The Ontario Pioneers and Available Genealogies 

Settlers "I-J"

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Steam Train Entering the town of Grimsby

Jackson, Hendrick (Henry) (c. 1743-) and his wife Sarah Knoet lived in Albany County, New York in colonial times. During the American Revolution he served in the Loyal Rangers. Following the war he settled in Mountain Township, Dundas County. The genealogy then follows his son Pieter Jackson (1776-) who married Hannah Shaver and settled in Augusta Township, Grenville County. Three of their children settled in Norfolk County: Jackson, Jacob (1799-1871) and his wife Eleanor McFadden lived at Ottawa, Carleton County then settled in Middleton Township by 1844 and then in Charlotteville Township near Lynedoch by 1850. His brother Elijah Jackson (1804-) and his wife Maria Grozaine settled in Townsend Township in 1842 then lived on Turkey Point, Charlotteville Township. They were parents of Abigail (Jackson) Becker the famed Heroine of Long Point. A third brother, William Jackson (1802-1872) and relationship unknown Peter Jackson (c. 1818-) also settled in Townsend Township. Includes three generations of descendants in Norfolk and Middlesex Counties, and in Michigan and elsewhere. Descendant surnames included: Wall, Pick, Pender, Dawson, Becker, Rohrer

Jackson, John (of Charlotteville) (c. 1799-1876) came with his father from New Brunswick to Charlotteville Township, Norfolk County about 1805. He married Thursey Mahala Abbott and in 1828 settled on Turkey Point where he worked as a fisherman. Includes three generations of descendants  in Norfolk County, and in Ohio and elsewhere. Descendant surnames included: Spane, Larose, Snook, Clark, Lloyd, Post, Helmer

Jackson, John (of Townsend) (c. 1808-) and his wife Jemima Hadlow came from England to Fort Erie, Bertie Township, Welland County in 1839 then before 1850 settled east of Bloomsburg, Townsend Township, Norfolk County. Includes children and grandchildren in Norfolk and Oxford Counties. Descendant surnames included: Sipprell, Carroll, Danheiser

Jackson, Joseph (1792-1852) and his wife Margaret Becker lived in Ulster County, New York then came to Upper Canada about 1831 and settled in Houghton Township, Norfolk County. Includes three generations of descendants in Norfolk, Elgin and Lambton Counties, and in Michigan and elsewhere. Descendant surnames included: Mitchener, Hanson, Couse, Langtry

Jamieson. Includes three unrelated families. John Jamieson (c. 1795-) and his wife Isabella Muir brought their family from Aberdeen County, Scotland to Woodhouse Township, Norfolk County in 1845. Includes three generations of descendants in Norfolk County. John Jamieson (c. 1810-) came to Woodhouse Township by 1843 when he married Mary Mitchell. Includes children and grandchildren in Norfolk County and in Michigan. Descendant surname included: Fisher. Mary Ann Jamieson (c. 1785) brought her family from the Shetland Islands, Scotland to Townsend Township, Norfolk County by 1850. Includes children and grandchildren in Norfolk County. Descendant surname included: Lisk

Jansen, Conrad (c. 1747-  ) and his wife Maria during colonial times lived in Churchtown, Columbia County, New York then in Schoharie, Schoharie County, New York and Catskill, Greene County, New York. During the American Revolution, Conrad Jansen was loyal to the British cause and about 1777 went to British post of Fort Niagara at the confluence of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario north of present Youngstown, Niagara County, New York. He joined the Indian Department commanded by Colonel Guy Johnson then transferred to Butler’s Rangers commanded by Colonel John Butler.

Conrad Jansen had a Crown Grant of 200 acres of land in Lots 1 and 2 Concession 8 from the Niagara River, Bertie Township, Welland County.3 This was located on the west side of Ridgemount Road between Garrison Road (present Highway 3) and Bertie Street northeast of the village of Ridgeway. 

