Widow's Pension
Sarah Jane Fortner Johnson
For Husband
William Johnson
Overview of
Pension papers received June 15, 2001 by Louise Johnson kohl from the National Archives.
It includes every document on file for William. (87 pages) It also includes statements of clerks for the license and marriage of Sarah and William in Claiborne County, TN. She definitely spelled her last name 'Fortner'
It seems that Sarah applied in 1864 and was granted a sum of $8.00 plus $2.00 a month for minor children which included, Solomon, b. August 07, 1853, Margaret S. b. July 14, 1855 and Isaac B. b. November 17, 1856. That application was denied March 1869 and it apparently took five years to have it re-instated in 1871. The reason being there was a discrepancy about the death date for William. According to the service record and
statements from witnesses. One reads April 1862, one reads April 3, 1862, one reads April 30, 1862 and one reads between May 8 and 10, 1862.
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1. William1 Johnson was born 1815 in Tennessee (1850 Census), and died May 10, 1862 in Cumberland Ford, KY. He married Sarah Jane Fortner March 01, 1842 in Goin, TN By Wm. Bullard, J.P. Claiborne Co., Tennessee, daughter of Jacob Fortner and Elizabeth Chambers. She was born 1825 in Greene Co., Tennessee, and died Abt. 1890 in Unknown.
Children of William Johnson and Sarah Fortner are:
2 i. Martha Jane2 Johnson, born October 15, 1843 in Claiborne, Co., Tennessee; died March 22, 1912. She married (1) Thomas Goin February 09, 1859 in Claiborne County, Tennessee; born Abt. 1834 in Tennessee; died July 15, 1862 in Claiborne, Co., Tennessee. She married (2) Andrew Jackson
Goin May 04, 1867 in Claiborne Co., TN; born in Tennessee; died in Claiborne County, TN.
3 ii. John William Johnson, born 1845 in Claiborne, Co., Tennessee; died October 17, 1862 in Claiborne, Co., Tennessee returning home from the Civil War. He wasvery ill and died at mother's home.
4 iii. Mary Alice Johnson, born 1846.
5 iv. Janus N. Johnson, born August 1847; died Bet. 1850 - 1860 in Tennessee.
6 v. James Preston Johnson, born November 17, 1847 in Green Co., TN; died October 04, 1927 in Board Community near Wills Point, Van Zandt Co., Texas. He married Marlena Jane Goin June 20, 1868 in Claiborne County, Tennessee; born September 11, 1849 in Claiborne Co., TN; died November 27, 1927 in Board
Community near Wills Point, Van Zandt Co, Texas.
7 vi. Elijah Marshall Johnson, born January 17, 1849 in Claiborne, TN; died May 1933 in Middlesboro, Bell Co., KY. He married Elizabeth Betty Ann Keck January 24, 1871 in Claiborne County, Tennessee; born November 10, 1853 in Goin, Claiborne, TN; died February 18, 1937 in Middlesboro, Bell Co., Kentucky.
8 vii. Solomon Johnson, born August 07, 1853 in Claiborne Co., Tennessee; died March 08, 1912 in Corvallis, Benton Co., Oregon. He married Margaret Lurittia Fortner 1878 in Tazewell, Claiborne Co., Tennessee; born February 1858 in Tazewell, Claiborne, Co., Tennessee; died October 19, 1928 in Corvallis, Benton Co.,
Oregon.
9 viii. Margaret Sarah Johnson, born July 14, 1855 in Claiborne, Co., Tennessee; died in Claiborne, Co., Tennessee. She married Samuel Henry England August 28, 1873 in Claiborne Co., TN; born February 19, 1855 in Claiborne, Co., Tennessee; died March 03, 1933 in Claiborne, Co., Tennessee.
10 ix. Isaac Barton Johnson, born November 17, 1856 in Claiborne Co., Tennessee; died November 26, 1936 in Yakima, Yakima Co., Washington. He married Celia Caroline Watson August 01, 1874 in Claiborne County, Tennessee; born May 16, 1852 in Bertie Co., North Carolina; died January 22, 1935 in Pendleton, Umatilla Co., Oregon.
