Samuel Johnston & Ruth Baker of Charlotte County, VA

After a search of many years, I became convinced that Samuel and Ruth Baker Johnston of Ward's Fork  in Charlotte County, VA, were the parents  (or very close relatives)  of our Samuel Johnston of Leatherwood Creek in Henry County, VA.   The evidence, while circumstantial, was compelling.[1]  Recent Y-DNA tests contradict that conclusion.  A male descendant of James Johnston of Turkey Cock in Henry County, who almost certainly was the son of Samuel and Ruth Johnston, differs substantially from two descendants of our Samuel of Leatherwood.  While all three men tested show the unique characteristics of the Johnston Y-chromosome, the results nevertheless indicate that James and Samuel could not have been closely related and, ipso facto, Samuel Johnston of Ward's Fork would not have been the father of  our Samuel Johnston of Leatherwood.  That would also eliminate Caleb and Martha Brooks Baker as his grandparents.    

Because the material collected on James of Turkey Cock, Samuel of Ward's Fork, and the Bakers may be valuable to other researchers, it's been retained here.  After all, they're somebody's dead relatives.  But there's another reason.  I find that paper trail hard to dismiss.  Could we have a case of false paternity?  If so, it did not occur in the generations leading down from Samuel of Leatherwood's son Joseph to our two testees, who varied by only one out of 67 markers.  It would be informative if a male descendant from another of Samuel and Ruth Baker Johnston's sons (Caleb or William) could be tested.  See also, Nancy's Thoughts on Genes and Genealogy.

Samuel of Ward's Fork was probably either the brother or son of a William Johnston who resided on adjoining land.  There was also a James Johnston in the vicinity from an early date, who may have been his father.[2]  But as mentioned previously[3], the surname Johnston, Johnstone, or Johnson and it's many variations, was inconveniently common in the southern colonies; thus any relationship of James to this Samuel is only speculative.  There were certainly Johns[t]ons in Charlotte County who were only very distantly related.[4]

Although Samuel's parentage hasn't been discovered, every indication was that wife Ruth was the daughter of Caleb Baker and Martha Brooks, who moved from Conestoga Township in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to Amelia County, Virginia about 1741.   Samuel and Ruth could have married in either PA or VA.  The latter would seem more probable except that the year reported for daughter Jean's birth is an unverified 1741, which would give PA the edge.  I'm assuming that Samuel and Ruth are the couple who later appear on Ward's Fork based on location, the names of their children and grandchildren, chronology, and associated families. 

1746: Lunenburg County was formed from Brunswick County.  The area is often referred to as "The Southside".

19 Aug 1746: Matthew Talbot, assignee of Samuel Johnson, was granted a bounty for 1 old and 1 young wolf head in Lunenburg County.[5]  But was this our Samuel Johnston?

10 Jun 1748 Tax List, Lunenburg County, VA: Samuel Johnson was listed next to William Johnson on the list of Mathew Talbot.[6]  There are problems with these being the Johnstons of Ward's Fork: The 1749 Tithable List taken by Matthew Talbot is apparently from Falling River to Goose Creek; Matthew Talbot was associated with James and Catherine Johnson, Timothy Johnston and Allen Johnson, Rice Price, Christopher Irvine, and other surnames on the  Otter River and Flat Creek; and his own home was near Forest  in the area that would later become Bedford County.  On the other hand, a Samuel Johnston is associated with these people, most particularly the Rices, and Matthew Talbot owned widely scattered parcels.

5 Jun 1749: Samuel and William Johnson were among the male laboring tithables required to work on the road from Young's Mill Path to Little Roanoke Bridge at Coles Road.[7]  Another landowner supplying tithables was Clement Read.  The water course known as the Little Roanoke in the following records is currently called Roanoke Creek.  The Roanoke River is synonymous with the Staunton River, being dubbed the Roanoke only between the modern towns of Roanoke and Clarksville.  This is definitely this Samuel.

