OUR FAMILY ROOTS
IN ACADIA

OUR ANCESTORS
WILLIAM JOHNSON AND ELIZABETH CORPORON

In 1710 William Johnson (c. 1686-1731) was a soldier in an English regiment under the command of Colonel Francis Nicholson, who was sent from the English colonies in America to England to promote an expedition for the conquest of Acadia from the French. William Johnson came to the fort at what is now Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, and was listed as having served under David Pigeon's company sailing from Boston to Port Royal, Acadia on the New England transport Devonshire. He was part of an English Regiment (North Regiment of Essex) sent to take the fort. The recruits from England, along with those from the New England colonies, reached the fort at Port Royal on September 24, 1710. After some minor skirmishes and firing of muskets and cannon, the French surrendered on October 6, 1710. After the capture of Port Royal, William "Billy" Johnson remained and became an officer in General Phillips' 40th Regiment on Foot, which was organized at Fort Anne, Annapolis Royal (formerly Port Royal), renamed in honor of Queen Anne.


While at the fort he met and married Elizabeth (Isabelle) Corporon, a local girl of French origin. References to William "Billy" Johnson list him as coming from Scotland. His family may have originally come from the area of Aberdeen, Scotland, but could have come via England or even Massachusetts. He is reported to have been a tall man with blue eyes and flaming red hair. The William Johnsons lived across the Annapolis River opposite the fort, at a place called Johnson's (now Granville) Ferry. The name could have come from the position William Johnson held with the garrison. He was listed as an English Protestant.

Elizabeth Corporan (c. 1680) appears to have been of the Catholic faith, but could have possibly had a French Huguenot background. Eventually the family would have become affiliated with the Catholic religion, since only Catholic missionaries were available to minister to the people before Port Royal fell to the English. Elizabeth (sometimes called Isabelle) Corporan was the daughter of Jehan Corporon and Francoise Savoye. Jehan arrived in Acadia in 1668 and was listed as a plowman or farmer. Francoise was the daughter of Francois Savoye and Catherine Lejeune, and one of seventeen children. Francois Savoye, originally from Martaize, Department of La Vienne, France, was born in 1621, arrived in Acadia about 1643, and married Catherine Lejeune in 1652.


The marriage of William and Elizabeth took place in 1712. There were at least five children that we are aware of: Marie (9 Sep 1713-1761) m. John Davis about 1731; Jean-Baptiste (Joseph) (1 Nov 1715-1784) m. Marie Josephe Laure (1718-1796) 11 Feb 1743; Thomas (15 Jun 1719-1797) m. (first) Marie Josephe Girouard (1716) 8 Jan 1742 and after her death, m. (second) Marie-Josephe Granger (1714) 3 Oct 1768; William II (called Guillame "Billy") (Aug 1722-1806) m. Marie-Josephe (Josette) Aucoin (b. 1720) in 1743; and Charles (b. 10 Jul 1725) m. Marie Aucoin 1744.


Marie (9 Sep 1713-1761) married the local innkeeper and Englishman John Davis and cast her lot with the English. The sons chose to side with their Acadian background.


Jean-Baptiste and his wife Marie-Joseph Laure (1718-1796) had the following children: Jean-Baptiste Jr. (b. 14 Jan 1744-1804), Pierre Barthelemie (b. 23 Aug 1745), Marie-Josephe (b. 21 Nov 1747), Louis (b. 16 Dec 1749), Monique (b. 9 Aug 1751), Joseph (b. 23 Sep 1753), Germain-Marin (b. 1757), and Marguerite (Marie-Madeleine) (b. 1759).


Thomas (15 Jun 1719-1797) Johnson and his family were deported to Connecticut, but returned in 1746 and settled at St. Jacques de l'Achigan. He married (second wife) Marie-Josephe Granger 3 Oct 1768, and died there in 1797. He is the ancestor of the Johnsons (Jeansons) in L'Assomption County, Québec. The second Marie-Josephe was from Belle Isle. Children of Thomas were: Anne (b. 17 Oct 1742), Eulalie (b. 5 Aug 1744), Basile (b. 13 Nov 1746), Marguerite (b. 21 Mar 1749), Charles (21 Apr 1751-1773), and Marie Osite (b. 20 Jan 1752).


William II (called Guillame or "Billy, Jr.") and wife Marie Aucoin Johnson lived at La Riviere for 11 years and farmed, as did many of the Acadians, who understood how to successfully produce crops. Records show William Johnson in the Beaubassin area in 1754. In 1755 the British captured the Fort of Beausejour. Billy Johnson and family escaped the deportation and fled to Isle St. Jean (Prince Edward Island), which was still under French jurisdiction and rule. Billy was later described as "the elusive Scotman who was active in Nova Scotia..." He continued to harrass the English with his undercover activities in order to help his countrymen. Marie-Josephe (Josette) Aucoin was from Canard River. Their children were: Marie-Francoise (1744-1826), Marguerite (b. 1748), Jean-Baptiste (b. 1752), Eusebe Michael (b. 1761), Michel (1764-1834), Jean-Paul (b. 1767), and Elizabeth (b. 14 May 1770). The descendants of Michel Johnson and Jean-Paul Johnson are spread throughout the province of Québec.


In 1744 the youngest son, Charles (b. 10 Jul 1725), married Marie Aucoin, who was from Riviere-Aux-Canards near Grande Pre. Their children were: Jean (b. 1752), Charles II (b. 1754), Marie (c. 1760), and Paul (c. 1762). The children of Charles, as well as two of the sons of Jean-Baptiste and possibly one or more of the children of Thomas came to Louisiana during the Acadian deportation. Marie Aucoin (wife of Charles) was buried in Halifax. It is believed that Charles I, son of William and Elizabeth, died on the trip to Louisiana. His children continued on the journey, but did not arrive all together. The families settled in the Opelousas area. The Johnson name became Jeansonne after the families settled in Louisiana, and many Jeansonnes are found in the area today. In some families the name Jeansonne was changed back to Johnson in the 1800s.


Charles II, grandson of William and Elizabeth Johnson, married Marie Rose Brasseau and one of their sons was called Joseph Jeansonne I. Joseph Jeansonne I married Sophia Guillot, and their son was called Joseph Gilbert Jeansonne (Johnson) I (Sr.) who married Barbara Barrett. Barbara (Barbe) was a red-haired lady from North Carolina, probably Scotch-Irish and most likely Protestant. Although we cannot be certain, it is my theory that this was the point in which the family not only became Protestant, but might have changed their name from Jeansonne to Johnson. One of their sons was Joseph Gilbert Jeansonne (Johnson) II (Jr), who married Edmonia Malisse Mathews. By this time the family had settled in the Avoyelles Parish area, around Bunkie. Joseph Gilbert Johnson and Edmonia Mathews Johnson were the parents of John Edward, William Phillip, Mary Malisse, Lee Oliver, Rosa, and Lillie Johnson.





REFERENCES:
Floyd E. Johnson, Genealogy of the Johnsons and Related Families, 10th ed.
Columbia Johnson - Database, genealogy and history.
The Deportation of the Acadians. 1986, Publication of the Minister of Supply and Services, Canada.


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For information and reports concerning the 1996 Acadian Johnson Reunion, the World Acadian Congress in 1999 and corresponding Acadian Johnson reunion in Lafayette, Louisiana (or surrounding area), visit our Acadian Johnson Assn. website.


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© 1997-2001 Ann Johnson Donovan. Updated September 2001.
Email: WEBMASTER


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