History of Sir John Johnson
John Johnson was the oldest son of Sir William Johnson, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, province of New York. He fought beside his father at the Battle of Lake George, in 1755, and at age seventeen, took part in the siege of Fort Niagara. The following year, he entered Montreal, with the British Army. Following the death of Sir William in 1774, John inherited his father’s title and vast estates in Tryon County, New York.
When the American Revolution broke out, Johnson's job was to ensure the Six Nations' loyalty to the Crown or, failing that, ensure their neutrality. The Patriots acted swiftly to place him on parole, but Johnson escaped with his family to Canada. He moved quickly to raise the first of his King's Royal Regiment of New York (Provincial Corps), eventually raising two battalions, who served in the Canadian command, mounting numerous successful raids back in the Kingsborough area of the Mohawk Valley, and bringing out many of his former tenants and neighbours.
His estate at Johnstown, N.Y. was confiscated, and he eventually settled at Mount Johnson (Mont St. Gregoire) Quebec. He continued to work for his former tenants, members of the KRRNY and fellow Loyalists after the War. He also served as a member of the Legislative Council of Lower Canada, and as a Grand Master of the Masonic Order of Quebec. He died in his Montreal home in 1830. Click here for further information.
Clearly our Mission Statement (http://www.uelac.org/headoffice.php) encourages members to develop a collective approach to ensuring the place of United Empire Loyalists in Canada’s history. However, recent personal activities also suggest that by increasing the celebrity status of our heroes we strengthen our understanding of our less famous ancestors. In particular, by learning more about Sir John Johnson’s role in the development of both Lower and Upper Canada, the challenges faced by our individual Loyalists become clearer. Discovering the memorials to this 18th century leader only emphasizes the need to secure his place in our history in the lead-up to our one hundredth anniversary celebrations.
In 1961, Colonel Sir John Johnson, Sixth Baronet of New York joined Ontario Premier Hon. Leslie M. Frost and UELAC President Dr. H. G. Walton-Ball to dedicate the memorial To The Loyalist American Regiments in Crysler Farm Battlefield Park adjacent to Upper Canada Village, Morrisburg, Ontario. On the western side of the stone wall, a plaque near the flagpole commemorates “Sir John Johnson, Knight and Second Baronet of New York, Major General of Militia New York Province, Lieut. Colonel Commandant of the Kings Royal Regiment of New York, Superintendent and Inspector General of the Six Nations Indians, Colonel in Chief of Militia Eastern Townships, and Member of the Legislative Council of Lower Canada.” The plaque was presented and the first flag raised by Sir John Johnson, Sixth Baronet of New York on the 24th of June that year.
Further to the northeast, those who attended the 2001annual conference in Cornwall were able to visit the Sir John Johnson manor house in Williamstown, Ontario. Built between 1784 and 1792, the home was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1961 and a plaque was erected in 1995. (http://www.uelac.org/Loyalist-Monuments/SJJ-Plaque.php)
However, it is at the base of Mont St. Gregoire that we face our greatest challenge in establishing a suitable memorial to Sir John Johnson. In 1794, Sir John purchased the Seigneurie de Monnoir, later to build a summer home on the south side of the mountain as well as a family crypt. Vandalized some time during World War II, the family burial vault was accidentally bulldozed in the 1950’s. Years later, the gravestone was recovered, secured in a niche in the outside wall of the Missisquoi County Museum and plaqued by the newly formed Sir John Johnson Centennial Branch. Less than ten years ago, on May 13, 1998, members of the SirJJCB and Haut-Richelieu Historical Society formed La Société de restauration du Patrimoine Johnson to restore this actual historic site. As a key feature of its new website, www.uelac.org/SirJohnJohnson, the SirJJCB has attempted to pull together a comprehensive history of this ongoing project. Separate reports answer questions regarding ownership and archeological discoveries but there is still much to do. The challenges faced by the newly combined organization are reminiscent of the difficulties endured by the early United Empire Loyalists who wanted to settle in the Eastern Township region in the face of government opposition. Keeping the broader community up to date with developments definitely will help raise the recognition factor of Sir John Johnson.
Finally, it should be noted that there has been a recent use of print media as well to tell the story of Sir John Johnson. The First Forty Years, published in honour of the 40th Anniversary of the SirJJCB, features an account on Sir John Johnson, his life, burial and the attempts to restore the family vault. In addition, the September 2007 Cataraqui Loyalist Town Crier, the Kingston and District Branch’s newsletter, also includes a lengthy article on the early life of Sir John Johnson by Earle Thomas. As more information is shared, the value of name recognition will increase across Canada. In time, we will be more familiar with his relationship with the King’s Royal Regiment of New York, his role in the Legislative Council of Lower Canada and as the Grand Master of the Masonic Order of Quebec. In time, Sir John Johnson will be recognized as a Canadian hero, a United Empire Loyalist to honour.
Fred H. Hayward UE, Sr.Vice President, UELAC.