth location for the children Henry and Jessie is in conflict with the 1880 census.
1869-1870 the family moved from New Hampshire to Vermont based on 1880 census showing the age of and place of birth for the children and that the child Jessie was born in April 1869 in New Hampshire. The 1870 census shows the family living in Vermont. Per the "History of the town of Stratford New Hampshire 1773-1925" by Jeannette R. Thompson page 401, he moved to Brunswick, VT and lived on his grandfather (Caleb) Marshall's farm, now called the "Flanders Place".
1864 - from the letters he wrote to his wife we learn that in Jan 1864 he was part of the NH Volunteers stationed in Baltimore, MD. His service record from Ntl. Archives shows he volunteered for three years, mustered in on 4 Jan. 1864 at West Lebanon, NH, age 30 born in NH, assigned to the Company I, 13th Regiment, NH Volunteers Infantry. The Muster Roll for the 13th Regiment for 26 Jan. 1864 shows he is at Concord, NH receiving training. Bounty and premium paid to him was $62.00; unpaided and due was $240.00.
In Feb. his letters show he was in Portsmouth, Virginia. Starting 23 March through April, the Mustter Roll shows he was on provost duty in Portsmouth guarding property taken from the families of the South. From the letter head he used dated April 1864 he was part of Co. #1, NH Monitors, HQ - Old Colledge Bldg, Portsmouth, Virginia. In May he wrote he was at the Point of the Rocks (on the Appomattox River or James River?). The Muster Roll records shows he was sent to the 18th Corps Hospital, Fort Monroe, VA, on 23 May 1864. He wrote in June that he was at the US General Hospital in Hampton, Virginia recovering from illness. The record shows he was in the hospital from 23 May 1864 to 21 June 1865 at Fort Monroe, VA. The 21 June 1865 report shows he is accountable for one knapsack, one haversack, one canteen and had last been paid on 29 Feb. 1864 for a total of $100 and was due $200. In that Individual Muster-out Roll for the 13th Reg't. N.H. Infantry he was mustered out on June 21, 1865 by order of war was over. These letters are now held by Jane Bresee Fergus in Auburn, CA.
During May and June of 1864 Grant established the Overland Campaign in Virginia to pin down Lee's famed Army of Northern Virginia. In June his troops were on the east side of Petersburg trying to take the city (see www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/soldiers.cfm).
1862 John Jay and his brother Guy W. Johnson joined 13th Infantry N.H. Volunteers, Company I in September 1862 which went into camp in Concord. The regiment left the state on 5 October 1862 for Washington D.C. and served throughout the state of Virginia during the Civil War. They mustered out on 20 June 1865 and arrived home about the first of July. This unit was engaged in battles at Fredericksburg, Suffolk, Drury's Bluff and Petersburg (see "History of Coos Co., NH"). He served through the war based on many letters sent to his wife and other material undated and unsigned, a copy of which was received from Grace Rebecca (Bresee) Webb. His letters to his wife are held by Jane Bresee Fergus. 1862 marriage date and location is from a family chart showing Rev. Judd, which may have been prepared by Grace Brown Bresee and from the "History of the town of Stratford New Hampshire 1773-1925" by Jeannette R. Thompson page 401. Confirmed by the 1900 census covering his wife. Marriage date and location also shown in the William R. Arthurs study.
1860 census shows him as age 26 (born 1834) and living with his parents, Marcus D. and Mariah M. Johnson, in Stratford, Coos Co., NH. Also in the home were Geo M. Johnson age 22, Guy W. Johnson age 20 and Margarett M. Johnson age 16.
1850 census shows him as age 16 (born 1834) living with his parents in Stratford, Coos Co., NH.
1840 census shows him living with his father, Macus D. Johnson, age 30-40 in Stratford, Coos Co., NH, with 3 male children age 5 and under (this group would then have included brothers Charles, George and Guy), 1 male child age 5-10 (this would then be him, John Jay Johnson), 1 female age 10-15 (unknown child) and 1 female age 30-40 (this would have been his mother, Maria Marshall). Living next door was Elisha Johnson, his grandfather, age 50-60 with his family.
