JOHNSON, HENRY aka Hendrick Jansen van Jeveren

The famous Talbot line, marked only by blazed trees, played an important part in the controversy over the boundary line. It was far below the fortieth parallel. Penn and his successors claimed, and apparently Cecilius Calvert thought, that the line represented the northern boundary of Maryland. An examination of the first map of Pennsylvania under William Penn shows that he claimed much of the land in Cecil County. Perhaps owing to ignorance of a new country William Penn really thought he had a right to all of this. In any case he caused a great deal of alarm by the letters he wrote to the Maryland Province, to Augustine Herman, James Frisby, Edward Jones, George Oldfield, Henry Ward and Henry Johnson. These letters were addressed to them at their plantations in Pennsylvania and contained this startling news - "I think fitt to caution you  ... that none of you pay any more taxes or Sessments by any order or Law of Maryland ... You shall finde me and my Government easy, free and just. 

By 1676 Henry Johnson aka Hendrick Jansen van Jeveren had married Elizabeth (nee Carter), Nathaniel Utie's widow. She married 3rd Edward Boothby. Elizabeth was daughter of John Carter. {Baltimore County Families, 1659-1759 by Robert W. Barnes, p. 365.} 

In April, 1677 Nathaniel Utie's former servant Edward Inglish became a servant to Henry Johnson who had married Utie's widow (as noted in a petition by Inglish to the Maryland Council in 1682 in which he requested his freedom from Johnson since he had served for 5 years as agreed in 1677). It is interesting that on a list of debts and payments in 1688 for the estate of William Stevens, deceased, of Somerset County, the name of "Col. Nathaniell Utie, alias Nathaniell Johnson" appears.

On 12 Jun 1678, Henry Johnson and Elizabeth, his wife, deeded land to John Hyland of Cecil County; 500 acres of land in Elk River, half of a tract of land formerly taken up by John Collett, Sr. and George Goldsmith called Triumph, the other 500 acres being sold to Robert Hawkins and adjoined to John Hawkins. [John Collett and George Goldsmith, land patent in 1665 for "Triumph" of 1000 acres.]

By 1680 Henry Johnson was a captain. He was paid for his services out of an assessment levied by the General Assembly for the public good in 1682. {Colonial Maryland Soldiers and Sailors 1634-1734  by Henry C. Peden, Jr., M.A. p. 199}

On 1 August 1682 Henry Johnson purchased 640 acres Spry's Inheritance from Samuel Hedge and wife Ann.

He was a member of the Lower House of the Maryland Assembly from 1682-1684 and a justice (quorum), 1680-1690. {Colonial Maryland Soldiers and Sailors 1634-1734  by Henry C. Peden, Jr., M.A. p. 199}

He was a captain of a foot company in 1689. {Colonial Maryland Soldiers and Sailors 1634-1734  by Henry C. Peden, Jr., M.A. p. 199}

He died testate by June 13, 1689 (date of probate; Elizabeth Johnson, widow; administration account filed on May 7, 1700 by Elizabeth Boothby, administratrix, and wife of Edward Boothby)  {Colonial Maryland Soldiers and Sailors 1634-1734  by Henry C. Peden, Jr., M.A. p. 199}

Johnson died leaving a will, made 13 June 1689, naming wife Elizabeth, and sons Henry and Joseph. His estate was inventoried 18 Jan 1690 by Thomas Walston and Edward Bedell and valued at 249.10.0 pounds. The estate was administered on 11 June 1694 by Edward Boothby who married the widow, and again in 1708 by Boothby's widow Elizabeth. The deceased left issue: Joseph and Henry. {Baltimore County Families, 1659-1759 by Robert W. Barnes, p. 365.}