Elijah Johnson was born on 11 May 1779, perhaps in the Barnwell District of South Carolina (898, Page 161). William Johnson may have been Elijah’s father (918).
By 21 May 1813, Elijah Johnson was living in Burke County, Georgia where he posted a newspaper notice about a runaway slave (1775).
On 21 Nov 1808 at age 29 years, Elijah Johnson and Sarah Jane Collins married in Richmond County, Georgia (102, 244). Sarah Collins was a daughter of Levin Collins and Ann Catherine (Odom) Collins. On 16 Dec 1809, a first child, Amazon Jane Johnson, was born to Elijah and Sarah Jane (Collins) Johnson (90). A son, William L. Johnson, was born in 1813.
By May 1813, Elijah Johnson was operating a plantation on Brier Creek in Burke County, Georgia. On that date he posted a notice in the Augusta Chronicle about a runaway slave (912).
On 28 Dec 1813, Bird Martin acquired land in Richmond County, Georgia and in the town of Augusta, Georgia from the heirs of Levin Collins estate (1532). Sarah Jane (Collins) Johnson, wife of Elijah Johnson, was among the female heirs who signed the indenture.
On 1 Dec 1815, a second son, Moses W. Johnson, was born to Elijah and Sarah (Collins) Johnson in Burke County, Georgia (898, Page 161).
On 5 Jan 1818, Elijah Johnson acquired 700 acres of land on Brushy Creek in Burke County, Georgia. A warrant for the land was issued on 5 Jan 1818, and a survey was made on 27 Jul 1818 (913). As noted on the survey plat, this land was adjacent to land owned by Lewis Emanuel, and after his death by the orphans of Lewis Emanuel.
At the 1820 federal census, the Elijah Johnson family was living at Waynesboro in Burke County, Georgia (311). Living in the household were a female, 26-45 years years old, likely Sarah (Collins) Johnson, the wife of Elijah Johnson; a male 16–26 years old; and a female 10–16 years old; and two males less than 10 years old. The younger female was likely Amazon Jane Johnson.
On 22 Mar 1830, Elijah Johnson acquired land in Talbot County, Georgia from John L. Kilgoe of Walton County, Georgia for $400 (1844). The deed was recorded in Talbot County on 29 Jul 1835. On 6 Jan 1831, John Lewis, Sr. of Burke County, Georgia conveyed land in Talbot County, Georgia to Elijah Johnson for $400 (914). The land was located in the 17th District, LL94 of Talbot County, Georgia. Benjamin T. Emanuel, a son-in-law of Elijah Johnson, and Jonathan A. Roberts, Justice of the Peace, witnessed the deed. Frederick A. Bailey, Clerk, recorded the deed on 28 Jul 1835.
In 1831, Elijah Johnson of Jefferson County, Georgia paid tax on 1,300 acres of land in Jefferson County; 250 acres in Early County; 202 acres in Houston County; and for the Estate of William Johnson, 257 acres in Burke County, Georgia. William Johnson may have been the father of Elijah Johnson.
In Talbot County, Georgia on 20 Oct 1832, Elijah conveyed 210 and 1/2 acres of land to James Wilkinson for $325 (1545). The land was located in the 17th District of Muscogee, but near Talbot County. In Talbot County, Georgia on 6 Jan 1834, John Lewis, Sr. conveyed 202 and 1/2 acres of land in Talbot county to Elijah Johnson for $400 (1842). Prior to the formation of Talbot County on 14 Dec 1827, this land was within Muscogee County, Georgia.
On 7 Oct 1834, Gabriel Moss of Meriwether County, Georgia, the guardian of the orphans of Frederick Thurman, deceased late of Baldwin County, Georgia, conveyed land to Elijah Johnson for $800 (1843). The land was located in the 17 District 99 of Talbot County, Georgia and described as drawn in the Georgia Land Lottery by orphans of said on waters of Upatoi Creek adjoining lands of said Johnson and John King. George W. Towns and Samuel McNeil, Justice of the Peace, witnessed the deed. Frederick A. Bailey, Clerk, recorded the deed on 29 Jul 1835.