1833 birth year is established from his death certificate (see above). Birth date also in the William R. Arthurs study and a hand written chart believed to have been done by Grace Brown Bresee. The "History of the town of Stratford New Hampshire 1773-1925" by Jeannette R. Thompson page 401 also shows birth date, location and parents.
The "History of the town of Stratford New Hampshire 1773-1925" by Jeannette R. Thompson dated 1925, page 401, found on LDS film #1321380, Item 11 shows him as the 4th generation, born in Stratford, 30 Nov. 1833. Married Ann Titus 4 Jan. 1862, and died in California, 14 May 1894. John J. Johnson enlisted in 1862, in the 13th N.H. Vol., and served through the war. He lived in Brunswick, VT., on his grandfather Marshall's farm, now called the "Flanders Place." He moved to California in the '80's. All the children are listed.
1928 - death certificate of his daughter, Grace J. Bresee, shows her father was John J. Johnson.
1894 - he died in Otay, San Diego Co., CA of a fracture of the leg after living in the county for 8 years, a married farmer age 61 (born 1833) who was born in New Hampshire and who last lived in Vermont per copy of his Certificate of Death. Death date also shown in the William R. Arthurs study. The "History of the town of Stratford New Hampshire 1773-1925" by Jeannette R. Thompson page 401 also shows death date and location.
1887 his uncle, James Madison Johnson, 1826-1905, also moved to San Diego and died there. This was found at the San Diego Genealogical Society library under "San Diego pioineer families" 979.498 S194p.
1886 Came to California by covered wagon (per family story told to me) to the city of Otay near the Mexican border after the Civil war. This is based on his death certificate which showed he was in San Diego County for 8 years prior to his death in 1894. In the study "A Genealogical Guide to the Titus Family in North America" by William Arthurs, Anson Titus, brother to Ann Titus, his wife, also lived in Otay after serving in the Civil War. The "History of the town of Stratford New Hampshire 1773-1925" by Jeannette R. Thompson page 401 also shows the family moving to California in the 80"s.
1880 census shows him as age 47 (born 1833) living in Brunswick, Essex Co., VT with his wife Ann age 37, son Henry M. age 17, son Jessie age 11, who were all born in New Hampshire, along with son M. Durwood age 7, son Charles F. age 5 and Grace age 3, who were all born in Vermont. In the 1870 census children Henry and Jessie were born in Vermont.
1877 - Grace, his daughter, was born in Vermont on 11 July 1877 to John J. Johnson and Ann Titus per Grace's death certificate.
1870 census shows him as age 37 (born 1833) and living with his wife Ann age 27 in Brunswick, Essex Co., VT along with their children Henry age 7 and Jessie age 1. The parents were born in New Hampshire and the children were born in Vermont. Also in the home was Eleazer Titus age 77 (born 1793) a retired carpenter who was born in New Hampshire. This should be the father of John Jay's wife, Ann. Both adult men were US citizens. The birth location for the children Henry and Jessie is in conflict with the 1880 census.
1869-1870 the family moved from New Hampshire to Vermont based on 1880 census showing the age of and place of birth for the children and that the child Jessie was born in April 1869 in New Hampshire. The 1870 census shows the family living in Vermont. Per the "History of the town of Stratford New Hampshire 1773-1925" by Jeannette R. Thompson page 401, he moved to Brunswick, VT and lived on his grandfather (Caleb) Marshall's farm, now called the "Flanders Place".
1864 - from the letters he wrote to his wife we learn that in Jan 1864 he was part of the NH Volunteers stationed in Baltimore, MD. His service record from Ntl. Archives shows he volunteered for three years, mustered in on 4 Jan. 1864 at West Lebanon, NH, age 30 born in NH, assigned to the Company I, 13th Regiment, NH Volunteers Infantry. The Muster Roll for the 13th Regiment for 26 Jan. 1864 shows he is at Concord, NH receiving training. Bounty and premium paid to him was $62.00; unpaided and due was $240.00.
