Brief Life History of Sarah Jane
When Sarah Jane Johnson was born on 5 May 1827, in Washington, Indiana, United States, her father, Ransom Johnson, was 28 and her mother, Barbara Wright, was 25. She married Thomas Ratts on 31 December 1846, in Washington, Indiana, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 1 daughter. She lived in Jackson Township, Washington, Indiana, United States in 1850 and Pierce Township, Washington, Indiana, United States in 1860. She died on 3 December 1861, in Washington, Indiana, United States, at the age of 34, and was buried in Pierce Township, Washington, Indiana, United States.
Photos and Memories (1)
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Family Time Line
Sources (6)
- Sarah J Batts in household of Thomas Batts, "United States Census, 1860"
- Sarah J Johnson, "Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007"
- Sarah Jane Johnson Ratts, "Find A Grave Index"
Spouse and Children
Parents and Siblings
Siblings (8)
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World Events (6)
1830 · The Second Great Awakening
Being a second spiritual and religious awakening, like the First Great Awakening, many Churches began to spring up from other denominations. Many people began to rapidly join the Baptist and Methodist congregations. Many converts to these religions believed that the Awakening was the precursor of a new millennial age.
1836 · The Massive Internal Improvements Act
The Massive Internal Improvements Act of 1836 loaned Indiana $10,000,000 to create infrastructure such as canals, railroads, and roads across the state. The act was signed by Whig Governor Noah Noble and passed by the Indiana General Assembly. However, the financial crisis known as the Panic of 1837 thwarted these plans as costs ballooned. Construction on the infrastructure was not completed and the state debt rapidly increased.
1841 · Indiana Nears Bankruptcy
The State of Indiana was near bankruptcy in 1841 due to the inability to repay interest incurred for the Massive Internal Improvement Act. The state liquidated much of its public works. Many of the projects were handed over to the state’s creditors as a way to reduce debt. Only two of the eight proposed infrastructure projects were completed by the creditors.
Name Meaning
English and Scottish: patronymic from the Middle English and Older Scots personal name Johan, Jo(h)n (see John ) + -son. It was often interchanged with Jenson and Janson . In North America, this surname has absorbed cognates from other languages, e.g. Norwegian, Danish, or North German Johnsen , Johannesen , Johannsen , Johansen , Jansen , Jantzen , and Jensen , Swedish Johnsson (see below), Johansson , Jonsson , and Jansson , Dutch Janssen , German Janz , Czech Jansa 1, and Slovenian Janša (see Jansa 2) and Janežič (see Janezic ). Johnson (including in the sense 2 below) is the second most frequent surname in the US. It is also the second most common surname among Native Americans and a very common surname among African Americans.
Americanized form (and a less common Swedish variant) of Swedish Johnsson: patronymic from the personal name John, a variant of Jon (see John ). Compare 1 above.
History: Surname Johnson was brought independently to North America by many different bearers from the 17th and 18th centuries onward. Andrew Johnson (1808–75), 17th president of the US, was born in Raleigh, NC, the younger son of Jacob Johnson and Mary (or Polly) McDonough. Little is known of his ancestors. The 36th president, Lyndon B. Johnson, dates his American forebears back seven generations to James Johnston (sic) (born c. 1662) who lived at Currowaugh, Nansemond, and Isle of Wight counties, VA. — Noted early bearers also include Marmaduke Johnson (died 1674), a printer who came from England to MA in 1660; Edward Johnson (1598–1672), a colonial chronicler who was baptized at St. George's parish, Canterbury, England, and emigrated to Boston in 1630; and Sir Nathaniel Johnson (c. 1645–1713), a colonial governor of Carolina, who came from County Durham, England.
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
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