4 Jul 1749: Samuel Johnson made bail for James Stewart in a suit against Stewart brought by Thomas Baker.[8]   This Thomas Baker is not known to be related to Ruth Baker Johnston.  None of her uncles or brothers had sons by that name.

6 Oct 1749: Amey, Godfrey, and David Jones sued Samuel Johnson, the court finding for the plaintiffs in the amount of £11.16.8½ for breach of promise and "defendant in mercy &c".  They had twice earlier sued William Johnson for debt, but the cases had been dismissed.

3 Aug 1750: In the accounts of Thomas Caldwell, deceased, Samuel Johnson was listed under "Bonds".[9]  William Johnson was to be paid for one beef.

1750 Tithe List, Lunenburg County, VA: Samuel Johnston was listed with no tithables.  According to Tony Johnston, his tax was paid by Martin Hayman.  Tony also has written that this geographic area, enumerated by William Caldwell, was later included in Campbell County.  If the latter is correct, this can't be Ward's Fork, and therefore it can't be our Samuel Johnston.

24 Nov 1750: Caleb Baker signed his will in what was then Amelia [later Prince Edward] County, leaving £20 to his daughter Ruth Johnston.[10]   Present-day Prince Edward County borders Charlotte County, the location of Samuel and Ruth's home.

15 Nov 1751: David Caldwell, assignee of Samuel Johnson, was paid a bounty for an "old wolf" head.[11]  David Caldwell may be significant because . . .

A group of Presbyterian families emigrated from Ulster to Chestnut Level, Chester County, PA, led by John Caldwell in 1727.  [That portion of Chester became Lancaster the following year.]  They petitioned and received from Gov. Gooch of Virginia 30,000 acres around Cub Creek in 1738, being granted both their right to religious dissent and freedom from taxes for 10 years.  Approximately 200 settlers moved there between 1738 and 1745, including John Dudgeon, Rev. Samuel Wallace, and James Cunningham, whose daughter Mary married a William Johnston.  (Rev. John Thompson from Chestnut Level settled on Buffalo Creek in Amelia County in 1744.  His daughter Jane married Douglas Baker, Caleb's brother and Ruth Baker Johnston's uncle. Our Caleb and Martha Baker, whose son Samuel was married to Elizabeth Thomson, were already there when Thompson arrived.  Samuel Johnston's relationship to Caleb Baker has been described, but other surnames from both settlements are also associated with our Johnstons.  William Caldwell, who lived on Chestnut Creek, and David Caldwell witnessed the will of James Johnston in 1760.   James Cunningham and a William Caldwell owned land on Ward's Fork.  Rev. Caleb Baker Wallace, the son of Rev. Samuel Wallace, was the author of a petition for religious disestablishment in 1776, with two of the signatories being a Samuel and a William Johnston.  It may simply be that Samuel and William Johnston moved into the area, and were not part of either the Cub Creek or the Buffalo Creek Settlements, of course, living their lives surrounded by people who had come south with John Caldwell, but it is also possible that Samuel and William were part of a  group in Drumore or Conestoga Township, PA. 

Samuel was not listed in 1752 Tithable List in Lunenburg County.  The two 1752 entries below might therefore be another Samuel entirely.  In fact, any entries that do not specifically mention the location, neighbors such as Read, Atkins, or Austin, closely related individuals, or profession should be regarded as only possibly our Samuel.

8 Jul 1752: Thomas Tabb sued Samuel Johnson for debt; case dismissed.[12]

5 Aug 1752: Robert Stobo sued Samuel Johnson for debt.  The case was dismissed.[13] 

6 Feb 1753: Samuel and William Johnson were appointed to the road crew from Cole's Road to Little Roanoke Bridge near Clement Read's.[14]  Other landowners appointed to supply tithables were Keeling, Lunderman, Gwinn, Austin, Humphreys, Lee, Mount, Treadway, Atkins, Maddox, Stanfield, Collins, Covington, and Cooke.  There is presently a Coles Ferry Road running roughly north-south to the west of Ward's Fork., as well as Double Bridge Road between Ward's Fork and Roanoke Creek, presumed to be the Little Roanoke. 