The genealogy includes seven generations coast to coast in Canada and the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Bearss, Harris, Phillips, Plato, Troup, Bowen, Stewart, McKenzie, Butcher, Evans, Mathews, Hay, Lawson, Gilmour, Sprague, Cullen, Reid, Fye, Benner, Buck, Johns, Stier, Dawley, Steininger, List, Mollnow, Coatsworth and many more.

Jarvis, Isaac (c. 1772-) and his wife Effalina lived in Huntington, Long Island, New York then about 1820 moved to New Brunswick. In 1827 the moved to Upper Canada and settled in Vittoria, Charlotteville Township. Later, they lived in Boston, Townsend Township. Includes four generations of descendants in Norfolk, Brant and Oxford Counties, and in Missouri and elsewhere. Descendant surnames included: Butler, Lemon, Gunton, Thompson, Smith, Kitchen. Mosher, Forse, Berry, Ross, Buchner

Jennings, Lawrence (1763-1840) and his wife Hannah Slaght lived in Jew Jersey and came with their family to Upper Canada in 1788. Lawrence received a grant of 200 acres in Lot 7, Concessions 9 and 10, Pelham Township, Welland County. This was located on the north and south sides of Welland Road and running as far south as Foss Road. This was west of Effingham Street and the hamlet of Pelham Corners south of the village of Ridgeville.

On 8 Mar 1802, Lawrence Jennings purchased from Isaac Swayze the 100 acre farm in Lot 13 Concession 11 in Pelham Township on the south side of Foss Road and southeast of the village of Fenwick. The original log house is within the present frame house at 662 Foss Road west of Balfour Street built in 1876.

The genealogy includes six generations in Ontario and the western United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Robins, Dils, O’Connor, Monroe, Armstrong, Luther, Judson, Mater, Kildow, Fuller, McCormack, Disher, Foss, Collver, Rinker, Leidy, Sutphin, McCausland, Schall, McGaffin, Dkins, Gibson, Bergstrom and many more.

Jewell, Ezekiel (1759-  ), a son of Abraham and Sarah (Boeckhout) Jewell) was baptized in Phillipsburg, Westchester County, New York on 2 Oct 1759. 

In colonial times, Ezekiel’s parents lived in Philipsburg Manor, Westchester County, New York. This is located in the area of the towns of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow on the east bank of the Hudson River north of New York City. During the American Revolution, Abraham Jewell served in the Loyalist forces. Following the American Revolution, Ezekiel Jewell went in the exodus of New York to New Brunswick in the company of Bartholomew Crannell on the ship Alexander. In the passenger list, he had a wife and a child aged under 10. He had the same listing in the 1784 victualling list he had a wife. Ezekiel was given a grant of Lot 521, Parr (present St. John). He settled at Grand Lake, New Brunswick.

Ezekiel brought his family to Norfolk County, Upper Canada before 1802 and settled on a Crown Lease in Lot 13, Concession 1, Charlotteville Township. This is located north of Turkey Point near Lake Erie.

Includes ancestors and three generations of descendants in Norfolk County. Descendant surnames included: Walmsley, Thompson, Potter

Johnson, James (c. 1761-1846) was born in Sussex County, New Jersey. The earliest mention of this Johnson family of Louth Township, Lincoln County is a certificate of 3 May 1788 attached to the Upper Canada Land Petition of James and Jabez Johnson:

“These are to Certify that the Barer hereof Vincent and James and Jabez Johnson are the sons of Jacob Johnson a Honest Industrious Inhabatent of the County of Sussex and that sd Johnson and his familey hath always Behaved themselves In a friendly manner towards the King of England and his Loyal Subjects And for so doing sd Johnson hath Suffered much in paying fines witness my hand this 3rd day May 1788 [Signed] Robt Allison”

James Johnson married Elizabeth Teeter. Their son Jabez Johnson (c. 1802-1849) and his wife Sarah Culp made their home on a 100 acre farm in Lot 6 Concession 5 Louth Township. This was located on the north and south sides of St. Paul Street West and west of Third Street. Another son Jacob Johnson (c. 1805-1875) married Eleanor Buckbee and farmed 200 acres of land in Lots 11 and 12 Concession 8, Louth Township. This was located on the north and south sides of Pelham Road at its intersection with Ninth Street and Centre Street. Rockway Presbyterian Church and Cemetery are located at the intersection.

