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- Sergeant Humphrey came from England with his father, Captain John. "He was a capable man in town affairs and often employed in the public business. He had an uncommon inclination to law suits and few men have left on the records of the court, so many evidences of his litigeous disposition." He settled in Scituate, Mass., and later was of Hingham, Mass., where he was an Innkeeper. He was a member of his brother's Company in the Narragansett Expedition. He was an original donor of the Free School. His farm house in Scituate was in later years owned by Joshua Lincoln into whose family there was much intermarrying.
Sources: History of Ancient and Honorable Artillery, Vol. I, p. 151.
"History of Scituate," by Deane, pp. 276-297.
"Serg. Huymphrey Johnson was in Scituate, 1651, and purchased lands in Umhatch on the North of Cornet Stetson's farm, a deep ravine dividing the two farms. His home stood near the bank of that ravine; it was afterwards owned by Joshua Lincoln. He had also several houses by purchase and claimed to be successor, in division of common lands, to Resolved White and Josiah Holmes. His wife's name was Eleanor Cheney, probably of Hingham; and Johnson removed to Hingham in 1673. He was a capable man in public affairs and often employed in Town business, in the early part of his life; but he had an uncommon inclination to law suits, and few men have left on the records of the court, so many evidences of his litegious disposition -- some of which we insert":
In 1693 he commenced a suit against the town for 3 shares in common lands. He had removed his residence out of the Colony ten years before to Roxbury, and the Town considered that his right to common lands was thereby canceled. He however, recovered an execution and John Cushing, Samuel Clap, and Jeremiah Hatch were apoointed to set off lands to satisfy the execution.
Among Winslow's papers in possession of John Davis, are several curious documents relating to Sergeant Johnson's claims at Scituate, and particularly a letter from Governor Josiah Winslow, dated march 14, 1673/4, addressed to Gen. Cudworth, which probably conributed much to the ending of the conroversy (note on page 402).
Again, in 1697, when Sir Edmund Andros, Governor General, and his council had the sole conrol of affairs, Johnson went with complaints to the Governor "that he had not had his ful rights in Scituate." The Town being notified, thus remonstrated and answered that "Johnson's claims had all been satisfied; that the original writ and process thereupon was altogether tortuous and wrong, and yet that was obtained by Jedgment of Court had been satisfied." Never the less Johnson was furnished with a warrant from Andros and came with his surveyor and laid out 100 acres at the head of Richard Dwelley's lot -- 100 acres at Burnt Plain, 100 acres at Halifax Cedar Swamp. On this the town with John Cushing and Samuel Clap as Agents, addressed the Governor in a very spirited declaration, showing there was much land laid out by Johnson "had already been appropriated to others" -- that Johnson "had already been accomodated with thrice 65 acres to the full amount of his claim as principal and successor to two other." We believe this grant was never confirmed, and probably the recall of Gov. Andros to England a few months after the date of the above declaration, put an end to Johnson's hopes and projects. "Johnson's Swamp" in Scituate (near the Hingham line, in the beaches) derived its name from Johnson's trespass. After the dispute he moved his house to Hingham, and atoned for his short comings by serving his country in the conflict then going on (Indian War).
In "History of Cohasset," p. 150"
Humphrey Johnson got 5 shares or 10 acres, when Cohasset, (best land along the harbor to the south of Bound Creek and to Little Harbor), was divided -- with one more share Dec. 6, 1676 -- only 8 men got more. P. 147:
"Joshua Hobart, Daniel Cushing, Jeremy Beal, Lt. Smith, Humphrey Johnson, and Moses Collier, are appointed a committee to get best advise on dividing up of the commons."
From "Hist. of Hingham," p. 236, Vol. I, part 1:
"Among the companies in teh Indian War was one commanded by Capt. Isaac Johnson of Roxbury, (Humphrey's brother) already a distinguished officer, who had led a company of preying Indians in the earlier days of the conflict. He was known as the brave Captain Johnson, and in his commend, it was the good fortune of a part of the men from our town (Hingham) to serve."
Humphrey's father-in-law, William Cheney, was an ancestor of Pres. William H. Taft.
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Americana, July, 1941, 3rd Quarter, p. 607, "Hinsdale Family," by Myrtle M. Lewis.
Suffolk County Deeds at Boston (Abigail -- end wife).
"Roxbury, Mass. to 1850" -- Births, p. 195; Marriages, pp. 69, 223, 224; Deaths, p. 563.
"Roxbury History," by Ellis, pp. 16, 20, and 39.
"History of Hingham, Mass.," Vo. II, pp 384-385.
"Framingham, Mass.," by Temple, p. 608.
"Scituate, Mass. to 1850," p. 384; Births, p. 206.
"Woodstock, Conn.," Vol. VII, by Bowen, p. 149.
"History of Scituate, Mass.," by Dean, pp. 296-297.
"History of Roxbury, Mass.," Vol. IV, p. 183.
"Franklin D. Roosevelt's Colonial Ancestors," by A. P. Johnson, pp. 162-165, and 165.
"History of First Church in Roxbury, Mass.," by Thwing, 1908.
He first married Elinor Cheney, daughter of William Cheney & Margaret, on Mar 20, 1642/3. Born England abt 1626. Died Hingham, Mass., on 29 Sep 1678.
Parents ancestors of President Taft.
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RNT Family History
Abt 1620 - 1693 (73 years)