| 12. | Benjamin "Berry" Johnson was born on 8 Jun 1815 in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana (son of Moses** Johnson and Nancy** Anna Robert); died in 1872 in Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried in Sabine Pass Cem, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas. Other Events and Attributes:
- Residence: 1832, Jefferson Co, Texas
- Property: Bef 1 May 1838, Jefferson Co, Texas
- Census: 23 Oct 1850, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas
- Census: 11 Jul 1860, Sabine Pass (Precinct 5), Jefferson Co, Texas
- Census: 1870, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas
Notes:
Texas State Historical Association
(a digital Gateway to Texas History)
JOHNSON, BENJAMIN
JOHNSON, BENJAMIN (1815?1872). Benjamin Johnson, soldier, early settler, and son of Moses Johnson and Mary Ann Roberts was born on June 8, 1815, near Edgerly (in present-day Calcasieu Parish), Louisiana. He moved to Texas in 1832 and settled at Jefferson Municipality (present-day Bridge City in Orange County) on Cow Bayou.
Johnson volunteered to fight in the Texas Revolution and enlisted in the Texas Army on November 12, 1835, under Capt. Willis H. Landrum?s Company. He participated in the Grass Fight and the siege of Bexar later that year. Johnson was given an honorable discharge on January 1, 1836, at the Alamo. After learning of the fall of the Alamo, he re-enlisted in Capt. James Gillaspie?s Company, in the Second Regiment of Texas Volunteers under Col. Sidney Sherman?s command. On April 21, Sherman formed part of the regiment of the left wing and fought in the battle of San Jacinto. On June 30, Johnson served a third enlistment as second sergeant in Capt. John G. W. Pierson?s Company at Washington. He received an honorable discharge on September 30, 1836.
After service, Johnson received a donation of 320 acres of land for having served in the army. He returned to Jefferson, where on January 24, 1838, he received a 1,440-acre headright from the Jefferson County Board of Land Commissioners.
On April 24, 1838, Johnson married Rachel Garner, daughter of Bradley Garner, Sr., and Sarah Rachel Harmon. Rachel was from a family of military service. Her father fought in the Battle of New Orleans, and her brothers David, Isaac, and Jacob Garner fought at the Grass Fight and the Siege of Bexar. Her brother-in-law Claiborne West was a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Soon after marriage Johnson and his new wife settled in Sabine Pass on a farm of his sister-in-law Sarah Garner McGaffey. Records show that Benjamin and Rachel Johnson were one of the earliest settlers in Sabine Pass along with John McGaffey, Thomas Courts, and Jacob Garner. Johnson then appeared before the land commissioners and received an additional headright of 3,000 acres, granted to married men. He and Rachel became the parents of at least eight sons and two daughters.
On July 7, 1838, Johnson was granted an additional 640 acres of donation land for having fought at the battle of San Jacinto. That same year, he was certified as one of fifty-seven jurors to serve in the Jefferson County courts. He was elected a county commissioner on December 2, 1852. He and his family were charter members of the second Baptist Church of Jefferson County.
Rachel Johnson died in 1856. On July 4, 1861, Johnson married Matilda Myers, whom he had employed as his housekeeper. Later that year in August, Benjamin Johnson joined his three sons, Bradley, John, and Uriah Johnson, and served under Ben McCulloch in the Confederate Army. In addition to his military and public service, Johnson was a farmer, stockman, and patriarch. Benjamin Johnson died at the age of fifty-seven at Sabine Pass on October 13, 1872, and was buried at the Johnson family plot at the Sabine Pass Cemetery in Jefferson County. A Texas Historical Marker was erected in his honor in 1972.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Herbert C. Banks II, ed., Daughters of the Republic of Texas Patriot Ancestor Album (Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, 2001). W.T. Block, ?Benjamin Johnson: Veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto?
(http;//www.wtblock.com/wtblockjr/BenjaminJohnson.htm), accessed July 1, 2010. W. T. Block, A History of Jefferson County, Texas, from Wilderness to Reconstruction (M.A. thesis, Lamar University, 1974; Nederland, Texas: Nederland Publishing, 1976). Historical Marker Files, Texas Historical Commission, Austin. Republic of Texas Claims, Archives and Manuscripts Division, Texas State Library and Archives, Austin.
Jimmy Johnson
The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this article.
Jimmy Johnson, "JOHNSON, BENJAMIN," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fjoda), accessed February 07, 2013. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fjoda
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Benjamin Johnson - Sabine Pass, Jefferson County, Texas
Address:
Directions: Sabine Pass Cemetery, off SH 870
Marker #: 5245010538
Year Dedicated: 1972
Size, type: 24" x 18"
Last reported condition: Fair
Benjamin Johnson - (1815-1872) Born in Louisiana; settled in Texas in 1832. Fought in victorious Texas Army at Bexar, Dec. 1835; in Capt. James Gillaspie's company, 2nd Regiment, Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836. Married (1) 1838, Rachel Garner, who died 1856; (2) 1861, Matilda Myers. Esteemed and respected, he was a farmer, stockman, patriarch.