On 30 Dec 1835, Jonathan Hemby of Marion County, Georgia sold 150 acres in the 13th District LL100, 4th Section Cherokee to Elijah Johnson for $300 (894). Moses W. Johnson and C. R. Wynn, Justice of the Peace, witnessed the deed. Frederick A. Bailey, Clerk recorded the deed on 6 Feb 1836. Moses W. Johnson was a son of Elijah Johnson.
On 8 Mar 1836, George M. Archer sold land to Elijah Johnson described as the north 1/2 of Land Lot 66 in District 17 of Talbot County, Georgia for $900 (895). William L. Johnson a son of Elijah Johnson, and Simeon Perry, Justice of the Peace witnessed the deed. The deed was recorded on 5 Dec 1836 by Frederick A. Bailey, Clerk.
Elijah Johnson died on 10 Apr 1838 at 58 years of age (898, Page 161). He is buried in the Emanuel Family Cemetery in Talbot County, Georgia. According to his gravestone, Elijah Johnson was born on 11 May 1799 and died on 10 Apr 1838.
In Dooly County, Georgia, on 10 Dec 1838, Jeremiah Lamkin conveyed 202 and 1/2 acres of land in the 17th District of Talbot County and designated as Lot 60 to Benjamin T. Emanuel of Talbot County, Georgia, acting as Executor of the Estate of Elijah Johnson (1793). The deed was recorded in Talbot County, Georgia on 13 Dec 1838.
On 21 Jan 1856, the Talbot County, Georgia Court of Ordinary issued a letter of administration in the Estate of Elijah Johnson to William D. Emanuel as administrator of the Estate of Benjamin T. Emanuel (951). A receipt dated 2 Sep 1847 documents payment of $473.65 and 1/2 cent by Benjamin T. Emanuel, administrator of the Estate of Elijah Johnson, deceased. Benjamin Emanuel acquired the funds as is part of proceeds of sale of real estate and personal property of Elijah Johnson. William L. Johnson and Richard Dosier witnessed the receipt. The document was recorded on 25 Apr 1854.
Notes and Comments
On 9 Feb 1808, William Johnson made a will in the Barnwell District of South Carolina, naming his wife Catherine, a son Elijah Johnson, and other children (918). This will represents the primary evidence that Elijah Johnson may have been a son of William Johnson. The date of Elijah Johnson’s birth is from a transcription of a gravestone in the Emanuel family cemetery in Talbot County, Georgia (898, Page 161).
The Elijah Johnson household has not been identified within the 1830 federal census of Georgia. William H. Davidson estimates that Elijah Johnson settled in Talbot County, Georgia in about 1835 (898, Page 160).
On 21 Jan 1856, the Talbot County, Georgia Court of Ordinary issued a letter of administration in the Estate of Elijah Johnson to William D. Emanuel as administrator of the Estate of Benjamin T. Emanuel (951). Benjamin T. Emanuel may have been appointed administrator of Elijah Johnson’s estate at his death. Matters may have have remained open after the death of Benjamin in 1854.
Walker County, Georgia was created on 18 Dec 1833 from parts of Murray. The boundary remained unchanged until 24 Dec 1837. Walker County was located in the northwest corner of Georgia on the Tennessee and Alabama state lines.
Geographic Boundaries
On 14 Dec 1827, Talbot County, Georgia was formed from parts of Muscogee and Troup counties of Georgia.
Sources
90. Gravestone, Amazon J. Emanuel, Parks Cemetery, Wells, Cherokee County, Texas. Find A Grave Memorial 71221210. (Image: Find A Grave, Image on file.)
102. Marriage Announcement, Elijah Johnson and Sally Collins, Newspaper, 3 Dec 1808. (Print courtesy of Peggy Carter Price.)
244. Marriage License and Certificate, Elijah Johnson and Sally Collins, Richmond County, Georgia, USA, 26 Nov 1808. Georgia County Marriage Records, 1828–1978. The Georgia Archives, Morrow, Georgia. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)
311. Elijah Johnson Household, 1820 U.S. Federal Census, Waynesboro, Burke County, Georgia. Sheet 27, Reel M33-8, Page 24. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)
336. Gravestone, William David Emanuel, Hope Cemetery, Henrietta, Clay County, Texas. Find A Grave Memorial 96820193. (Images: Find A Grave. Image on file.)