Marriage license issued February 28, 1842, to William Johnson to marry Sarah Fortner signed by Wiley Huffaker Clerk, Claiborne Co., TN. The license was sold February 28 and they were married by Wm. Bullard, a Justice of Peace, March 1, 1842.
Widow Pension Papers
The government settled on the April 30, 1862 date, but I am inclined to stay with the May 8 to 10th date, because of witness statements who were in actual attendance, at the time of Williams death.
The file reveals that on Sarah's first application, she had mistaken the ages of the children but through affidavits of midwives and family, Sarah was able to correct her statement. The end result was agreed upon, that the correct birth dates for the children are the ones above. Also note that Margaret's middle initial was S. I will take license assuming that she was named after her mother, since no other child carried
her name.
Apparently William was in good health when he enlisted, according to Capt. Vincent Meyers: While under the command of Col. Byrd, the 2nd Regiment went on a raid from Cumberland Ford or Flat Lick, Kentucky to Big Creek Gap Tennessee to attack a company of Rebel Cavalry who was encamped on the south side of Big Creek Gap. They attacked and captured a great many of them. He also states that the exposure while on duty caused
William's disease. While on the raid, the Army waded through creeks waist deep and was on forced marches and became over heated. William and a great many others became sick after they returned to camp. William was a scout on that raid.
Johnson, William & Sarah Fortner Pg. 104&105 Section 92
Sarah Johnson # 143,729 and widow of William Johnson:
She applied in Claiborne County, TN, 1868.
--Affidavits made 1868 by Jasper Davis and Wiley B. Phillips, states they were members of Company E. of the 2nd East TN Infantry Volunteers in the U. S. Army and knew said William Johnson, who was at that time a Private in said company and knew him before he entered the service and he was a sound able bodied man and volunteered in said company about March 4,1862 for three years, and we know he died at Cumberland Ford,
Kentucky about May 10, 1862 of fever, as we attended his burial. He died in
service whist in the line of his duty.
--Affidavits made by Anny Keck, in Claiborne County 1867, states she was present
when Elijah Johnson and Solomon Johnson were born.
That Elijah Johnson (the middle initial may be 'W' was born January 17, 1849, and Solomon Johnson was born August 7, 1853, and there was no doctor present and they are the sons of William Johnson and Sarah Johnson.
--Affidavit of Jane Needham, states she was present at the birth of Margaret
S. Johnson who was born July 17, 1855.
--Affidavit of Margaret Fortner age 60 states she was present at birth of Isaac Johnson
and he was born 17 Nov., 1856, that he is a son of Wm. and Sarah Johnson, late a
private in the army and widow of same, she makes this affidavit as an act of kindness.
--Affidavit made in Claiborne County 1870 by James I. Hollingsworth, who after being
duly sworn states he was a Corporal in Co. E, 2nd, TN Vol. Infantry and was acquainted
with William Johnson, who was a private in said company and in March or April 1862 whilst General Geo. Morgan was advancing on Cumberland Gap, Col. Byrd with attachment the most of which was the 2nd Reg., was sent on as a scout or to move forward from that Lick on Cumberland Ford, Kentucky to Big Creek Gap, and attack a Regiment of Rebel Cavalry, which was then encamped on the south pass, or side of said Big Creek Gap.
William Johnson was in said detachment. After they returned from said scout, Wm. Johnson was taken sick, as was many soldiers who were with Col. Byrd, on that march being exposed to March weather and already fatigued as they crossed the mountain, and did attack the Rebel Cavalry and captured the most of them.
He states he knew Wm. Johnson well before he went into the service. Section 93
Wm. was a stout, hale and hearty man, and he was continuously with him all
the time from the time he volunteered until he was taken sick and knows,
Johnson done the duties of a soldier from the time he volunteered until he took
sick. He was sent to a field hospital where he died.
The widow when making application in 1870, states that K. B. Jones, late Lieutenant, Co. E, 2nd, TN Vol. Inf., has now migrated West and she does not know where he resides and she can not secure his testimony.
--Affidavit same county 1870 by Robert Simmons age 38 resident of 11th Civil District.