This genealogy includes five generations in Lincoln, Welland and Dufferin Counties in Ontario and in New York and Pennsylvania in the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Rason, Oille, Frank, Gregory, Phillips, Havens, Clendenan, Hallett, Cavers, Meller, Hill, Bennett, Vanalstine, Ross, Jones, McKee, Culver, Lewis, McGraw, Hamilton, Kramer, Deakin, Edwards

Johnson of Niagara. Jeremiah Johnson (c. 1720 - c.1749) and his wife Rebecca Haines (c. 1723-1798) lived in Richmond County (Staten Island) New York. During the French-Indian War (1745-1748), Jeremiah Johnson served as a surgeon in one of the Provincial regiments and died about 1749 leaving his wife Rebecca as a young widow with three children, Henry, Nancy Ann and Jeremiah. 

Widow Rebecca Johnson married in New York to George Field. The Field couple lived in South Precinct, of Dutchess County, New York then in the Manor of Sunbury, Wyoming Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. During the American Revolution, George Field supported the British cause and left his home in the Wyoming Valley with his family and travelled north to the British forces in Fort Niagara on the Niagara River. The group included George’s wife Rebecca and their children Daniel, Hannah, Mary, Gilbert and Nathan Field. George Field was among the earliest to receive permission for settlement in Niagara Township, Lincoln County, Ontario.

This genealogy is in two separate publications titled Henry Johnson of Niagara and Jeremiah Johnson of Niagara, each available separately in the two listings which follow:

Johnson, Henry (1744-1808), oldest son of Jeremiah and Rebecca (Haines) Johnson, with his first wife Mary Morgan (c. 1745-c. 1770) and his second wife the widow Taylor lived on the Susquehanna River in the Wyoming Valley of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Henry followed his mother Rebecca (Johnson) Field and step-father George Field to Upper Canada arriving in Niagara Township, Lincoln County by 1784, settling on Lots 18 and 29, Niagara Township south of Niagara-on-the Lake.

This genealogy includes the parental biography and follows six generations of descendants. Many continued in the Niagara region and others lived throughout southwestern and northern Ontario and in the provinces in Western Canada. Descendants also lived throughout the United States.

This genealogy includes the parental biography and follows six generations of descendants. Many continued in the Niagara region and others lived throughout southwestern and northern Ontario and in the provinces in Western Canada. Descendants also lived throughout the United States.

Descendant surnames included for the Henry Johnson family: Templeton, Crow, Snyder, Spence, Reece, Brewster, McDonald, Fritshaw, Wiley, Loucks, Thompson, Will, Clark, Covil, Sammons, Moyer, Rittenhouse, Berry, Baltzer, Nichols, Fathers, Hopkins, Ecker, Rew, Foster, Moore, Stanton, Cornell, Brown, Brown, Davis, Taylor, Williams, Patchett, Harker, Myers, Barr, Sharp, Miller, Naish, Hughes, Hall, Leach, Warner, Landsdown, Storms, Nash, Smith, Eastman, Gifford, McConnell, Sidey, Davis, Potter, Bulgin, Joergenson, Potter, Young, Field, Gowanlock, Strong, Connell, Rogers, Riggs, Donovan, Fielding, Carter, Kelly, Edwards, Piper, Patterson, Van Dusen, Hough, Daly, Gibson, Curran, Wonnacott, Moote, Disher, Allen, Crowley, Culp, Lampman, Vickery, Guerry, Dean, Keeley, Deamude, Rees, Leitch, Church, Trickett, Clute, Boling, Fisher, Hagen, Hendershot, Gracey, Carpenter, Swayze, Lancaster, Burkett, Mason, Howe, Stuart, Houseman, Erb, Black, Rouse, Mark, Aldwell, Chruchill, Vaughan, Bloomfield, Jones, Gowdy, Luck, Stevens, Cameron, Hare, George, Bush, McCuaig, Courtwright, Cartwright, Shryver, Book, Fargo, Lane, Shaw, Kay, Reason, Driscoll, Feick, Pairman, Thornburgh, Freese, Pratt, Crawford, Canfield, Bennett, Cross, Roberts, Hannon, Peters, Rowe, Verbridge, Crawford, Hentz, Schott, St. Onge, Mack, Leite

