Benjamin Johnson

On his 1753 marriage bond, Benjamin Johnson is described as a yeoman of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire. The baptism records of his children show that Benjamin was an ironmonger in Southwark in the late 1760s.

Events

Date of Birth: perhaps 1731.

Place of Birth: unknown.

The marriage allegation for Benjamin Johnson and Harriott Nugent records Benjamin’s age as “above 22 Years”. The accuracy of the record is unclear, since Harriot’s age, given as “above 21 Years”, is probably four years off (ignoring the “above”).

Date of Burial: 18 January 1784

Place of Burial: Southwark, Surrey, England (Saint John Horsleydown).

The date and place are given in the burial registration.

Relationships

Father: unknown.

Mother: unknown.

Spouse: Harriot Nugent (1728 - 1783). Married 6 December 1753, Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire (Holy Trinity).

Given that “Harriot Nugent” was a rare name in England in the 18th century -- Benjamin Johnson’s wife is the only known person with that name in the period -- this must be the marriage. One of the couple's daughters baptized in Hull was married in Southwark. It is unknown what brought Harriot to Yorkshire. There is a 5 December 1753 allegation and marriage bond for the marriage, and the bishop's transcripts of the parish register record the marriage on 6 December 1753.

Children:

(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. It is possible that some of the children baptized after 1757 in Hull are of a different couple.)

Mary Harriot Johnson (baptized 25 November 1754 at Holy Trinity, Hull, Yorkshire - buried 9 June 1810 at St George the Martyr, Southwark) married James Sharp 19 April 1772 at Southwark St John Horsleydown.

Benjamin Johnson (baptized 9 June 1758 at Holy Trinity, Hull - buried 10 April 1759 at Holy Trinity, Hull).

Ann Johnson (baptized 9 April 1760 at Holy Trinity, Hull).

Henry Hewling Johnson (baptized 6 June 1761 at Holy Trinity, Hull).

Catherine Johnson (buried 3 April 1762 at Holy Trinity, Hull).

Kitty Johnson (baptized 1763 at Holy Trinity, Hull - buried 10 August 1839 at St Saviour, Southwark). Kitty was a witness at the marriage of her sister Emily.

Henrietta Johnson (born 26 May 1765, baptized 23 June 1765 at Saint John Horsleydown, Southwark - buried 16 June 1834 at Allhallows Bread Street, London) married Richard Hall 31 August 1786 (Newington St Mary).

Hannah Johnson (born 5 May 1767, baptized 7 June 1767 at Saint John Horsleydown) married Alexander McClatchie 9 April 1791 (Newington St Mary).

Charlotte Johnson (born 11 September 1768, baptized 2 October 1768 at St John Horsleydown - buried 1834 at St John the Evangelist, Lambeth) married Henry John Orgar 10 October 1791 (Newington St Mary).

Emily Johnson (born 16 July 1770, baptized 5 August 1770 at St John Horsleydown - died 10 March 1839, buried Buckingham Chapel (Independent), Palace Street, Pimlico) married William Martin Luson 6 February 1802 (Lambeth St Mary).

Evidence

Benjamin Johnson - Harriott Nugent marriage allegation and bond (5 December 1753, York)

The Fifth Day of December in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Three which Day appeared personally Benjamin Johnson of This Parish in Hull in the Diocese of York aged above 22 Years and a Batchelor and alledged that he intendeth to marry with Harriott Nugent of the same Parish in the said Diocese aged above 21 Years and a Spinster, not knowing, or believing any Impediment, by Reason of any Precontract, Consanguinity, Affinity, or any other lawful Means whatsoever, to hinder the said intended Marriage: Of the Truth of which he made an Oath, and prayed Licence for them to be married in the Parish Church of the Holy Trinity in Kingston upon Hull.

Benjamin Johnson

Sworn before me John Clarke, Jnr(?)

Named on the bond were:

Benjamin Johnson of Kingston upon Hull, Yeom: and James Doeg of the same, Barber

(signed by Benjamin Johnson and James Doeg, witnessed by John Yeoman and John Clarke, Jnr(?)

Marriage (Hull, Holy Trinity, bishop's transcripts, December 1753)

6. Benjamin Johnson & Harriot Nugent [by licence]

Baptisms and burials of Benjamin Johnson’s children

Holy Trinity Hull (bishop's transcripts):

[November 1754, baptisms]

25, Mary, Harriot, D, of Benj: Johnson

[June 1758, baptisms]

9. Benjamin, S. of Benjamin Johnson

[April 1759, burials]

[10]. Benjamin, S, of Benj.n Johnson

[April 1760, baptisms]

9. Ann D, of Benj: Johnson

[April 1761, baptisms]

6. Henry Hewling, S. of Benj.n Johnson

[April 1762, burials]

3. Catherine, D, of Benj.m Johnson

(St John Horsleydown)

Xtenings June 1765

[born] 26 May, [christened] 23 Henrietta d of Benj: & Harriot Johnson, Ironmonger

Xtenings June 1767

[born] 5 May, [christened] 7 Hannah d of Benjamin & Harriet Johnson, Ironmonger

Xtenings Octr 1767

[born] 11 Sepr, [christened] 7 Charlotte d of Benj: & Harriet Johnson-- Ironmonger

Xtenings August 1770

[born] 16 July, [christened] 5 Emily d of Benjamin & Harriet Johnson - Ironmonger

An accusation of receiving stolen lead:

Information: Stephen Vallas confesses to stealing lead and iron from various places in Southwark and elsewhere incl Hoxton Square, Middlesex, and to being accompanied by John Binnifield, John Wake and James Phillips; Francis Isherwood and Benjamin Johnson accused of receiving some of the lead knowing it to be stolen [Surrey Quarter Sessions, Epiphany Sessions 1768; Surrey History Centre: QS2/6/1768/Eph/85-88]

A Land Tax assessment (1780, St John Southwark):

[Street Way]

Name of Proprietor: Sam. Bennet Smith

Name of Occupier: Ben: Johnson

Yearly Value of Land: 14 pounds

Sum Affected: 1 pound 19 shillings 8 pence

References

Henrietta Johnson, Baptism registration (23 June 1765), St John Horsleydown, 1733-1810; digital image Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 March 2014), citing London Metropolitan Archives, Saint John Horsleydown, Composite register: baptisms Jun 1733 - Sep 1809, marriages Aug 1733 - Mar 1754, burials Jun 1733 - Apr 1810, P71/JN, Item 009.

Benjamin Johnson - Harriott Nugent marriage allegation and bond, (5 December, 1753), Diocese of York.

"England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N2J7-2JR : accessed 26 Mar 2014), Benjamin Johnson and Harriot Nugent, 06 Dec 1753; citing Holy Trinity,Kingston Upon Hull,York,England, reference ; FHL microfilm 990827.

Benjamin Johnson, Burial Registration (18 January 1784), St John Horsleydown parish registers, p. 362; digital image Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 March 2014), citing Saint John Horsleydown, Composite register: baptisms Jun 1733 - Sep 1809, marriages Aug 1733 - Mar 1754, burials Jun 1733 - Apr 1810, in London Metropolitan Archives, P71/JN, Item 009.

Surrey Land Tax. Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England. Digital image on Ancestry.com.

Will of Henrietta Martyn of Hampstead, Middlesex, proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury 25 November 1771, National Archives reference number PROB 11/972/335.

Will of William Martyn of Saint Andrew Holborn, Middlesex, proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury 19 April 1768, National Archives reference number PROB 11/938/210.

Yorkshire bishop's transcripts, digital images available on Findmypast.co.uk, accessed 30 December 2015.