BENJAMIN JOHN/JOHNS resided in Loudoun Co., Virginia before going to Washington County, Virginia and finally on to Smith Co., Tennessee. He was found in records of Washington County, Virginia as early as 1782 when he appeared on the Washington Co. Personal Property Tax List. On 16 March 16 1784, he served on a jury to settle boundry lines of a new road under construction in Washington Co., VA.

BENJAMIN JOHN/JOHNS operated an iron ore mine on the South Fork of Holson River in Washington Co., VA from 1790-1800. (from Mari Morrow)

The following land grants to BENJAMIN JOHN were found in a book entitled "First Surveys of Land in Washington County, Virginia".

1. 335 acres on both sides of the South Fork, Holston River. 22 Sep 1790

2. 10 acres on Oar Bank on Branch of Holston River. 23 Sep 1791

3. 16 acres on North Fork of Holston River. 23 Aug 1791

4. 41 acres on South Fork of Holston River. 23 Aug 1794


Records of Augusta County, Virginia, page 130:

Pierce vs. Razor--O. S. 157; N. S. 55--Bill, December, 1807.
Complainants are, viz: George, Moses, Aaron, Isaac Pierce; Seth Hendrick (?), and Mary, his wife; Ezra, Thomas, Hanna Pierce, last three being infants (by Hepsaba, their mother and next friend). Joshua Jones, Peter Razor and Benj. John owned iron works in Wythe County, and on 12th April, 1794, sold to father of orators and oratrixes. Joshua Johes left the commonwealth. He had sold to James Dougherty, who died, and same descended to his son Daniel. Peter Razor has died, leaving widow Anna, and children, viz: Edward Calehan (?) and his wife; John, Ann, Christy, Daniel and Christina Razor. Deed 21st September, 1798, by BENJAMIN JOHN and LYDIA, of Washington County, to Thomas Pierce of Wythe County, an iron ore bank on South Fork Holstein River. Proved in Washington County, 21st September, 1798.

BENJAMIN JOHNS (of Washington Co, VA) bought land in Smith Co., TN in June 1789:
This Indenture made the sixteenth day of June in the Year of our Lord
one thousand seven hundred & eighty nine between Josiah Payne of Davidson
County & State of Tennessee of the one part & Benjamin Johns of Washington
County & state of Virginia of the other part Witnesseth that the sd Josiah
Payne for & in Consideration of the Sum of six hundred & forty Dollars to
him in hand paid by the sd. Benjamin Johns the receipt whereof he doth
hereby acknowledge hath granted bargained & Sold & by these presents doth
bargain grant & sell to the sd. Benjamin Johns his heirs & assigns a tract
of good & valuable Land fit for Cultivation Containing six hundred & forty
acres of Land lying & being in the County of Sumner on the west side of the
Caney fork river & bounded as follows (to wit) Beginning at a white Oak &
beach on the west bank of the Cany fork Running west two hundred & twenty
six poles to a sugartree & beach thence South four hundred & fifty two poles
to a Stake thence East two hundred & twenty six poles to a Stake thence
North to the Beginning, together with the appurtenances thereto belonging,
to have & to hold the sd. tract or parcel of Land with its appurtenances
unto the sd. Benjamin Johns (Johns) & his heirs and assigns & the sd. Josiah
Payne for himself & his heirs doth warrant & defend sd. Land from any Claim
or Claims of any person or persons whatsoever in witness whereof the sd.
Josiah Payne hath Subscribed his name & affIXed his seal the day & year
first above written. Sealed & delivered in presents of Josiah Payne {Seal}
John Cross White} Isaac Johns} Jurat } State of Tennessee} March Term 1807 }
The execution of the within deed of Smith County } Conveyance was proven in
Open Court by the Oath of Isaac Johns one of the subscribing witnesses
thereto. Re2d. & Examd. Mav 25. 1807 Test Robert Allen Clk. (Smith County: Register of Deeds : Roll# 112 Tennessee State Library and Archives Vol. B: 1801-1807 Pg. 493) Submitted by Mari Morrow.

Although BENJAMIN JOHNS purchased land in Smith Co., TN as early as 1789, it appears that he and his family remained in Washington County, Virginia until the late 1790s/early 1800s. BENJAMIN JOHNS and his family then appear to have settled in Smith Co., TN. He was known to have been active in civic and religious affairs and was one of the founders of the town of Carthage, Tennessee, County Seat of Smith County. BENJAMIN JOHNS was also a charter member of the Dixon Creek Baptist Church, organized March 8, 1800. He bought land in Carthage, TN, a town lot, in 1810 and sold it in 1818.

It is not known when BENJAMIN JOHNS'' first wife LYDIA died, but she was dead by 1806 when he married Sally Gayle, widow of Josiah Gayle. They were married January 6, 1806. It is presumed that BENJAMIN JOHNS' second wife Sally was dead by 1821 as she was not mentioned in his will (written in 1821.)

The Smith County, Tennessee Census of 1820 lists the following:
BENJAMIN JOHNS - I male over 45 and 1 female over 45, 6 slaves.

