Isaac Johnson (colonist)

Isaac Johnson (c. 1601^[1] - 30 September 1630^[2]) was an English colonist in the New World, one of the founders of Massachusetts.

Life

He was baptized at St John's Church, Stamford, Lincolnshire, the eldest son of Abraham Johnson of South Luffenham, Rutland, and grandson of Archdeacon Robert Johnson, the founder of Oakham and Uppingham Schools.

Johnson attended Emmanuel College, Cambridge, admitted 1614, earning B.A. 1617–18, M.A. 1621.^[3] He was related to Laurence Chaderton, the first Master of Emmanuel. He was admitted at Gray's Inn, 1620/1. He was ordained a priest of the Church of England, 27 May 1621, by Thomas Dove, Bishop of Peterborough.^[4]

In 1623 the Archdeacon settled the manor of Clipsham, Rutland, on his grandson on his marriage with Lady Arabella (or Arbella) Fiennes, daughter of Thomas Clinton, 3rd Earl of Lincoln.

Johnson was the largest shareholder of the Massachusetts Bay Company and was one of the twelve men to sign the Cambridge Agreement on 29 August 1629. In 1630 he sailed in the Winthrop Fleet to America, arriving at Salem on 12 June, and was one of the four who founded the first church at Charlestown on 30 July.

William Blackstone, a contemporary at Emmanuel College,^[5] invited Johnson to join him at Shawmut, now Boston, which was settled under Johnson's supervision.^[6] Just weeks before he died, at a meeting in Charlestown, Isaac Johnson renamed the settlement then called Shawmut or Trimountain (on account of three contiguous hills which appeared to be in a range when viewed from Charleston), as Boston, after the port town in Lincolnshire, England where he had lived after his marriage, in honour of his friend, John Cotton, the Vicar of Boston.^[7] He died at Charleston on 30 September 1630, the richest man in the colony. Though he is often believed to be buried in King's Chapel Burying Ground which is on part of his estate, more likely he was buried next to his wife in Charleston.^[8]

The "admiral" ship of Winthrop's fleet was renamed the Arbella in his wife's honour. She died at Salem in August 1630, leaving no children.

References

↑ Irons, E.A., “Isaac Johnson: A Memoir”, The Rutland Magazine and County Historical Record, 1908, Volume 3, Rutland Archaeological and Natural History Society, Chas. Matkin, 1908, p. 78. The date of his birth in sources varies widely: Irons notes that his mother died "a few days after giving birth a son who was named Isaac at his baptism on lst July, 1601, in St. John’s Church, Stamford—a family tradition states that Isaac was born at Clipsham".
↑ 1944-, Anderson, Robert Charles,. The great migration begins: immigrants to New England, 1620-1633. New England Historic Genealogical Society,. Boston. ISBN 088082042X. OCLC 33083117.
↑ "Isaac Johnson (JHN614I)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
↑ Ordination Record: Johnson, Isaac (1620 - 1621) in "CCEd, the Clergy of the Church of England database" (Accessed online, 9 January 2018)
↑ 1887-1976,, Morison, Samuel Eliot, ([1968, ©1963]). The founding of Harvard College. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674314504. OCLC 18650219. Check date values in: |date= (help)
↑ This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Johnson, Isaac". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
↑ Irons, p.86
↑ Irons, p. 86, notes that, "Most likely" he had gone to Charleston for [a] Meeting, had died there, and was buried with his wife at Salem. But so much romance has been woven round the original foundation of Boston, that it is now very hard to ascertain the actual facts: yet, it appears certain that Isaac Johnson, however he may have visited the place and suggested its name, never actually dwelt there, and most certainly did not die nor was buried there."

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Johnson, Isaac". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

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[1] Irons, E.A., “Isaac Johnson: A Memoir”, The Rutland Magazine and County Historical Record, 1908, Volume 3, Rutland Archaeological and Natural History Society, Chas. Matkin, 1908, p. 78. The date of his birth in sources varies widely: Irons notes that his mother died "a few days after giving birth a son who was named Isaac at his baptism on lst July, 1601, in St. John’s Church, Stamford—a family tradition states that Isaac was born at Clipsham".

[:0-2] 1944-, Anderson, Robert Charles,. The great migration begins: immigrants to New England, 1620-1633. New England Historic Genealogical Society,. Boston. ISBN 088082042X. OCLC 33083117.

[3] "Isaac Johnson (JHN614I)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.

[4] Ordination Record: Johnson, Isaac (1620 - 1621) in "CCEd, the Clergy of the Church of England database" (Accessed online, 9 January 2018)

[5] 1887-1976,, Morison, Samuel Eliot, ([1968, ©1963]). The founding of Harvard College. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674314504. OCLC 18650219. Check date values in: |date= (help)

[DNB1-6] This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Johnson, Isaac". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

[7] Irons, p.86

[8] Irons, p. 86, notes that, "Most likely" he had gone to Charleston for [a] Meeting, had died there, and was buried with his wife at Salem. But so much romance has been woven round the original foundation of Boston, that it is now very hard to ascertain the actual facts: yet, it appears certain that Isaac Johnson, however he may have visited the place and suggested its name, never actually dwelt there, and most certainly did not die nor was buried there."