The letter below is transcribed from an old letter written by a Mr. McLean/McClain in 1900 from Lillington, 
Harnett Co, NC in which he was answering a query sent to the Courier-Journal newspaper at that time. In the 
letter, he answered many questions about the William B. Johnson (1775-1850 Cumberland CO) family.  
John Norman "Jack" Johnson of Itawamba Co, MS was inquiring about the family, but Jack's father 
is not named in the letter, although he is mentioned, and that is my direct line that I have never been able 
to determine his name. Any help would be appreciated. Best Regards, Marvin Minton  March 28, 2007 by Myrtle Bridges

Lillington, Harnett Co. NC
Sept 3, 1900

Mr. Jack Johnson   Itawamba  Ms.

Dear Sir,
I saw your inquire in the courier-journal on the 13th of August about your uncle William, your father's 
brother. He has been dead about eight years, he has 4 sons, the oldest one William Henry died in Texas 
some years ago. The three others John T. Archie and Morgan live in this settlement. John T. Never married. 
The other two have families and quite a number of children.

Your uncle has 5 daughters, 3 married, 2 have died. The oldest one married a man Duncan Massey. She is 
a widow and lives in Jack Co. Texas, Jacksboro. Your Pa's two others died several years ago. Your father 
was younger than his brother William. They had a younger brother named Norman who has a son who lives in 
Durham [NC] has a drugstore and is a physician. Your father had two sisters older than the sons. The 
oldest named Betsy, married a Mathews. Mary married a Partin. They live in Itawamba Co., Ms.

Your father and a young man named Hugh Black and brother Hugh and myself left the county on horse back 
for Alabama in November 1836. I am in my 91st year. I want to hear from you in full, who did he marry 
and is he living or did he die?  My brother died Feb. 1879

Your inquiry wouldn't have been answered if it had not come to me.

Your father called on me when I resided in Marion, Alabama. I think it was about 1839. He was on his 
way visiting his kin Partin that married his sister Mary. Your father was born in 1815 or 1816. I am 
not certain which. Your kin here expect to hear from you.

I lived in Alabama the most of my time, until 1875 returned to Carolina to stay. I was successful in 
making money and property but lost most of it by the war. Morgan oldest son has twins 5, and 4 other boys. 
Mr.  McClain (McLean)

1.  TAPLEY SR.1 JOHNSON died Abt. 1820.  He married LYDIA.  
	
Children of TAPLEY JOHNSON and LYDIA are:
2.	i.	WILLIAM B.2 JOHNSON, b. Bef. 1775; d. Abt. March 1850, Cumberland County, NC.
	ii.	TAPLEY JR. JOHNSON.
	iii.	ELIZABETH JOHNSON, m. JESSEE BRANCH.
	iv.	SALLY JOHNSON, m. JOEL PRINCE?.

2.  WILLIAM B.2 JOHNSON (TAPLEY SR.1) was born Bef. 1775, and died Abt. March 1850 in Cumberland 
County, NC.  He married MARY EDWARDS.  She was born Abt. 1790, and died Bef. March 1849 in Cumberland 
County, NC.

Notes for WILLIAM B. JOHNSON:
This is the uncle that Jack Johnson of Itawamba County, MS wrote the letter of inquiry about in 1900. 
He stayed in NC.
	
Children of WILLIAM JOHNSON and MARY EDWARDS are:
	i.	ELIZABETH ANN 'BETSY'3 JOHNSON, b. Abt. 1809; m. ISAIAH MATTHEWS, October 27, 1827, Cumberland 
	County, NC.

Notes for ISAIAH MATTHEWS:
This couple may have moved to Mississippi.

3.	ii.	MARY JANE JOHNSON, b. Abt. 1811, Cumberland County, NC; d. Bef. 1860, Itawamba Co., MS.
4.	iii.	WILLIAM A. 'WIGG' JOHNSON, b. Abt. 1815, Cumberland County, NC; d. Abt. 1892, Cumberland 
County, NC.
	iv.	UNKNOWN JOHNSON, b. Abt. 1816.
5.	v.	HENRY E. JOHNSON, b. January 18, 1816, NC; d. January 11, 1863, Itawamba Co., MS.
6.	vi.	NORMAN U. JOHNSON, b. Abt. 1820, Cumberland County, NC.