20 Jul 1753: Samuel received a patent of 454 acres in Lunenburg County on the north side of Ward's Fork adjoining John Martin and John Austin.[15]

5 Sep 1753: Thomas Baker versus Samuel Johnson, the defendant Samuel "on writ scire facias".  The court ruled that plaintiff Baker was to recover the debt.[16]   "On writ scire facias" requires the defendant to appear in court and present evidence why the judgment should not be for the plaintiff.  The note implies that Samuel did not appear, but the wording is ambiguous.

8 May 1754: Samuel Johnson was appointed surveyor of the road "whereof" Robert Woods was previously surveyor from Little Roanoke Bridge to the low ground on the north side of Ward's Fork.  His crew included William Johnson.[17]  Other landowners supplying laborers were Gwinn, Atkins, Stanfield, Jones, and Creighton.

5 Jun 1754: David Bell versus Samuel Johnson.  Plaintiff Bell defaulted "by nonappearance", and was therefore ordered to pay Samuel 5 shillings plus costs for "false clamour".[18]

5 Aug 1755: Samuel Johnson turned in his accounts for the Joseph Dabbs estate.  In the Accounts Current under Credits was "Samuel Johnson, by a Constable's fee".[19]

3 Sep 1755: Samuel Johnson sold 42 acres on a branch of Ward's Fork to George Hannah for £5.  Then Hannah sold Johnson 9 acres on Ward's Fork for £5.  They testified to these deeds in court on 5 Sep 1755.[20]  The Hannah family would become an important link between Johnstons.  George Hannah, presumably a younger George, served with James Johnston in the Revolutionary War, testifying to this service when James, then in Henry County, applied for a pension.  An older George Hannah married Jane Thompson, the daughter of Rev. John Thompson.  Jane may have also been the widow of Douglas Baker, Ruth's uncle.  And the Prince Edward County Court ordered a land procession during the 1760s which, when returned to court, stated "Hannans and Jonstons themselves present". However, the Hannah's were numerous and were also associated with the Johnsons along the Meherrin River in present-day Lunenburg County, so the presence of the Hannah surname does not always indicate "our" Johnstons.  In the above deed, however, we can be sure because of the location on Ward's Fork.

6 Nov 1755: Male laboring tithables belonging to Richard Ward, John Pleasants, James Nelson, George Harris, and John Butler were ordered to assist surveyor Samuel Johnson.

3 Aug 1756: The court appointed any three of Robert Woods, Samuel Johnson, James Anderson, and/or Thomas Rice to appraise the Justinian Justice estate.[21]  His will had been witnessed by William Johnson, and John Dudgeon was one of the group already mentioned from Chestnut Level, PA; but Mary Justice was the wife of Isaac Johnson, a grandson of Michael Johnson of Tuckahoe Creek and the surname Rice is associated with the Otter River  Johnsons.

In 1756 Samuel and William Johnson were ordered to supply their male tithables to keep the road in repair, that road described as leading from the new town over the county bridge just above Clement Read's plantation to a bridge built by Read over the Little Roanoke River, "thence down the road to the Court House and Church".  Read, Valentine Austin, and John Pleasants were also to supply laborers.[22]

2 Aug 1757: "Samuel Johnson's male laboring tithables" were appointed to a road crew in Lunenburg County, as were William Johnson's, Austin's, and Pleasant's.[23]

5 Apr 1758: Samuel Johnson versus William McClary for debt, the case being dismissed.[24]

8 Mar 1758: Samuel Johnson was mentioned as "late surveyor" of the road crossing the Little Roanoke above Clement Read's.[25] 

