M William James Johnson
Born 19 May 1828 - King's Co., New Brunswick, Canada
Baptized 5 October 1828 - King's Co., N.B., CA
Died 4 October 1898 - Queens County, New Brunswick, Canada , age at death: 70 years old
Buried in October 1898 - West Jerusalem, Queens County, New Brunswick, Canada
Parents:
M Daniel Johnson (1797-1885)
F Deborah Belyea (1806-1869)
Spouses:
- Married 13 February 1856, Hampstead, Queen's Co. New Brunswick, Canada, to Rachel Webb
Children:
M George Nathaniel Johnson (1830-?)
F Mary Matilda Johnson (1833-1917)
F Hetty Caroline Johnson (1837-?)
M David Walter Johnson (1838-?)
M Benjamin Allen Johnson (1840-1863)
M Ensley John Johnson (1843-1933)
M Daniel Everett Johnson (1845-1922)
M Hiram G Johnson (1847-?)
F Charlotte Maria Belyea (1849-1931)
F Isabella Anne Johnson
M Joseph Wensley Johnson
Notes:
During the course of my research a diary was found which had been written from around the period of William's life (1848). One thing which the diary revealed was how the hostilities of the old world followed the immigrating people to the new one.
In particular the hostilities between the Catholics and Protestant religions. This hostility had been tracked by me through such ancestors as the Huguenot (and one of my oldest known ancestors), Louis Boulier (1670-1766). He had left his home in France to escape the persecution which they suffered under the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes.
One entry in the diary covers, what can only be assumed, a planned confrontation between Loyal Orangemen and a settlement of Catholics. This was not Northern Ireland but New Brunswick Canada about five generations ago.
July 12. 1849
Orange Lodges Nos. 4, 41 & 99, met at the Methodist Chapel, Jerusalem to whom the Revd. James Taylor preached a most excellent and appropriate discourse from Psalms 60.4 "Thous hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth." After which a collection of 7/6 was taken for Mr. T No. 41 then escorted Nos. 4 & 99 to Polley's schoolhouse on their way home and then returned to Mr. N. Inch's and took dinner. After dinner part of No. 41 went to Mrs. Holder's in respect of her son who had gone to Canada, and she not being home but at Mrs. Thos. Harrison's, they went up there and walked twice round his house and then went down to the school-house and separated, after having spend the day (which was very warm and pleasant) in a very pleasant and agreeable manner. A great number of the brethren met in St. John and when going from Indian Town to St.John through York Point they were attacked by the Papists with stones and brick-bats on the street in front of two houses in which were a crowd of Papists with fire arms which they used, as well as they could, endeavouring to destroy the Orangemen, but thanks be to Providence, without much effect, only wounding two or three whereas there were large numbers of them, the Papists, killed and wounded - the Orangemen having noticed their intention to attack them, before they left Indian Town procured all the weapons of defence they could. They came off victorious as, providentially, they always do. There were only three Orangemen wounded by balls one of whom was considered dangerous. Whereas, the most authentic account received, estimate the number of Papists killed besides a great many wounded to be at least 30 - The protecting arm of Omnipotence is exhibited, most clearly, in the preservation of the Orangemen in this instance. Thanks be to the Great I Am.
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