Decimal degrees: N 29.717963 W -93.904609
Degrees, minutes: N 29 43.078 W 093 54.277
UTM: Zone 15, Easting 412505, Northing 3287876
http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5245010538#
Sabine Pass Cemetery - The oldest continually used cemetery in Jefferson County, This graveyard has served the citizens of the Sabine Pass area since the 1840s. The earliest documented grave is that of a 12-year-old John A. Dashiell, son of William V.C. and Mary Dashiell, who died on August 27, 1847. The large site now known as Sabine Pass Cemetery represents a combination of five formerly distinct burial grounds. Included in what was once called "The Colored Peoples Cemetery" is the unmarked grave of 108-year-old Louis Williams. Born a slave in Mississippi in 1813, Williams died on June 23, 1921. Among the burials in this historic graveyard are those of many distinguished military veterans. Able Coffin (1792-1862) and Burwell Jackson (1783-1864) fought in the War of 1812. Jacob Harmon Garner (1814-1887), Benjamin Johnson (1815-1872) and Niles F. Smith (1800-1858) were Texas Revolution veterans. Soldiers and sailors from both the Union and Confederate forces of the Civil War also are interred here. The two Union sailors Patrick Ferlin and Albert W. Marshall, died of wounds sustained during the offshore naval encounter on January 21, 1863, while serving on the ship Morning Light. A number of Confederate veterans rest in the cemetery, as does Kate Dorman, dubbed "the heroine of Sabine Pass" for her assistance of the southern troops. A number of graves have been specially marked with military or state historical markers. Maintained by Jefferson County and cared for by local volunteer organizations, the Sabine Pass Cemetery remains in use by citizens of the area. Its historic gravestones and monuments provide a unique component of the cultural history of Jefferson County. (1999)
http://www.9key.com/markers/marker_detail.asp?atlas_number=5245011949
First Settlers of Jefferson Co, Texas by Gifford White
Land Grants in Texas: 45th Applicant: Benjamin Johnson took and Subscribed to the oath required by the 12th Secretary of Land Law that he emigrated to Texas in 1832. It was proven that he was a citizen of Texas at the date of the Declaration of Independence by the oath of Bradley Garner and Jacob Garner.
166th Applicant: (returns for more since he married 24 Apr 1838, which increased his entitlement)
_________
Texas Revolution Page 9 p 16
Jefferson County Heroes of San Jacinto
Johnson, Benjamin: Benjamin Johnson enlisted as a private in Captain James Gillaspie's Company, Second Regiment. Texas Volunteers, Sixth Company, Infantry.
Benjamin Johnson, born June 8, 1815, died October 13, 1872, is buried in Sabine Pass Cemetery, Jefferson County. He has received a Texas Historical Commission marker. (see also Yellowed Pages, Vol II, No. 6-10 for biographical data by W.Tck - MSW)"
__________
1850 Census, also living in his household were John Hill, 23 (b 1827) a carpenter from England; and William Harris 36 (b 1814), a cabinet maker, also from England, and RACHEL COURT, age 13 (b 1837). Rachel's father THOMAS COURT had recently drowned.
_________
The 1860 Sabine Pass census listed Benjamin Johnson with his 8 children.
Also listed in the household was MATILDA MYERS 28 House Keeper
and George White 25 Laborer LA.
_________
1870 Census - Sabine Pass, also living in his household was E. Gibson age 78 born MS (brother)
(this is prob Uriah Gibson, bro-in law)
_________
Listed: Sabine Pass Cemetery, page 4
Johnson, Benjamin, Historical marker erected Oct 14, 1972, original stone stolen "1815-1872 Born in Louisiana; settled in Texas in 1832. Fought in victorious Texas Army at Bexar, Dec. 1835; In Capt. James Gillaspie's Company, 2nd Regiment, Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836. Married (1) 1838, Rachel Garner, who died 1856; (2) 1861, Matilda Myers. Esteemed and respected, he was a farmer, stockman, Patriarch. recorded - 1972."
Matilda applied for as a widow for Benjamin's Confederate Pension.
Property:
Benjamin Johnson two thirds of league and Labor
immigrated to Texas in 1832
Census:
res 210 Jacob H Garner 36 LA
Matilda (Hayes) Garner 22 LA
Anna Garner 10 1840 TX
Martha Ann Garner 8 1842 TX
Leonard Garner 3 1947 TX
Mary Ann Garner 6 1844 TX
Sally Ann Garner 0 1850 TX
Sarah Ann Court 16 1834 TX Sarah and Matilda 1st cousis. Their mothers were sisters. Sarah and Rachel were sisters.
res 208
Johnson Berry 35 1815 LA
Rachel 33 1817 LA
Wesley 10 1840 TX
Bradley 9 1841 TX
John 7 1843 TX
Uriah 4 1846 TX
Joseph 2 1848 TX
Berry Amin 1 1849 TX
Court, Rachel 13 1813 niece, her mother was Berry's sister.