20 Apr 1759: Samuel and Ruth were mentioned in the will of Ruth's mother Martha Baker in Prince Edward County, VA.  The legacy of £20 left to Samuel and Ruth by Caleb Baker in 1754 had not been paid and Martha gave instructions for honoring that bequest out of her own estate.[26]

1 May 1759: Samuel Johnson and George Hannah were witnesses for the King against James Rutherford and Thomas Duggins. Sam was being paid for 4 days attendance.[27]

12 May 1759: Samuel Johnson was mentioned as an adjoining landowner in a patent to William Johnson for 285 acres on the lower branches of Ward's Fork.[28]  This would seem to place the location in the southern portion of Lunenburg, close to where Ward's Fork empties into the Staunton/Roanoke River and thus not far from the "Little Roanoke".

25 Oct 1759: At the James Rutherford estate sale, the buyers included Samuel Johnson.[29]

6 Mar 1760: Samuel Johnson was appointed surveyor of the road from the Magazine to Little Roanoak Bridge below Clement Read’s plantation, with James Taylor to assist.[30]

8 May 1760: Richard Booker versus Samuel Johnson.  As Booker had died since the last continuance, the suit abated.[31]

7 Apr 1761: Edward Beard was appointed the surveyor for the road where Samuel Johnson was later surveyor, with the same crew appointed for Samuel.[32]

5 May 1761: Samuel Johnson served on the Grand Jury, and also served on several regular juries.[33]

3 Jun 1761: Samuel Johnson was appointed surveyor of the road “whereof Edmond Beard [was] late surveyor”.[34]

7 Jul 1761: It was ordered that Edward Adkins would replace Samuel Johnson as surveyor.[35]

4 Aug 1761: Along with Robert and David Caldwell, Samuel Johnson witnessed the sale of 200 acres adjoining Terry’s Run from Isaac (x) and Elizabeth (x) Vernon to John Rice.[36]  Once again, we have the Caldwells, but the surname Rice is associated with the Otter River Johnsons in the area that became Bedford County.

5 Aug 1761: Samuel Johnson versus Moses Cornelius for debt; the court ruling for plaintiff  Samuel.[37]

6 Oct 1761: To appraise the personal estate of Elizabeth Dugeon, deceased, the court appointed any three of Samuel or William Johnson, James or Charles Sullivant.[38]   Mary Johnson (or Mary Johnson Charlton) a widow, had married Charles Sullivant on 8 May 1761.  The Sullivants appear in records associated with the descendants of Michael Johnson and/or the Otter River Johnsons.  But as usual, our Samuel was paid by the estate for repairing a wagon in 1764.

2 Feb 1762: To appraise the estate of Richard Ward, deceased, the court appointed any three of Samuel Johnson, William Johnson, Robert Woods, Samuel Davis.[39]

3 Feb 1762: Alexander Speirs and Company versus Samuel Johnson, defendant, the plaintiff to recover debt.[40]

4 Mar 1762: The court ruled that Buchanan, Bowman & Company were to recover a debt against Samuel Johnson.[41]

10 Apr 1762: The will of John Adkins of Cornwall Parish mentioned 150 acres left to son Francis Adkins which adjoined Alexander MacKee and Samuel Johnston.[42]

4 May 1762: Samuel Johnston, Samuel Davis, and Robert Wood turned in their inventory and appraisal on the Richard Ward estate.[43]

14 Feb 1764: A further appraisal of the Richard Ward estate was entered into the court record by Samuel Johnston.[44]

12 May 1764: In accounts of the John Dudgeon estate recorded on that date, payment to Samuel Johnson for repairing a wagon was listed.  Samuel also made a purchase at the estate sale.[45]  Here we have our Samuel definitely associated with the Dudgeon surname.

1765: Charlotte County was formed from the western portion of Lunenburg County.

