REVOLUTIONARY WAR PATRIOT US NAVY PRIVATEER SLAVE TRADE CAPTAIN DOCUMENT SIGNED
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:64169 | Modified Item: No |
| Country/Region of Manufacture: United States |
CAPT. WILLIAM PEIRCE JOHNSON(1745 – 1804)REVOLUTIONARY WAR ERA PATRIOT, NAVAL PRIVATEERCAPTAIN, and NOTED SHIPPING MERCHANT AT NEWBURYPORT, ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS, REVOLUTIONARY WAR COMMANDER andPRIVATEER OF VESSELS DEFENDING THE SEACOAST ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES NAVYINCLUDING; THE BRIG “AMERICAN HERO”IN 1776, THE 12-GUN SHIP “WILLIAM” IN1783, THE “WEAZLE” A 4-GUN BRIGANTINE, ALL CARRYING A LETTER OF MARQUE FROM THE U.S. NAVY, WEALTHY OWNER OF THE 206-TONBRIGAN...TINE “INDUSTRY” BUILT ON THEMERRIMACK RIVER IN 1789, and BRIG “HENRY”INVOLVED IN THE WEST INDIES TRADE and TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL INCORPORATORS, DEPUTYMASTER and VICE PRESIDENT (1799-1803) OF THE MARINE SOCIETY AT NEWBURYPORT TODEAL WITH SHIP NAVIGATION SAFETY and OTHER MARITIME ISSUES IN 1772&CHARTER MEMBER OF THE MARINE FIRESOCIETY IN 1775. HERE’S A 1794 AUTOGRAPH DOCUMENT SIGNED TWICE BY JOHNSON – ARECEIPT OF PAYMENT FOR GOODS SUPPLIED BY JOHNSON TO THE TOWN OF NEWBURYPORT, MAFOR ITS HOSPITAL…The document measures 7” x 4½” and is in VF Condition, for its advancedage!<<>> BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF CAPT. JOHNSONCaptain William P. Johnson was a charter member of the Marine Society ofNewburyport, joining on November 12, 1772, upon its founding. During theRevolutionary War and afterward, Captain Johnson commanded several vessels onbehalf of the United States: the brig AmericanHero in 1776, the brig William in1783, the brig Sally in 1785, thebrig Industry in 1789, and the brig Henry in 1781. After he retired from hislife at sea, Johnson “became a successful merchant and importer of foreigngoods.” The Marine Society included, in his short biography, a listing of theinventory of his estate at the time of his death in 1804: At his decease the inventory of his estate amounted to more than $116, 000, including the brigantine Elizabeth Coatesand her cargo consisting of 88 hhds. sugar, 6182 gallons of molasses, one-halfof invoice of schooner Polly and Sally, $3800 freight money of brigantine Annfrom Trieste, $300 real estate, dwelling house and barn on Federal Streetvalued at $8000, wharf and three stores on Water Street $12, 000, old house andland on Water Street $2000, farm buildings thereon at Byfield, $10, 000.Sources: · Slavery in Massachusetts; A descendentof early settlers investigates the connections in Newburyport, Massachusetts”by Susan M. Harvey, 2011· History of the Marine Society ofNewburyport, Massachusetts, 1906CPTWilliam Pierce Johnson Birth 22 Apr 1745 Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA Death 4 Jun 1804 (aged 59) Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA Burial Highland Cemetery Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts His parents were Eleazar and Elisabeth Johnson. Hiswife was Susan.He graduated from Drummer Academy in Byfield, Mass.William Pearce Johnson married SarahGreenleaf and had 6 children. NewburyportHerald, Newburyport, MA June 8, 1804
"Departed this transitory life on Monday evening last, apparently in the meridian of health and strength, Capt. William P. Johnson, Age59. About 8 o'clock in the evening, he walked from his house to the Post Office and from that to the Insurance Office, after which he returned home. He sat down to read his papers, called for aglass of water. But before he drank, alas, the cold chill of death seized hisframe he fell back and immediately expired.... All who knew him admired andrespected him. He was the friend of the indigent ... he was the orphan's protector...He was committed to the house of clay, with Masonic Rites, attended by the Society of Free Masons, theMarine Society and the Humane Society.Inscription on Johnson's GravestoneIn memory of
Capt. William Pierce Johnson
who was born April 22, 1745
deceased June 4, 1804
in the 60th year of his ageI am a proud member of the Universal Autograph Collectors Club(UACC), The Ephemera Society of America, the Manuscript Society and theAmerican Political Items Collectors (APIC) (member name: John Lissandrello). Isubscribe to each organizations' code of ethics and authenticity is guaranteed.~Providing quality service and historical memorabilia online for over ten years.~
WE ONLY SELL GENUINE ITEMS, i.e., NO REPRODUCTIONS, FAKES OR COPIES!
"Departed this transitory life on Monday evening last, apparently in the meridian of health and strength, Capt. William P. Johnson, Age59. About 8 o'clock in the evening, he walked from his house to the Post Office and from that to the Insurance Office, after which he returned home. He sat down to read his papers, called for aglass of water. But before he drank, alas, the cold chill of death seized hisframe he fell back and immediately expired.... All who knew him admired andrespected him. He was the friend of the indigent ... he was the orphan's protector...He was committed to the house of clay, with Masonic Rites, attended by the Society of Free Masons, theMarine Society and the Humane Society.Inscription on Johnson's GravestoneIn memory of
Capt. William Pierce Johnson
who was born April 22, 1745
deceased June 4, 1804
in the 60th year of his ageI am a proud member of the Universal Autograph Collectors Club(UACC), The Ephemera Society of America, the Manuscript Society and theAmerican Political Items Collectors (APIC) (member name: John Lissandrello). Isubscribe to each organizations' code of ethics and authenticity is guaranteed.~Providing quality service and historical memorabilia online for over ten years.~
WE ONLY SELL GENUINE ITEMS, i.e., NO REPRODUCTIONS, FAKES OR COPIES!
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