Chapter Seven
Sir William Johnson - an Extraordinary
Man
Five
years after French armies drove thousands of Palatines from their ancestral
homes in the Rhine Valley to seek refuge on the British Isles and subsequent
emigration to America, a son was born to the Christopher Johnson family
in County Meath, Ireland. That son would become a major player in events
that ended French influence in the Americas . . . and shaped the history
of America, New York . . . and the Mohawk Valley.
William Johnson was born on a 200-acre estate 20
miles from Dublin in 1715 and per his station was better educated than
most of his countrymen. Although his uncle and brother chose the military
as a career, he looked elsewhere for adventure and accomplishment. Opportunity
came when William was 23 years old (1738) in the form of an invitation
from his uncle, Captain Peter Warren of the British Royal Navy. Peter had
recently purchased land in the Mohawk Valley on the south side of the river
near present day Amsterdam and needed someone to oversee settlement and
management of his properties.
Sir William was a trader, diplomat and warrior who shaped the history of America, New York . . . and the Mohawk Valley.
By 1742 William had 23 leases in operation on his
uncle’s land, had purchased land of his own on the north side of the river
and established a trading business in the Mohawk Valley to supply settlers
and to trade for furs with the Iroquois. His association with the Iroquois,
particularly the Mohawks, set in motion a chain of events that shaped history.
Until Johnson set up shop, most traders conducted
business by trading a few furs for rum and then when the Indians were intoxicated
cheated them for the rest of their furs. As a merchant, Johnson saw the
long-term benefit of establishing a good relationship with his customers,
so from the start his dealings with the Indians were honest and straightforward.
Unlike most Europeans, he made a concerted effort to learn the ways of
the Indian and came to know them as friends.
In a relatively short time William Johnson learned
the Mohawk language. For long periods of time he lived with the Mohawks
and dressed like them. He smoked, drank, feasted and danced at their festivals.
He hunted, fished and joined in contests of skill and strength with the
men, and slept with the women. At times, to the Mohawks and to many Europeans,
he looked and acted like a Mohawk. The Indians called him Warraghiyagey,
“one who does much business”, and as he became more respected for his honesty
and good judgment, they also made him an administrative chief or “sachem”.
Because Johnson was a successful manager and merchant,
and could be an Indian at a Mohawk village one-day and a loyal subject
of the Crown at Albany the next, he became an intermediary between the
Iroquois Federation and the British in New York.
At the beginning of the French and Indian War, Governor
Clinton of New York appointed him Commissary for Indian Affairs and he
was commissioned a Colonel of the forces to be raised out of the Six Nations
(The Tuscaroras had come from the Carolinas to become part of the Federation).
Johnson’s successes at supplying the British Fort at Oswego, gaining the
support of the Iroquois against the French, his role in winning battles
at Lake George, Fort Niagara and at Montreal, resulted in his receiving
a Baronet from the King of England and a promotion to General.
Before the close of the war he resigned his commission
and received a royal appointment as “Superintendent Of Indian Affairs for
the Northern District”, which included the northeastern colonies and the
newly acquired territories in Canada. He traveled extensively to settle
disputes and broker treaties with Indian tribes throughout the Northeast,
as far west as Detroit and as far south as the Carolinas.
Sir William's first substantial home was a stone
mansion (Mount Johnson) built during the war near present day Amsterdam.
After the war he built an estate (Johnson Hall) well off the beaten path
of the Mohawk Valley. Two years later he founded a village (Johnstown)
a mile from his home. He lived, farmed and managed his affairs at Johnson
Hall until his death in 1774.
Johnson and his first wife had a son and two daughters.
After his wife died, Molly Brant, daughter of a Mohawk Sachem and sister
of the renowned Mohawk leader, Joseph Brant, moved into his home and became
his “house keeper” and close adviser. Johnson and Molly had eight children.
Because the Johnson family sided with the English
during the Revolutionary War, Johnson Hall and associated lands were confiscated
by the State of New York in 1779 and sold. Johnson Hall was re-acquired
by New York State in 1906 as a historic site.
Discovery: Johnstown and Johnson Hall
October 4, 2001, Clear blue sky, 70 degrees
The
drive from our home near Newport to Johnstown was especially enjoyable.
The trees along Route 29 were radiant with color: crimson, pink, orange,
yellow, rust, maroon and countless shades of green.
Dignitaries from around the world and from Indian nations throughout
the northeast visited Johnson Hall before the Revolutionary War.
We arrived at Johnson hall at 9:30 a.m.--- plenty
of time to utilize the morning sun for taking photographs of the east-facing
mansion. When a groundskeeper saw me loaded down with cameras, he
moved his truck so I could take uncluttered photos of Johnson Hall and
the stone blockhouses.