20 Apr 1765: Samuel Johnston witnessed a deed from Godfrey Jones to Francis Clements for 144 acres bounded by William Foster Senior and William Gill in Charlotte County.  Other witnesses were Thomas and James Foster, John Mitchell, William Holt, Simcock Cannon, William Bailey.[46]  But was this our Samuel Johnston of Ward's Fork?  Elizabeth Johnson, daughter of Joseph Johnson and granddaughter of Michael Johnson of Tuckahoe Creek in Henrico County, married Josiah Foster.  Our Samuel, however, certainly had associations with Simcock Cannon and various Baileys.

22 Apr 1765: Along with Francis Clements, Thomas Foster, Isbell, William Holt, and William Bailey, Samuel Johnston witnessed a deed from Godfrey Jones to Simcock Cannon of Prince Edward County, VA for 50 acres bounded by Collins' old line and Clark.[47]   Once again, was this our Sam?  The Bakers resided in Prince Edward County so there's a possibility.

7 Oct 1765: Along with James Hunt and William Simmons, Samuel Johnston witnessed a deed from Nathaniel Barksdale to John Hill of Prince Edward County for 132 acres on Horsepen Fork of Cub Creek adjoining William Nixon and John Kinkade.[48]  In Henry County, James Johnston witnessed a power of attorney from James Hunt to Edward Nunnely in 1802 and was an appraiser of the James Hunt estate in 1803.  Horsepen Fork of Cub Creek is almost certainly the present day Horsepen Creek, which is the northernmost branch of Cub Creek, the upper reaches of which are currently in Appomattox County, just to the northwest and over a small range of hills from Leatherwood Creek in Henry County where Samuel Johnston Junior resided in the 1780s and 1790s.25 Jul 1770: Caleb Johnston purchased 120 acres on the branches of Ward's Fork bounded by Read, Cobbs, and Hugh Cratin, from John Butler of Pittsylvania County.  The witnesses were James White, Samuel Johnston, and Gabriel May.[49]  Caleb was Samuel and Ruth's son.  James White was the son-in-law of neighboring William Johnston.

At an unknown date, Samuel and Caleb Johnston, along with Gabriel May, witnessed a deed from Samuel Davis to Matthews Flournoy for 16 acres on the waters of Ward's Fork.[50]

7 Oct 1771: Samuel Johnston, Peter Rawlins, and John Dugeon witnessed a deed from Thomas and Lucy Walters of Pittsylvania County to Charles Adams for 250 acres bounded by John Henry, Jonathan Vernon, Joel Stow, and David Caldwell.[51]  Samuel Junior married in Pittsylvania County in 1777.

27 May 1772: In a deed of trust from William Frogg to Henry and Edmund Lyne in Pittsylvania County, Frogg sold "one Waggon made by Samuel Johnson".[52]   This was probably Sam Senior as Sam Junior was only about 19 years old that year.

11 Jun 1773: Samuel Johnston Senior signed a trust deed to Buchanan, Hastie & Company of Glasgow for 250 acres on north side of Ward's Fork in Charlotte County to cover a debt of £94.19.01.3.  Payment was due 11 Jun 1774.  Witnessed by William Jameson, John Lindsey, and G. Hamilton.[53]  Samuel had received a patent for this parcel on 20 Jul 1753.

28 Nov 1774: Samuel Johnston, Ruth Johnston, and William Cook witnessed the will of William Johnston.[54]   This was probably Samuel and Ruth, the parents, rather than Samuel and Ruth, their son and daughter.  This William Johnston, who died the next autumn, was not that second generation either, so he's almost certainly the man who settled on Ward's Fork at the same time as Samuel and Ruth.  Once again, the relationship must have been close.[55] 

