| Sir William Johnson (1715-1774) was an
English pioneer and soldier in the colonial New York, and the British Superintendent of Indian Affairs from 1755-1774. He served on the Governor's Council in New York, earned the rank of Major General in the British forces
during the French and Indian War. Sir William was a man
of many accomplishments, and ultimately his estate in the Mohawk Valley covered over 400,000 acres (1,600 kmē).
He was born to Christopher Johnson in County Meath, Ireland in 1715. He originally planned a mercantile career, but in 1738 he emigrated to America to manage the land granted to his uncle (Admiral Sir Peter Warren). He settled on the Mohawk River about 25 miles west of Schenectady, New York. He learned from and lived with the Mohawk Indians who adopted him, and later made him a sachem (civil chief). He also began to purchase land
from the Indians in his own right.
William was married in 1739 to a German immigrant, Catherine Wisenberg. She originally
came to America as an indentured servant, but he purchased her
contract, released and married her and the couple had three children before her death. Their son John Johnson, inherited his father's title and estates.
When Catherine died he married Caroline Peters who was the niece of Chief Hendrick and gave him three more children before her death five years later. When
Caroline died he married another Mohawk, Molly Brant, sister of the chief Joseph Brant, and she bore him another eight children.
He founded Johnstown, New York on his estate and brought
Irish immigrants to New York.
In May of 1750 the king appointed him a permanent member of the Governor's Council for
the Colony of New York. He attended the Albany Congress in 1754 that
reached an accord that kept the Iroquois on the British side during the next several wars.
French and Indian War
General Braddock as commander-in-chief, commissioned him a Major
General and tasked him to lead militia forces against Crown
Point. In September, his expedition defeated Baron Dieskau. In recognition of this victory he was awarded Ģ5,000 and made a Baronet in
November. In 1758 he was part of General Abercrombie's failed attempt to take Fort
Ticonderoga.
He led an Indian and militia force as part of General Prideaux's siege of Fort Niagara in the summer
of 1759. When Prideaux was killed, he took command of the force and captured the Fort. He
also accompanied General Amherst at the capture of Montreal in 1760. After the war, King George rewarded
him with the grant of an additional tract of 100,000 acres (400 kmē) north of the Mohawk River.
Other Events
He died from a stroke at his home in Johnstown on July 11, 1774. His manor house
is now a New York Historic Site and is open to the public.
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