3.  MARY JANE3 JOHNSON (WILLIAM B.2, TAPLEY SR.1) was born Abt. 1811 in Cumberland County, NC, 
and died Bef. 1860 in Itawamba Co., MS.  She married GRAY PARTIN October 12, 1832 in Cumberland County, 
NC.  He was born April 17, 1804 in Cumberland County, NC, and died Bef. 1860 in Itawamba Co., MS.

Notes for GRAY PARTIN:
Gray and Mary Jane were in Autauga County, AL by 1837 where they purchased land. They had moved to 
Itawamba County, MS by 1840 where Mary Jane died in late 1850's. Gray Partin died in 1860. Parents 
of five sons. Five of whom died during the Civil War.
	
Children of MARY JOHNSON and GRAY PARTIN are:
	i.	MARY E.4 PARTIN, b. 1833.
	ii.	HENRY J. PARTIN, b. 1834.
	iii.	WILLIAM PARTIN, b. 1837.
	iv.	GRAY PARTIN, b. 1838.
	v.	SARAH F. PARTIN, b. 1840.
	vi.	JOHN N. PARTIN, b. 1842.
	vii.	CHARLES D. PARTIN, b. 1844.
	viii.	SUSAN JANE PARTIN, b. 1844.
	ix.	CAROLINE V. PARTIN, b. 1846.
	x.	FRANCES M. PARTIN, b. 1849.


4.  WILLIAM A. 'WIGG'3 JOHNSON (WILLIAM B.2, TAPLEY SR.1) was born Abt. 1815 in Cumberland County, NC, 
and died Abt. 1892 in Cumberland County, NC.  He married ELIZABETH A. DENNING January 11, 1841 in 
Cumberland County, NC.  She was born 1817 in NC.

Notes for WILLIAM A. 'WIGG' JOHNSON:

1850 Census of Harnett shows: William A. Johnson 35; Elizabeth 33; Kezia 8f; William H. 6m; Mary E. 4f; 
John T. 2m; Lovely J. 4 mos.f
Next door is Norman U. Johnson (Wm. A's brother) 30; Catharine 29; Rich'd M. 6; Stephen 4; Edith A. 3 
and Elizabeth A. 10 mos.

1860 Census of Harnett County shows Wm. A. Johnson 44m; E. A. 35f; M. J. 13f; S. A. 12f; S. C. 10 f; 
J. T. 9m; L. A. 8m; Amanda 7f; J. A. 6m; A. E. 4f; N. A. 2m; N. E. 1m;

The 1870 Census of Harnett County, Grove District shows W. A. Johnson 55m; E. A. 45f; M. J. 24f;
 S. A. 22f; S.C. 21f; J. T. 20m; L. A. 18m; M. M. 17m; J. G. 16m; A. E. 14f; W. A. 12m; N. E. 11f;
  G. A. 9m; E. 7m; A. M. 4m & H. E. Ennis 80f

The 1880 Census of Harnett County this family shows W. A. 64; Elizabeth 62, wife; Lousiana 24, daughter, 
(has Neuralgia); A. L. Son 21; A. M. Son 18; J. W. Holland 17,  adopted son. 
William Jr. Johnson 31, lives next door; Debie or Delia 25 wife; Florence 7 daughter; Joseph 6 son; 
Callie 4 daughter; Albert 2 son & Elizabeth Ghaskin 41, sister-in-law. 
John T. Johnson 31, lives nearby with the Neill and Sarah Campbell family.
	