24 Sep 1776: A petition from the residents of Prince Edward County to the newly independent Virginia Assembly advocating religious disestablishment included the signatures of Samuel, Robert, and William Johnston - all next to each other - as well as numerous Bakers, Ewings, Hannas, Cunninghams, Caldwells, and Thompsons.  The author of the petition was Rev. Caleb Baker Wallace of Cub Creek, a Presbyterian.  Rev. Thompson was Ruth Baker Johnston's nephew.  These Johnstons may or may not have been ours, but many relatives of the residents of Prince Edward County supposedly signed the petition.   Prince Edward County was not only the home of the Bakers, it also adjoined Charlotte County.

c. 1782: Samuel Johnson was paid for "224# hay, 12 diets; 10 bu oats; repairing a publick waggon; 20 sheeves oats; pasturage 8 horses, 2 diets; 3000# hay £6-18-3".[56]

7 Oct 1782: The inventory of the Thomas Allday estate taken by George Hannah, Samuel Johnston, and James Johnston was recorded.[57]  Perrin Allday resided on Ward's Fork, had been the overseer for Clement Read, and married Anne Brumfield Johnston Tankserley, widow of William Johnston.

6 Mar 1787: Samuel Johnson versus Henry Benskin Lightfoot.  Defendant Lightfoot did not appear, so judgment resulted in an attachment against his estate.[58]  But was this Senior or Junior, or another Johnson entirely?

2 May 1787 Tax List, Charlotte County, VA (List A): Samuel Johnson with 0 white males 16-21, 2 blacks over 16, 5 horses or mules, 20 cattle.  Enumerated that same day were William and James Johnson, with the latter's tax being charged to Samuel Johnston.[59]  Enumerated on 30 May 1787 was James Johnston Senior, no doubt the man who died in 1816.  Samuel Junior  is residing in Henry County, but where is Caleb?

27 Jan 1788: Samuel Johnson was listed both as bondsman and father in the marriage of Ruthy Johnston to Halcombe Roberson.

7 Jun 1790: Thomas Southern Whitwell was bound to Samuel Johnson, rescinding an order for him to be bound to Benjamin Morton.[60]

4 Oct 1790: This same Thomas Southern Whitwell was bound to William Johnson, as his former master Samuel Johnson was deceased.[61]  Samuel thus died between June and October of 1790, with September being the likeliest month.  It's not known if Ruth was still alive.  If she was, it would explain why the estate was still in question in 1799, as at least 1/3 would have remained in her possession for her lifetime.  When the estate was appraised in December 1790, it contained three beds.

28 Dec 1790: Samuel's estate was appraised by Oliver Sallee [son-in-law of the William Johnston who died in 1775], James Johnson, and William Price Senior. The inventory included one set of wagon maker's tools.  There was, in addition to various farming, carpentry, and household items: 3 beds, a parcel of books, a parcel of delftware, 1 desk, 11 chairs, and 2 slaves, George and Lucy, 4 horses, 10 cattle, and 15 pigs.  The total value was appraised at £103.5.6.[62]

6 Mar 1799: There was still 117 acres on Ward's Fork and two slaves, George and Lucy, belonging to the Samuel Johnston estate that had not been divided between his seven children.  The court appointed any three of John Daniel Junior, Henry Watkins, Thomas C. Elliot, and Claiborne Barksdale to divide said estate.  "It appearing from the evidence given before the Court that the dividend of each heir ___ arising from the sale of the land would not in their opinion exceed one hundred dollars."  George and Lucy were also to be sold at public auction.  This particular court order names the Administrators as Caleb and William Johnson, and David Bailey.[63]  Although a newspaper notice dated 19 Apr 1799 and another portion of this same court order would have us believe that William was no longer a resident of Virginia.

Children of Samuel and Ruth Baker Johnston:

Caleb Johnston

William Johnston

Jean Johnston (m. David Bailey)

Samuel Johnston

James Johnston (1757 – 30 Apr 1841; m. Joice Wells 24 Aug 1790)

Ruth Johnston (c. 1771 –    ; m. Holcomb Robertson 27 Jan 1788)

Patsy Johnston

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Nancy Denty Breidenthal

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