Martha Johnson

Brief Life History of Martha

When Martha Johnson was born in 1822, in Nova Scotia, Canada, her father, John Johnston, was 42 and her mother, Margaret Polly, was 38. She married Alexander Chisholm on 9 February 1847, in Londonderry, Colchester, Nova Scotia, Canada. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 4 daughters. She lived in Hopkinton, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States in 1850. She died in 1891, at the age of 69.

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Family Time Line

Alexander Chisholm
1820–1870
Martha Johnson
1822–1891
Marriage: 9 February 1847
Elizabeth Logne
1850–
Margaret E. Chisholm
1861–1894
Mary E. Chisholm
1862–1907
Annie L. Chisholm
1868–
John William Chisholm
1857–1949
Thomas Malcolm Chisholm
1868–1943

Sources (14)

  • Martha Chisholm in household of Alexander Chisholm, "United States Census, 1850"
  • Martha Chisholm, "Canada, Nova Scotia, Marriages, 1864-1918"
  • Martha, "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001"

World Events (7)

1823

Oldest Grave Seen in Memorial List

1825 · The Crimes Act

The Crimes Act was made to provide a clearer punishment of certain crimes against the United States. Part of it includes: Changing the maximum sentence of imprisonment to be increased from seven to ten years and changing the maximum fine from $5,000 to $10,000.

1846

U.S. acquires vast tracts of Mexican territory in wake of Mexican War including California and New Mexico.

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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