Children of WILLIAM JOHNSON and ELIZABETH DENNING are:
	i.	KEZIA4 JOHNSON, b. 1842; d. Jacksboro, Jacks County, TX; m. DUNCAN MASSEY; d. Jacksboro, 
	Jacks County, TX.
7.	ii.	WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON, b. 1844, NC.
	iii.	MARY E. JOHNSON, b. 1846.
	iv.	JOHN TYLER JOHNSON, b. 1848.
	v.	LOVELY J. JOHNSON, b. April 1850.
	vi.	AMANDA JOHNSON, b. 1853.
	vii.	LOUISANA JOHNSON, b. 1856.
	viii.	ARCHIBALD LEONARD JOHNSON, b. 1859.
	ix.	ALEXANDER MORGAN JOHNSON, b. 1862.


5.  HENRY E.3 JOHNSON (WILLIAM B.2, TAPLEY SR.1) was born January 18, 1816 in NC, and died 
January 11, 1863 in Itawamba Co., MS.  He married SARAH INGLE October 22, 1842 in Itawamba, MS.  
She was born 1819 in AL.

More About HENRY E. JOHNSON:
Burial: Partin Cemetery
	
Children of HENRY JOHNSON and SARAH INGLE are:
	i.	TALUCIA ELIZABETH 'BETTY'4 JOHNSON, b. 1844, MS; m. JACK JOHNSON; b. Abt. 1840.
	ii.	WILLIAM JOHNSON, b. 1846, MS.
	iii.	MARY M. JOHNSON, b. 1848, MS.
	iv.	JOHN NORMAN 'JACK' JOHNSON, b. January 03, 1852, MS.
	v.	ELIZA JANE JOHNSON, b. 1854, MS.
	vi.	HENRY JR. JOHNSON, b. 1856, MS.
	vii.	THOMAS JEFFERSON 'BUD' JOHNSON, b. 1860, MS.
	viii.	AMANDA JOHNSON, b. 1861, MS.


6.  NORMAN U.3 JOHNSON (WILLIAM B.2, TAPLEY SR.1) was born Abt. 1820 in Cumberland County, NC.  
He married (1) CATHERINE 'KATE' NANCE December 03, 1841 in Cumberland County, NC.  She was born 
Abt. 1821 in North Carolina, and died Abt. 1850.  He married (2) SUSAN MORGAN Bef. November 1851. 
She was born 1825 in AL.
	
Children of NORMAN JOHNSON and CATHERINE NANCE are:
	i.	RICHARD M.4 JOHNSON, b. 1844.
	ii.	STEPHEN JOHNSON, b. 1846.
	iii.	EDITH A. JOHNSON, b. 1847.
	iv.	ELIZABETH A. JOHNSON, b. October 1848.

	
Children of NORMAN JOHNSON and SUSAN MORGAN are:
	v.	MILTON LEWIS4 JOHNSON, b. November 11, 1851, AL.
	vi.	ANDREW JACKSON JOHNSON, b. Abt. 1853, AL; m. TALUCIA ELIZABETH 'BETTY' JOHNSON, February 11, 1866, 
	Itawamba, MS.

Notes for ANDREW JACKSON JOHNSON:
Andrew Jackson Johnson married his cousin, Talucia Elizabeth "Betty" Johnson, daughter of Norman's 
brother, Henry Johnson, Feb 11, 1866 in Itawamba Co MS.   Source: Marvin Minton


	vii.	WILLIAM B. JOHNSON, b. Abt. 1855, MS.
	viii.	MARY LEE JOHNSON, b. September 04, 1862, MS.

7.  WILLIAM HENRY4 JOHNSON (WILLIAM A. 'WIGG'3, WILLIAM B.2, TAPLEY SR.1) was born 1844 in NC.  
He married DELIA PIPKIN.  She was born 1855 in NC.

Notes for WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON:
Elizabeth Ghaskin 41, sister-in-law, is shown in the William Johnson, Jr. 31, household during 1880 
census of Harnett County, NC. This family was in Neil's Creek district next door to Wm. A. Sr. 
	
Children of WILLIAM JOHNSON and DELIA PIPKIN are:
	i.	FLORENCE5 JOHNSON, b. 1873.
	ii.	JOSEPH JOHNSON, b. 1874.
	iii.	CALLIE JOHNSON, b. 1876.
	iv.	ALBERT JOHNSON, b. 1878.

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