The Hall didn't open for visitors until 10, so we
drove into Johnstown to find a place for breakfast. With the help of a
passersby and the counter lady at Grandma's Bakery, we discovered Wally's
Diner on Market St, in the heart of the "city". The fresh-ground
coffee was excellent and the eggs and corn beef hash were exceptional.
I had a full "hasher" and Gert had a "half-asher."
After breakfast I stopped to take photographs of
some of the homes and buildings that pre-dated the Revolutionary War. While
I took pictures, Gert explored Johnstown's 18th century cemetery.
When
we returned to Johnson Hall we met Bonnie Pulis at the office in one of
the blockhouses. In addition to being the Interpretive Program Director,
Bonnie lives on the premises in a nearby cottage. After we paid our senior
citizen entry fee of $2 each (regular fee $3), she directed us to
the other block house where much of the history of Sir William Johnson
and Johnson Hall is depicted in paintings, illustrations and dioramas.
This basement, winter kitchen fed hundreds of visitors and helped heat the mansion.
Later when we walked to the door of the main building,
Bonnie joined us. In the main downstairs hall, she explained that the Indians
who came to visit the Johnsons or to attend one of Sir William's many conferences
almost always occupied this area. After a brief description of each room
in the mansion, Bonnie left us to explore at our leisure.
The halls, furnished rooms, and stacks of muskets were impressive, but
our favorite room was the kitchen in the basement. This "winter" kitchen
complete with stone fireplace, cooking utensils and produce of the day,
provided food for hundreds of guests, and helped heat the upper rooms of
the house.
It was easy to imagine those long-ago days when
the Johnson's were hosts to visitors from around the world and from Indian
nations throughout the Northeast. Oh, to experience the sounds, the smells,
the sights of those bygone days and nights, if only for a few moments.
Before we left the area, I stopped at the office
to look over the books for sale. I usually buy at least one book about
an area I visit. Deciding which book to buy was a no-brainer when I discovered
Bonnie was co-author (along with Lois M. Huey) of Molly Brant
- A Legacy of Her Own. After Bonnie signed my book, Gert and
I took a few more photographs of the grounds and headed for home.
A day well spent "reliving" history in the Mohawk
Valley.
Johnson Hall is open from mid-May through October, Wednesday through Sunday. For more information on Johnstown, Sir William and Johnson Hall see: http://www.johnstown.com/city/
Follow the path of this discovery trip by clicking on Mohawk Valley Maps: by Maptech.
Type Johnstown, select New York, press GO! Use margin arrows to follow the Mohawk River east to East Canada Creek.
Discovery: Fort Johnson - Seat of Power October 11, 2001 Sunny, 45 degrees
Fort Johnson is located on Route 5 just east of Amsterdam.
According to the information I had obtained from
the Internet, Fort Johnson would close on Monday, October 15. I had a full
schedule through Monday, so Thursday morning was my last chance this year
to visit Sir William's first fortified home in the Mohawk Valley.
I didn't have the time to enjoy a much preferred
slow and scenic drive down Route 5 or 5S, so I "hopped" on the Thruway
at Little Falls, drove east to the Amsterdam Exit, and followed Route 30
to Route 5 West. It was 9:20 a.m. when I pulled into the driveway of Fort
Johnson and started photographing the house and grounds.
The Fort, which now consists of a huge stone mansion
(with gun ports), caretaker's cottage, the oldest privy (outhouse) in this
part of the country, plus some majestic trees and well-tended flower gardens,
was once the center of power in the Mohawk Valley. It was from here that
William Johnson ran his trading empire, planned military campaigns, conducted
business with Indian nations, entertained dignitaries and was protected
from the French who had a price on his head.
When
the Johnson holdings were forfeited to the State of New York after the
Revolutionary War, the house and lands were sold, and held in private ownership
until the Montgomery County Historical Society acquired the building and
adjacent land in 1905. For many years it served as the County's general
history museum. In recent years the Society initiated a project to restore
the Fort to reflect its unique historical significance.
An admissions sign indicated the Fort would not
be open until 1 o'clock, so I assumed I wouldn't get a chance to see the
inside until next spring. Fortunately, Alessa Wylie, the Museum Coordinator
came out of the building to pick some flowers. When I explained the purpose
of my visit, she told me I could come back in an hour or so
when they would be done cleaning, and she would show me through the house.
of the most influential people in the Northeast.
As I drove away that morning, noting the proximity of the Mohawk River, I realized that some 20 years ago, I had enjoyed the best bass fishing of my life within sight of Sir William Johnson's 1749 fortified home. But, that's another story.
Fort Johnson in 1759
As is evident from the sketch below, Fort Johnson was a self-sufficient homestead located near the Mohawk River. In addition to the stone mansion the compound included block houses, mills, an Indian council house, campgrounds, stables, barns, workshops, cornfields, gardens and a ready supply of wood and water.
Follow the path of this discovery trip by clicking on Mohawk Valley Maps: by Maptech.
Type Amsterdam, select New York, press GO!