In Feb. his letters show he was in Portsmouth, Virginia. Starting 23 March through April, the Mustter Roll shows he was on provost duty in Portsmouth guarding property taken from the families of the South. From the letter head he used dated April 1864 he was part of Co. #1, NH Monitors, HQ - Old Colledge Bldg, Portsmouth, Virginia. In May he wrote he was at the Point of the Rocks (on the Appomattox River or James River?). The Muster Roll records shows he was sent to the 18th Corps Hospital, Fort Monroe, VA, on 23 May 1864. He wrote in June that he was at the US General Hospital in Hampton, Virginia recovering from illness. The record shows he was in the hospital from 23 May 1864 to 21 June 1865 at Fort Monroe, VA. The 21 June 1865 report shows he is accountable for one knapsack, one haversack, one canteen and had last been paid on 29 Feb. 1864 for a total of $100 and was due $200. In that Individual Muster-out Roll for the 13th Reg't. N.H. Infantry he was mustered out on June 21, 1865 by order of war was over. These letters are now held by Jane Bresee Fergus in Auburn, CA.
During May and June of 1864 Grant established the Overland Campaign in Virginia to pin down Lee's famed Army of Northern Virginia. In June his troops were on the east side of Petersburg trying to take the city (see www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/soldiers.cfm).
1862 John Jay and his brother Guy W. Johnson joined 13th Infantry N.H. Volunteers, Company I in September 1862 which went into camp in Concord. The regiment left the state on 5 October 1862 for Washington D.C. and served throughout the state of Virginia during the Civil War. They mustered out on 20 June 1865 and arrived home about the first of July. This unit was engaged in battles at Fredericksburg, Suffolk, Drury's Bluff and Petersburg (see "History of Coos Co., NH"). He served through the war based on many letters sent to his wife and other material undated and unsigned, a copy of which was received from Grace Rebecca (Bresee) Webb. His letters to his wife are held by Jane Bresee Fergus. 1862 marriage date and location is from a family chart showing Rev. Judd, which may have been prepared by Grace Brown Bresee and from the "History of the town of Stratford New Hampshire 1773-1925" by Jeannette R. Thompson page 401. Confirmed by the 1900 census covering his wife. Marriage date and location also shown in the William R. Arthurs study.
1860 census shows him as age 26 (born 1834) and living with his parents, Marcus D. and Mariah M. Johnson, in Stratford, Coos Co., NH. Also in the home were Geo M. Johnson age 22, Guy W. Johnson age 20 and Margarett M. Johnson age 16.
1850 census shows him as age 16 (born 1834) living with his parents in Stratford, Coos Co., NH.
1840 census shows him living with his father, Macus D. Johnson, age 30-40 in Stratford, Coos Co., NH, with 3 male children age 5 and under (this group would then have included brothers Charles, George and Guy), 1 male child age 5-10 (this would then be him, John Jay Johnson), 1 female age 10-15 (unknown child) and 1 female age 30-40 (this would have been his mother, Maria Marshall). Living next door was Elisha Johnson, his grandfather, age 50-60 with his family.
1833 birth year is established from his death certificate (see above). Birth date also in the William R. Arthurs study and a hand written chart believed to have been done by Grace Brown Bresee. The "History of the town of Stratford New Hampshire 1773-1925" by Jeannette R. Thompson page 401 also shows birth date, location and parents.
