James Wesley JOHNSON

HAIRSTON.org ID#4124, b. 12 September 1844, d. 27 January 1862
Father*Tolivar JOHNSON1 b. 15 Feb 1813, d. 15 Oct 1890
Mother*Jane J. (surname unknown)2 b. 25 Apr 1820, d. 8 Jan 1880
Birth*James Wesley JOHNSON was born on 12 September 1844 in South Carolina. 
He was the son of Tolivar JOHNSON and Jane J. (surname unknown).1,2 
Census 1850James Wesley JOHNSON listed in the household of Tolivar JOHNSON in 1850 in Saluda Regiment, Abbeville, South Carolina; Toliver 37, Jane J 30, Elizabeth A 10, Frances E 8, James W. 5, Marth J 3.1 
WillIn Jane GRAY's will dated 4 June 1853 in Abbeville, South Carolina, James Wesley JOHNSON was named as an heir; Heirs: Nephew James Wesley Johnson, (son of Tolivar & Jane Johnson of Panola, Misssissippi), Thomas Johnson, Rachel Martin (wife James H. Martin of Tippah, Mississippi), William Gray (son of John Gray deceased), William Gray (son of James Gray deceased), Mary Ann Thompson, Sarah Jane Lomax (daughter of John W. and Elizabeth B. Lomax).

Executor: David Keller, Esq. (his wife is Nancy Lomax, daughter of William Lomax and Nancy Hairston)

Witnesses: John W. Lomax, Garlington Owens, Elizabeth B. Lomax.

Thomas Johnson, Allen Gray, James Gray, William Gray, Johnson Gray, Polly Ann Thompson and others objected to the will.

Notes:
1. The 1850 census indicates that James Wesley Johnson (1844-1862) would have been a minor when this will was written in 1853.
2. If James Wesley Johnson was Jane Hairston's nephew, it would appear to make Tolivar Johnson (1813-1890) or his wife Jane J. (1820-1880) a brother or sister to Jane Hairston. However, the age difference between Jane Hairston and Tolivar is over 55 years and is too much for a brother and sister. James Wesley was probably a Great Nephew, most likely the grandson of Jane's sister.

PDF copies of will are attached here.2
Death*He died on 27 January 1862 in Mississippi at age 17. 
Burial*He was buried in Emory Cemetery, Panola, Mississippi. 

Sources (www.HAIRSTON.org)

  1. [S1850] 1850 Federal Census - National Archives and Records Administration - Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.
  2. [S276] Will of Jane Hairston - 4 June 1853, Abbeville County Will Box 131, Pack 3799, South Carolina Department of Archives and History.
Last Edited8 Sep 2021