Actually, that is a provocative title for several of us because there seem to be several of each name in the area at the same time. In particular, I am trying to better understand the relatives of the following William Johnson (b 3-16-1804 in VA - d 10-31-1888 in Williamson Co, TX) + ? Children: 1)Isabella K. Johnson (abt 1820 - abt 1856 in Fluvanna Co, VA) + James Kelly Ryals (abt 1813 - abt 1853 in Fluvanna Co, VA) (at least 5 children fairly young at parents death) 2)Minerva Johnson (abt 1822 - aft 1860 + Joseph Pace (abt 1795 - ?) (at least 2 children) 3)Stephen P. Johnson (aft 1823 - bef 1860) + Isabella A. ? (at least 1 child- Mary E. Johnson) 4)Benjamin E. Johnson ( b. 4-21-1827 in Fluvanna Co, VA (probably) - d. 10-22-1904 in Williamson Co, TX) + Elizabeth Matilda Frances Smith (b. 6-12-1834 in Louisa Co, VA - d. 1-12-1916 in Williamson Co, TX) (Children Sarah Catherine Johnson Anderson, Matilda Ann Johnson Sparks, Barbara V. Johnson Windsor, William Johnson (died infancy), Harriet Cora Johnson (died infancy), Mary Elizabeth Johnson (died infancy), Ida Eunice Johnson Gray, Ben Ella Johnson (died infancy)) 5) Columbus W. Johnson (abt 1828 - 10-28-1870 in Fluvanna Co, VA) +Wilamina Black (8-1833 - ?) (at least one boy child) 6)Mary E. Johnson (abt 1834 - bef 10-24-1860) +Tillman Overstreet (other sources say Matthew Overstreet, same?) (? - bef 8-1854) 7)Sally C. Johnson (abt 1834 - bef 10-24-1860) + John M. Smith (brother of E. M. F. Smith married to Benjamin Johnson above) ( abt 1830 - ?) 8)William Frederic Johnson (abt 1838 - ?) 9)Octavius S. Johnson (abt 1840 - ?) There seems to be no information on the mother of the above 9 children. By the 1850 Census (4) Benjamin E. Johnson at age 23 is shown living with his future in-laws, William Smith- blacksmith and wife Barbara with 19 year old son John, 15 year old daughter Elizabeth (future wife), 13 year old son Willaim, and 6 year old son Joseph. In 1850 (1) Isabella is married and living with husband James K. Ryals (Carpenter) in residence #25. Next door is a William Johnson aged 60 with wife Nancy aged 54. This William is too young to be the father of the William who is father to the above family and too old to be father of younger children (or at least his wife Nancy would be). I have no idea how this William and Nancy are related, but they are certainly close because (7) Sally, (8) William Frederic, and (9) Octavius are living with them in residence #26. In residence #27 is (3) Stephen P. Johnson with his wife and child. In 1850 (2) Minerva is married and living with husband Joseph Pace (much older than she) not far from William Smiths (and (4) Benjamin). (5) Columbus is not yet married to Wilhamina Black nor living there, to be counted anyway. (6) Mary E. is also not listed, apparently. It would appear that father William left for some reason and left younger three children with the other William and Nancy in residence #26. He does eventually end up (and die) in Williamson Co, Tx, but only his son (4) Benjamin seems to have moved there, also. It would be great to make contact with these other distant family relations who apparently stayed (at least for the time) in Fluvanna Co, VA. There are others looking into similar Christian names for Johnsons at the same time who are possibly related, but there is no know connection (at least by me). Have a great day, Hurston Anderson (gggrandson of (4) Benjamin E. Johnson and E. M. F. Smith Johnson) ----- Original Message ----- From: <JOHNSON-D-request@rootsweb.com> To: <JOHNSON-D@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, June 05, 2000 9:03 AM Subject: JOHNSON-D Digest V00 #178