Events
| Birth | 30 Nov 1833 | Stratford, Coos, New Hampshire, United States |  |  | |
| Census | 1840 | his parents, Stratford, Coos, New Hampshire, United States | | ||
| Census | 1860 | his parents, Stratford, Coos, New Hampshire, United States | | ||
| Marriage | 4 Jan 1862 | by Rev. Judd, Columbia, Coos, New Hampshire, United States - Ann Titus | | | |
| Residence (family) | 1862 - 9 | New Hampshire - Ann Titus | | ||
| Military | 1864 - 5 | Company I, 13th Regiment, NH Volunteers Infantry | | ||
| Residence (family) | 1870 - 1885 | on his grandfather Marshall's farm, now called the "Flanders Place", Brunswick, Essex, Vermont, United States - Ann Titus | | | |
| Census (family) | 1870 | Essex, Vermont, United States - Ann Titus | | ||
| Census (family) | 1880 | Essex, Vermont, United States - Ann Titus | | ||
| Immigration | 1885 - 86 | Otay, San Diego, California, United States | | | |
| Death | 14 May 1894 | Otay, San Diego, California, United States | | | |
| Burial | 16 May 1894 | National City Cemetery, San Diego, California, United States | | ||
| LDS Family Tree ID | 2WFL-5RL | ||||
| WikiTree | Johnson-47719 |
Families
| Spouse | Ann Titus (1843 - 1906) |
| Child | Henry Marcus Johnson (1863 - 1933) |
| Child | Emma Johnson (1867 - 1867) |
| Child | Jessie Elvira Johnson (1869 - ) |
| Child | Melvin Durwood Johnson (1873 - 1964) |
| Child | Charles Fay "Jay" Johnson (1875 - 1926) |
| Child | Grace J. Johnson (1877 - 1928) |
| Child | Murry Showman Johnson (1881 - ) |
| Father | Marcus DeForest Johnson (1805 - 1895) |
| Mother | Evelina Ann Maria Marshall (1804 - 1883) |
| Sibling | Charles DeForest Johnson (1835 - 1860) |
| Sibling | George Marshall Johnson (1838 - 1917) |
| Sibling | Dr. Guy William Johnson (1839 - 1902) |
| Sibling | Julia Emma Johnson (1842 - 1847) |
| Sibling | Margarett M. Johnson (1844 - ) |
Notes
Birth
1833 birth year is established from his death certificate. Birth date also in the William R. Arthurs study and a hand written chart believed to have been done by Grace Brown Bresee.The "History of the town of Stratford New Hampshire 1773-1925" by Jeannette R. Thompson dated 1925, pages 399-401, found on LDS film #1321380, Item 11 also shows he was born in Stratford on 30 Nov 1833 and his parents were Marcus DeForest Johnson and Evelina Ann Maria Marshall.
Census
1840 census shows him living with his father, Macus D. Johnson, age 30-40 in Stratford, Coos Co., NH, with 3 male children age 5 and under (this group would then have included brothers Charles, George and Guy), 1 male child age 5-10 (this would then be him, John Jay Johnson), 1 female age 10-15 (unknown child) and 1 female age 30-40 (this would have been his mother, Maria Marshall). Living next door was Elisha Johnson, his grandfather, age 50-60 with his family.Census
1860 census shows him as age 26 (born 1834) and living with his parents, Marcus D. and Mariah M. Johnson, in Stratford, Coos Co., NH. Also in the home were Geo M. Johnson age 22, Guy W. Johnson age 20 and Margarett M. Johnson age 16.Marriage
1862 marriage date, location and by Rev. Judd is from a family chart prepared by Grace Brown Bresee. Marriage year confirmed by the 1900 census (see above). Marriage date and location also show in the Willima R. Arthurs study. Marriage date on hand written note from Elvira Titus Spencer (copy in the Ann Titus file). "The Titus Family in America" by Dorothy M. Titus dated July 1943, page 5. also confirms the marriage.Residence (family)
Residence based on marriage location and birth of childern.Military
1864 - from the letters he wrote to his wife we learn that in Jan 1864 he was part of the NH Volunteers stationed in Baltimore, MD. His service record from Ntl. Archives shows he volunteered for three years, mustered in on 4 Jan. 1864 at West Lebanon, NH, age 30, born in NH, assigned to the 13th Regiment, NH Volunteers Infantry, Company I. The Muster Roll for 13-26 Jan. 1864 he is at Concord, NH receiving training. Bounty and premium paid $62.00; due $240.00.In Feb. his letters show he was in Portsmouth, Virginia. Starting 23 March through April, he was on provost duty in Portsmouth guarding property taken from the families of the South. From the letter head he used dated April 1864 he was part of Co. #1, NH Monitors, HQ - Old Colledge Bldg, Portsmouth, Virginia. In May he wrote he was at the Point of the Rocks (on the Appomattox River or James River?). The Muster Roll records shows he was sent to the 18th Corps Hospital, Fort Monroe, VA, on 23 May 1864. He wrote in June that he was at the US General Hospital in Hampton, Virginia recovering from illness. The record shows he was in the hospital from 23 May 1864 to 21 June 1865 at Fort Monroe, VA. The 21 June 1865 report shows he is accountable for one knapsack, one haversack, one canteen and had last been paid on 29 Feb. 1864 for a total of $100 and was due $200.. Mustered out by order of war was over. These letters are now held by Jane Bresee Fergus in Auburn, CA.