From "Cal's Column," 14 February 1952:

"Venire Facias to the ensuring Court: Robert Dugan, James Baker, Hesikiah Woodard, William Payne, Armistead Moore, George Roolong, Thomas Walker, John Rutherford, Daniel Hitton, Richard Lancaster, Leonard Fight, Willeroy Pate, Nathan Ridley, Pleasant Kearby, James Wray, Michael Murphy, Willie Sullivan, William Pryor, William Epperson, Samuel Stalcup, Big Joel Dyer, William Kelton, Joel Hallum, Josiah Howell, Stephen Montgomery, David Kellough, Jr., Vincent Ridley, Godfrey Fowler, Henry King, Aaron Hart, Henry Dancer, BENJAMIN JOHNS and James W. Wright." (Quarterly Court and Court of Pleas of Smith County, TN, 21 Dec 1801) Here we have a list of men, we suppose, to have been among the leading citizens of the Smith County, TN a century and a half ago.

From "Cal's Column," 13 November 1952:

"Deed, 320 acres, Lemuel Hogan to David Hodges, proven by the oath of John Ward, one of the subscribing witnesses." Early Hogan men in Tennessee were Edward, Humphrey and Richard. Hogan's Creek in the south side of the present Smith County, empties into the Cumberland just below Carthage. We believe that perhaps it was named for Arthur Hogan, but we are not sure of this. Hogan's Creek Baptist church was formed in 1810, and has continued to the present time. The writer was pastor of the church for a number of years, beginning in 1919. It is the oldest "daughter" of Dixon's Creek Baptist church, formed on March 8, 1800. BENJAMIN JOHNS was its first clerk, serving as such while the group worshipped as an arm of Dixon's Creek, from 1806 till the constitution and then for 18 years more.

An excerpt from Goodspeed's History of Tennessee on the early organization
of Smith County (from Mari Morrow):
"At the December term, 1804, Willis Jones, BENJAMIN JOHN and Wilson Cage
were appointed commissioners to select and purchase a site for the seat of
justice, and to lay out a town thereon, and to sell the lots and
appropriate the proceeds to the payment of the land, and the erection of
the public buildings. These commissioners selected the site of the present
town of Carthage, then owned by William Walton and from him purchased the
same, consisting of fifty acres, for the consideration of 1 cent, and
secured title thereto by deed dated December 28, 1804. And during that
winter they laid out the town of Carthage and sold the lots thereof and
erected the first courthouse for the county, on the public square, in
1805." (Goodspeed's History of Tennessee, Smith County History, Goodspeed
Publishing Company, Nashville, TN. 1887)


THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF BENJAMIN JOHNS - Recorded in Will Book G, Page 357, County
Clerk's Office, Smith County, Tennessee

Be it remembered that on the 4th day of September, One thousand eight hundred and twenty one (1821) I, BENJAMIN JOHNS, of Smith County, and state of Tennessee, being in good health of body and sound in mind, do make this my last will and testament in the manner following:

After my burial expense are paid, and my just debts, I give to my son, JESSIE JOHNS, agreeable to his account when settled, $394.70. I give my daughter BETSY CROSTHWITE, $116.00, and no more according to a settlement made with her husband, John Crosthwite, in the year 1800. I give my son JOSEPH JOHNS children their father's account, which is $730.00, and also an equal dividend of my estate, after all is settled between ELIAS JOHNS, William Vaden, his children, HARVY JOHNS children and POLLY BEASLEY and children, or her husband, Henry
Beasley.

After their several accounts are reduced out of what is left of my estate, which I direct to be sold at public sale, as soon as my Executors shall think proper, I appoint my son, ELIAS JOHNS, and my son-in-law, William Vaden, to be my Executors, to see that this will shall be faithfully executed, agreeable to the above.

ELIAS JOHNS act. is $240.00. All the above accounts are to be taken out of the sale of real, and personal estate, if any be left.

The above is my last will and testament, as witness my hand and seal, the day and year above written (September 4, 1821.)

Signed: BENJAMIN JOHNS

The Last Will and Testament of BENJAMIN JOHNS was probated July 6, 1826, Recorded in book G. page 357 (Smith Co., TN).

• Married: ABT 1770 in Loudoun Co., VA

1. Isaac Johns b: ABT 1771 in Loudoun Co., VA
2. Elizabeth Johns b: 20 MAY 1773 in Loudoun Co., VA
3. Jesse Johns b: ABT 1776 in Loudoun Co., VA
4. Joseph Johns b: ABT 1778 in Loudoun Co., VA
5. Elias Johns b: 1780 in Loudoun Co., VA
6. William Harvey Johns b: ABT 1782 in Loudoun Co., VA
7. Hannah Johns b: ABT 1784 in Loudoun Co., VA
8. Mary "Polly" Johns b: ABT 1788 in Washington Co., VA

• Married: 6 JAN 1806 in Smith Co., TN

1. Title: Ruth Padilla (ruthptb@tcac.net)
   Repository:
   Media: Book
2. Title: Mari Morrow (morrow88@earthlink.net)
   Repository:
   Media: Book