Johnson, Jeremiah (c. 1746-1783) second son of Jeremiah and Rebecca, and his wife Phoebe Brown (1747-1826) lived in the Town of Shawangunk, Ulster County, New York then in the Wyoming Valley of Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Jeremiah died in Pennsylvania in 1783 and his widow Phoebe Johnson moved to Drummondville (Niagara Falls), Stamford Township, Welland County, Upper Canada in 1786. She and her second husband John Wrong settled on Lots 37 and 38, Concession 6, Gainsborough Township, Lincoln County south of present Smithville.

This genealogy includes the parental biography and follows six generations of descendants. Many continued in the Niagara region and others lived throughout southwestern and northern Ontario and in the provinces in Western Canada. Descendants also lived throughout the United States.

Descendant surnames included for the Jeremiah Johnson Jr. family: Carle, Lewis, Carpenter, Dewar, Clendennin, Rogers, Mead, Brewer, Atkinson, Davidson, Humphrey, House, Sloan, Elliott, Dark, Fralick, Farewell, Minor, Biggar, Owen, McCrimmon, Webster, Wilcox, Lotteridge, Galbreaith, Slingerland, Quigley, Graham, Johnston, Almost, Heath, Perkins, Russell, Brown, Sanford, Chivers, Duncan, McIntyre, Attlebury, Allen, Walker, Phenix, Darby, Schram, Smith, Gannet, Boughey, Munsell, Howell, Biggs, Edworthy, Boyle, Freeman, Manning, Shoaf, Moran, Bloomfield, White, Rogers, Young, Bradt, Piper, Jenkins, Gilbert, Abbey, Hope, Power, Engle, Creighton, Boniface, Welch, Pearson, Saxbee, Sutcliffe, Wiley, Lyons, Matthews, Sawyers, Fish, Doane, Hire, Green, Archer, McKinnon, Miller, Fairman, Willey, Mogg, McKnight, Mattison, Nolan, Morrison, Walton, First, Summers, Falladay, Kerns, Wilson, Chapman, Clinesmith, Meeker, Rossman, Bowman, Wodham, Cuthbertson, Morgan, Moody, Silverthorn, Pollard, Dark, Sandham, Buell, Gould, Fewings, Thomas, Cronin, Cole, Rock, Hyndman, Manuel, Nash, Carpenter, Logan, Cronkhite, Wooden, Clark, Congdon, Harvey, Darby, Grant, La Vanture, Meese, Green, Chapman, Caster, Denny, McCarroll, Gardner, Hicks, Manley, Wood, Hyde, Risher, Eberlein, Porter, Carley, Taylor, Ward, House, Lowrey, Crawford, Fuller, Maurer, Stinson, Bellinger, Niemann, Schmidt, Markle, McNinch, Erb, Titus, Masten, Dickerson, Farris. Hicks, Livingstone, Wilson, Wisson, Ostrander, Faulman, Rikert, Christian, Stafford, Kemp, Scheiffler

Johnson, John (c. 1762-1832) emigrated from England about 1804 when he married widow Mary (Sitts) Cunningham. The couple settled in Boston, Townsend Township, Norfolk CountyIncludes three generations of descendants in Norfolk County. Descendant surname included: Black

Johnson Larrance (1759-1843), a son of Pieter and Eva (Emigh) Johnson was baptized Laurens on Wednesday after 1 Trinity 1759 at Zion Lutheran Church, Loonenburg, New York.