During May and June of 1864 Grant established the Overland Campaign in Virginia to pin down Lee's famed Army of Northern Virginia. In June his troops were on the east side of Petersburg trying to take the city (see www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/soldiers.cfm).
Residence (family)
Residence based on census and birth of children.In "History of the town of Stratford New Hampshire 1773-1925" by Jeannette R. Thompson dated 1925, page 401: John J. Johnson lived in Brunswick, VT, on his grandfather Marshall's farm, now called the "Flanders Place". Came to California in the '80's.
Ann (Titus) Johnson's death certificate states she was in California for 21 years at the time of her death. Therefore she came to the state in 1885.
Census (family)
1870 census shows him as age 37 (born 1833) and living with his wife Ann age 27 in Brunswick, Essex Co., VT along with their children Henry age 7 and Jessie age 1. The parents were born in New Hampshire and the children were born in Vermont. Also in the home was Eleazer Titus age 77 (born 1793) a retired carpenter who was born in New Hampshire. This should be the father of John Jay's wife, Ann. Both adult men were US citizens. The birth location for the children Henry and Jessie is in conflict with the 1880 census.Census (family)
1880 census shows him as age 47 (born 1833) living in Brunswick, Essex Co., VT with his wife Ann age 37, son Henry M. age 17, son Jessie age 11, who were all born in New Hampshire Also in the home were son M. Durwood age 7, son Charles F. age 5 and Grace age 3, who were all born in Vermont. In the 1870 census children Henry and Jessie were born in Vermont.Immigration
His wife's death certificate dated 9 April 1906 shows she was in the state for 21 years, therefore the family arrived in 1885. His death certificate dated 14 May 1894 shows he lived in the county for 8 years, living last in VT. Therefore the family arrived in California some time between 1885 and 1886.Came to California by covered wagon (the family story) to the city of Otay near the Mexican border after the Civil war. In the study "A Genealogical Guide to the Titus Family in North America" by William Arthurs, Anson Titus, brother to Ann Titus, his wife, also lived in Otay after serving in the Civil War. The "History of the town of Stratford New Hampshire 1773-1925" by Jeannette R. Thompson page 401 also shows the family moving to California in the 80"s.
Death
1894 - he died in Otay, San Diego Co., CA of a fracture of the leg after living in the county for 8 years, a married farmer age 61 (born 1833) who was born in New Hampshire and who last lived in Vermont per copy of his Certificate of Death. Death date also shown in the William R. Arthurs study. The "History of the town of Stratford New Hampshire 1773-1925" by Jeannette R. Thompson page 401 also shows death date and location.Burial
Death certificate shows burial location of National City Cemetery, San Diego, CA and buried on 16 May 1894.Endnotes
1. Jeannette Richardson Thompson, History of the Town of Stratford NH 1773-1925 found at Internet Archive on line., page 401.
2. Dorothy M. Titus, Titus Family in America: Eleven generations of the direct line from Robert Titus I to Dorothy Madalene Tittus and Bursley Howland Titus XI (Weston, Mass.: Published by the editor Percy Hobart Titus, July 1943), page 5; my ebook, Heritage Quest Online, Los Angeles Public Library online ( : accessed .
3. Jeannette Richardson Thompson, History of the Town of Stratford NH 1773-1925 found at Internet Archive on line., pages 400-401.
4. Jeannette Richardson Thompson, History of the Town of Stratford NH 1773-1925 found at Internet Archive on line., page 401.
5. Jeannette Richardson Thompson, History of the Town of Stratford NH 1773-1925 found at Internet Archive on line., page 401.
6. Jeannette Richardson Thompson, History of the Town of Stratford NH 1773-1925 found at Internet Archive on line., page 401.
7. Barbara Palmer, Ph.D., The Civil War Veterans of San Diego, CA (San Diego, CA: Barbara Palmer, Ph.D., 1998), pages 263 & 363.