894. Deed by Jonathan Hemby to Elijah Johnson, 150 acres for $300. Talbot County, Georgia, 30 Dec 1835. Deed Book C, 1833–1837, Page 628. FamilySearch Library Film 249426, Image Group 8192288. FamilySearch Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. (Images: FamilySearch. Images on file.)
895. Deed by George M. Archer to Elijah Johnson, north 1/2 of Land Lot 66 in District 17, Talbot County, Georgia, 8 Mar 1836. Talbot County, Georgia Deed Book D, 1833–1837, Page 142. FamilySearch Library Film 294426, Image Group 8192288. FamilySearch Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. (Images: FamilySearch. Images on file.)
898. Davidson, William H. A Rockaway in Talbot: Travels in an Old Georgia County. Volume II. W. H. Davidson, West Point, Georgia, 1983.
912. Run Away Slave Notice, Augusta Chronicle, Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia, 21 May 1813. (Print courtesy of Peggy Carter Price. Print and image on file.)
913. Survey Plat of 700 acres on Bushy Creek for Elijah Johnson, Burke County, Georgia, 27 Jul 1818. Volume YY, Page 195. Georgia Archives, University System of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. (Images: Georgia Archives. Image on file.)
914. Deed by John Lewis, Sr. to Elijah Johnson, Talbot County, Georgia, 6 Jan 1831. Talbot County Deed Book C, Page 480. Family History Library Film 249426, Image Group 8192288. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. (Images: Family History Library. Image on file.)
918. Will of William Johnson, Will Book A, Barnwell District, South Carolina, 8 Feb 1808. South Carolina. Barnwell District, South Carolina, Page 82. Bundle 14, Package 1. (Images: Ancestry.com. Image on file.)
951. Letter of Administration to William D. Emanuel in the Estate of Elijah Johnson, Talbot County, Georgia, 21 Jan 1856. Letters of Administration, Volume A, 1852-1870. Letters of Administration 1852-1943, Court of Ordinary, Talbot County, Georgia.
1532. Indenture Between Levin Collins Heirs and Bird Martin. Richmond County, Georgia, 28 Dec 1813. Richmond County Book N, Pages 8–11. Print courtesy of Peggy Carter Price. Box 3. (Print and images on file. Box 3.)
1545. Indenture Between Elijah Johnson and James Wilkinson. Talbot County, Georgia, 20 Oct 1832. Talbot County, Georgia deed Book B, 1830–1833, Page 368. Print courtesy of Peggy Carter Price. (Print courtesy of Peggy Carter Price. Print and images on file. Box 2.)
1775. Run Away Slave Notice. Augusta Chronicle, Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia, 21 May 1813. Print courtesy of Peggy Carter Price. (Print and image on file.)
1793. Indenture, Benjamin T. Emanuel to Jeremiah Lampkim to 205 and 1/2 acres. Talbot County, Georgia, 10 Dec 1838. Talbot County, Georgia Deed Book E, Page 353. Family History Library Film 249427, Image Group 8153515. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. (Images: FamilySearch, Images on file.)
1842. Indenture, John Lewis, Sr. Conveyed Land to Elijah Johnson. Talbot County, Georgia, 6 Jan 1834. Deeds and Mortgages Book C, 1833–1836, Page 480. FamilySearch Film 249426, Image Group 8192288. FamilySearch Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. (Images: FamilySearch Library, Image on file).
1843. Indenture, Gabriel Moss Conveyed Land to Elijah Johnson. Talbot County, Georgia, 6 Jan 1834. Deeds and Mortgages Book C, 1833–1836, Page 480–481. FamilySearch Film 249426, Image Group 8192288. FamilySearch Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. (Images: FamilySearch Library, Image on file).
1844. Indenture, John L. Kilgoe Conveyed Land to Elijah Johnson. Talbot County, Georgia, 22 Mar 1830. Deeds and Mortgages Book C, 1833–1836, Page 482. FamilySearch Film 249426, Image Group 8192288. FamilySearch Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. (Images: FamilySearch Library, Image on file).
1845. Elijah Johnson, 1838 Tax List, Washington and Decatur Counties. Georgia, 1838. Georgia Tax Digests, Georgia Archives, Morrow, Georgia. (Image: Ancestry. Image on file.)
Revised 3 May 2023.