During the American Revolution, Larrance was drafted by the Patriot militia, but his father furnished a substitute. He was drafted again, but he slipped out and joined the British forces. He enlisted on 10 May 1778 in Colonel Beverley Robinson’s Loyal American Regiment. He was taken prisoner by General Anthony Wayne's forces at Stony Point on 16 Jul 1779 and was a prisoner as late as 24 Oct 1780. He either escaped or was exchanged then returned to his regiment at Flushing, Long Island. Larrance was hospitalized in New York from Sep 1781 to Jan 1782 and returned to active duty only to be hospitalized again until January 1783. In the muster rolls he was with his regiment at Flushing on 3 Mar 1783. The last two rolls at Norwich dated 1 Jul 1783 and at the head of Niow Town Creek on 22 Aug 1783, noted that Larrance was wounded. Also serving in this regiment was Larrance’s future father-in-law Peter Montross.

After the peace in 1783, the British evacuated the provincial regiments and other Loyalists from New York to Nova Scotia (which included present New Brunswick) in a massive transfer. Larrance married in New Brunswick, Canada in 1785, Margaret Montross, a daughter of Peter and Leah (Mabee) Montross (1770-1847). In the summer of 1798, Larrance and Margaret followed Peter Montross to Upper Canada. They went by ship to New York where Larrance purchased a half-bushel measure bearing the manufacturer's mark and the year 1791. From New York, they made their way by boat and portage up the Hudson, Mohawk and Oswego Rivers to Lake Ontario. They then went by ship to Queenston on the Niagara River and made their way to the Long Point Settlement.

On 20 Sep 1804, Larrance purchased 100 acres in the north part of Lot 3 Concession A, Charlotteville Township from Silas Montross and made this his homestead. The lot is located on the south side of the road running from north of the village of St. Williams to Forestville about two miles east of the Walsingham township line.

Includes ancestral biographies and four generations of descendants in Norfolk and Brant Counties, and in Michigan, Illinois and elsewhere. Descendant surnames included: Ward, Thompson, Austin, Rose, Wisson, Robertson, Lamont, Dickey, Dennis, Whiting, Winegarden, Olds, Cooper, DeWitt

Johnson, Peter (1797-1869 and Levi Johnson (1801-)  sons of Larrance Johnson (above) grew up in Charlotteville Township, Norfolk County then settled in Bayham Township, Elgin County. Includes four generations of descendants in Elgin County and in Michigan, Minnesota and elsewhere. Descendant surnames included: Thurston, Austin, Smith, Soper, Moore, Humphrey, Gilmore, Herron

Jones, James (c. 1734-1794). During colonial times, the surname of this family was “Johns” then later changed to Jones. About 1773, James Jones married Christiana Folch/Folk and settled on a leased 52 acre farm in Kingston, Ulster County, New York for which he paid a rent of 12 Skipple of wheat annually. He served as a clerk to a company of the New York militia.

When the American Revolution broke out, James Jones was loyal to the Crown of Great Britain for which “he has suffered 3 years & 2 Months Confinement the value of His Expenses and Loss of His Effects during his confinement was at that time £250 Pound N York Cury £14.7.6 Sterling.” In 1780, he took his family to the British post of Fort Niagara at the confluence of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario and joined Butler’s Rangers in which he served until the end of the war.

Following the war, James Jones received a crown grant of 200 acres of land in Lots 11 and 12 Concession 1, Grantham Township located between Lake Ontario and Lakeshore Road at the head of Niagara Street. In James Jones’ time this area was entirely rural and at the mouth of Ten Mile Creek. It has subsequently been subdivided and developed for residential lots in the Port Weller area of the City of St. Catharines. Arthur Street is on the west side and Broadway Street on the east side. In 1913, the new Welland Canal was completed on Twelve Mile Creek flooding most of Lot 11. Jones Beach named for this family is located at the head of Broadway Street. Port Weller Park and Sunset Beach are located in the north part of Lot 12.

Descendant surnames mentioned: Hodgkison, Kemp, Mann, Tice. Ellis, Coleman, Collver, Camp, Dodge, Shortridge, Clement, Smith, Clement, Wedge, Green, Betzner, Cornell, Hunt, Van Keuren, Darby, Cowell, Churchill, Cowell, Kimball, Willis, Wall, Broadbent and many more.