The William Johnson story, we have come to know, begins with his arrival in Boston 1737. We welcome your feedback and help, with our understanding of this influential and complex family that helped shape the Northeastern America we live in today. If you know of a historically accurate website or resource, that we could include on these pages, please contact us at webmaster@oldfortjohnson.
SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON
Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography 1887
Earlyamerica article of Johnson-Indian Superintendent by Paul Redmond Drew.
Also visit earlyamerica.com for movies and reviews Rootsweb article of William Johnson A great site with several bios and links (some outdated)
The Relation of Sir William Johnson to Education
Finton O'Toole William Johnson Biography,White Savage.
GUY JOHNSON
Guy Johnson was Sir William Johnson's nephew and like Sir William he was born and raised in County Meath, Ireland. He arrived in America in 1756, aged 16, entering at Boston and it is assumed he immediately sought out his already successful  uncle.
Sir William had him commissioned as a lieutenant in a New York regiment and in 1761 took him along on a diplomatic excursion to Detroit. Apparently Guy was being groomed for Indian Department service and he was eventually appointed Secretary of Indian Affairs.
In 1763 he married Sir William's daughter Mary (Polly). For this fortunate new couple Sir William built a wooden mansion called Guy Park, which was struck by lightening and burned in June, 1773. With it went what is believed to have been the Johnson family's primary collection of maps, Guys many drawings, papers related to land grants and his fine library.
Guy and Polly did not have long to enjoy the rebuilt stone mansion, Guy Park Manor, still standing beside the Mohawk River in Amsterdam, because he and his family and two hundred loyalist followers left the valley for Canada in June of 1775. Guy had been appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs upon the death of Sir William in 1774 and he retained this position until replaced by Sir John Johnson in 1782.
At the conclusion of the war Guy and family returned to London where he died on March 5th, 1788. One of the small drawings done by Guy that survived the fire in 1773 was a rendering in 1758 of Fort Johnson and its various outbuildings. This was drawn to accompany an article on Sir William in London's Gentleman's Magazine, and may be observed while visiting Fort Johnson.
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