Census:
11 Jul 1860 Sabine Pass (Precinct 5) page 60
Residence 355
Heminway Edward P 1808 Massachusetts engineer
Heminway Mary N 43 1817 Massachusetts
Heminway Sarah L 15 1845 South Carolina
Heminway William H 10 1850 Texas
Heminway Franklin T 7 1853 Texas
Heminway Charles A 4 1856 Texas
Heminway Eustace 1 1859 Texas
Residence 356
Stockholmn Peter D 45 1815 New York pilot steamboat 2500, 300
Stockholmn Mary 27 1833 Louisiana
Stockholmn William 12 1848 Texas
Stockholmn Elisabeth 10 1850 Texas
Stockholmn Peter D 8 1852 Texas
Stockholmn George W 5 1855 Texas
Stockholmn Mary E 6/12 1859 Texas
Miller Wm 25 1835 New York carpenter
Keith Ellen 15 1845 Texas student
Residence 357
Mass William 40 1820 Germany farmer 1,000; 2,000
Mass Charlottie 27 1833 Germany
Mass Sellenah 13 1847 Louisiana
Mass Almina 11 1849 F Texas
Mass Charles 8 1852 Texas
Mass Henry 6 1854 Me Texas
Mass Roadolph 4 1856 Texas
Mass Martha 2 1858 Texas
Mass Jessee 11/12 1859 Texas } twins
Mass Sarah 11/12 1859 Texas }
Cha Patrick 18 1842 Ireland laborer
Residence 358
Mccall James 29 1831 Illinois laborer 400; 1,000
Mccall Anny 20 1840 Texas
Mccall Theresah 3 1857 Texas
Mccall Jacob 1 1859 Texas
Hayes Nancy 8 1852 Texas <
Johnson John 17 1843 Louisiana laborer
Residence 359
Garner Jacob 46 1814 Louisiana farmer 3,000; 4,000
Garner Matilda 43 1817 Louisiana
Garner Mary A 15 1845 Texas
Garner Leonard 13 1847 Texas
Garner Sally A 10 1850 Texas
Garner Millon 7 1853 Texas
Garner Alliee 5 1855 Texas
next page, Page 61
residence 359 cont.
Garner, Bradley 10/12 1859 Texas
Hayes, Matilda* 10 1850 Texas <
residence 361
McCall John 27 1833 Illinois laborer 200; 1,000
Hayes, Alzina 12 1848 Texas <
Hayes, Mary 6 1854 Texas <
Gallier, Mary* 64 1796 Louisiana midwife
residence 362
Robert Gibson 30 steam boating England 200
Ann 18 Louisiana
Jesse E. 8/12 Texas
residence: 363
Morgan, Alvin 21 1839 Louisiana stock minder
Eliza 17 1843 Texas
Almond 2 1858
Leonard 3/12 1860
Myers, Malissa 15 1845 Texas spinster
Gallier, Frances 65 1795 Louisiana laborer
residence 364
Johnson, Benjamin 1815 Louisiana farmer 200
Bradley 20 1840 Texas laborer 600; 6,000
John 17 1843 Texas
Uriah 14 1846 Texas
Joseph 13 1847 Texas
Benjamin 11 1849 Texas
Isaac 9 1851 Texas
Elizabeth 7 1853 Texas
Rachel 5 1855 Texas
Myers, Matilda 28 1832 Louisiana
White, George 25 1835 Louisiana laborer
residence 365
McGaffey, Neal Jr. 22 farmer 5690; 1,000
Rachel J. 17
John W. 1/12
Sarah McGaffey 57 "lady of Leashure" 2,000; 5,400 Louisiana
Census:
1870
B (Benjamin) Johnson 54 farmer Louisiana 1600 1200
Matilda Johnson 37 Louisiana
Elizabeth Johnson 17 Texas
Rachel Johnson 15 Texas
E Gibson 78 female boarding 500, Mississippi (1792)
Simantha Peroto 4 Louisiana
A Dowden 22 laborer Louisiana
Charles Revia 16 laborer Texas
next door on either side:
Uriah and Lucinda Johnson
and W.I. McGaffey and wife Rachel T.
Benjamin married Rachel Garner on 18 Apr 1838 in Jefferson Co, Texas. Rachel (daughter of Bradley Garner and Rachel Harmon) was born in 1817 in Louisiana; died in 1856 in Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas; was buried in Sabine Pass Cem, Sabine Pass, Jefferson Co, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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1905 - 1965 (59 years)