States: He himself was a Corporal in Co. E of the 2nd TN Vol. Infantry and in 1862 he was in the Army when William Johnson came to the Army and volunteered and he knew him well at that time and before he entered in service, knew he was a stout healthy man and was in fine spirits. This affiant was a soldier in the same company with Wm. Johnson from the time he was mustered in until he died. That Wm. Johnson was well until
the regiment went on a raid under Col. Byrd, from Cumberland Ford, or Flat Lick, Kentucky to Big Creek Gap, to attack a parcel of Rebel Cavalry who were then encamped on the south side of said gap, and the detachment did attack said cavalry and captured a great many of them. Then after the said 2nd Regiment returned from said raid, Wm. Johnson took sick and was sent to a field hospital where he died in a few days.
His affidavit was witnessed by W. M. Hollingsworth and R. W. Hollingsworth.
--Affidavit of kindred B. Jones, made 1867, July 2, Claiborne County, TN. He signed his name " late 2nd Lieutenant Co. E of 2nd TN Infantry".
That he knew Wm. Johnson who was member of said company who was mustered in as a Private in March 2, 1862, Cumberland Ford, Kentucky and died May 10, 1862, Cumberland Ford, Kentucky.
--Affidavits of Calvin Sparks and Elisha Fortner, 1869 made affidavits in Claiborne County, Tennessee, that they are well acquainted with Mrs. Sarah Johnson, widow of Wm. now deceased.
Note: Elisha was Sarah's first cousin once removed.
--Affidavit of Jasper Davis who states he was a Private in Co. E of 2nd TN Infantry. That they had served with Wm. Johnson, and were at his burial at Cumberland Ford, Kentucky.
--Affidavit of Vincent Meyers who states he was a Captain in said War of 1861, and
commanded Co. C. TN Volunteer Infantry and knows that while in Camp Cumberland Ford, Kentucky, that Wm. Johnson now deceased came to the Army and enlisted in Co. E of 2nd Regiment, TN Infantry.
Note: Pineville, the seat of Bell County, is located on the Cumberland River where it cuts through Pine Mountain. It was settled in 1781 as Cumberland Ford and a post office by that name opened in 1818. The name Pineville was also in use at an early time and was used when the town was laid out as the seat of the new county in 1867. The post office was renamed in 1870. The population in 1990 was 2,198.
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NOTES:
The 1850 census appears to be correct for their ages comparing the sibling's ages listed still living with Sarah's parents in the 1850 Green Co., TN census.
I believe William was actually 45 years of age on the 1860 census and Sarah was 35 or 36 depending on what month the census was taken and because of the 1870 census. Sarah is found living with her son Isaac Barton and wife Caroline on the 1880 census. The age is still close by two years. If I am correct, then William would have been born in 1815.
Claiborne Co. census:
Johnson, William ,35,m, Farmer,TN (1850 census)
Johnson, Sarah, 25
Johnson, William, 40, M, W, Farm Laborer. TN (1860 census)
Johnson, Sarah, 26 (Probably was 36)
Johnson, Sarah, 47, (1870 census)
Johnson, Sarah, 55, (1880 census
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Placed in the Gowen Research Foundation by Leon Meyers with permission of Louise Johnson Kohl. Leon passed away in 2004. He was a meticulous man, who painstakingly tried to document every line in his genealogy.
Database. www.llano.net/gowen//manuscript/asc/gowenms .132.txt,
William Johnson., (2) Death Certificate of Isaac B. Johnson, William Johnson (Father).) Was born Bet. 1815 - 1820 in Tennessee, USA (Source: (1) 1850 Federal Census, Claiborne County, Tenn. Household 899, Age 35, born Tenn.., (2) 1860 Federal Census, Claiborne County, Tenn. dwelling 1428, Age 40, born Tenn.), and died April 30, 1862 in Cumberland Ford, Kentucky, USA (Source: pension papers of Sarah Johnson,
(Source: Ruby Louise (Johnson) Kohl, E-mail dated November 27, 1999.
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"Abstract of Pensions of the Revolution, War of 1812 and All Wars Prior to 1883 of Claiborne County, Tennessee" compiled by Annie Walker Burns. Pages 129-144 are E. Tennessee bios, not of the pension papers.
Per: Denny & Marla Brubaker (Claiborne Co., TN Pioneer Project)
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