Sir William Johnson (265)

Election date: 1768 (Elected to the revived American Philosophical Society.)

Sir William Johnson (c.1715–11 July 1774) was a colonial official and a member of the American Philosophical Society, elected in 1768. Born in Ireland, little is known of Johnson’s youth but by 1738 the young man had emigrated to present-day New York to manage his uncle’s business affairs. It did not take long for Johnson to wrest a fortune from his new position in the Mohawk River Valley, a combination of trade with the neighboring Haudenosaunee Confederacy (also known as the Six Nations Iroquois), land speculation, and rental income from his tenants. From there, Johnson’s wealth and influence only grew over the subsequent decades in large part because of his relationship with Molly Brant, sister of Mohawk leader Joseph Brant. Johnson parlayed his relationship with Molly and their eight children to expand his kinship and economic ties within the Mohawk Nation, a calculated move that brought him influence with some, but not all, of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. In 1746, British officials, recognizing the value of Johnson’s ability to foster Indian allies, appointed him as Albany’s commissioner of Indian affairs. As the Seven Years’ War flared in 1755, an agent to the British crown appointed Johnson again to the commissioner position, which he followed up with a number of military successes. After the war, Johnson acted as a superintendent of Indian affairs where he proved successful in facilitating trade and diplomacy from his newly built estate, Johnson Hall. Once there, he oversaw holdings of over 400 square miles filled with Indian and colonist communities while continuing to host Indian diplomacy at his home. Unsurprisingly, it was Johnson’s work with Indian Nations that brought him to the attention of APS, most memorably when he arranged safe passage through Indian Country for two men observing the Transit of Venus in 1768. Johnson conducted diplomacy, quite literally, up until his death. After a long day of conducting critical negotiations surrounding the Treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1774, Johnson collapsed and died in his room. (PI, DNB)



Member(s): Sir William Johnson
265.001
An account of conferences held, and treaties made, Between Major-General Sir William Johnson, Bart : and the chief Sachems and Warriours of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, Senekas, Tuskaroras, Aughquageys, Skaniadaradighronos, Chugnuts, Mahickanders, Shawanese, Kanuskagos, Toderighronos, and Oghquagoes, Indian Nations in North America, at their Meetings on different occasions at Fort Johnson in the County of Albany, in the Colony of New York, in the Years 1755 and 1756 : with a letter from the Rev. Mr. Hawley to Sir William Johnson, written at the desire of the Delaware Indians : and a preface giving a short account of the Six Nations, some anecdotes of the life of Sir William, and notes illustrating the whole also an appendix containing an account conferences between several Quakers in Philadelphia, and some of the heads of the Six Nations, in April 1756.
Creator(s):
Johnson, William, Sir, 1715-1774 (Contributor)
Publication:
London: printed for A. Millar, in the Strand, [1756]
Subjects:
Johnson, William, Sir, 1715-1774 -- Early works to 1800. | Indians of North America -- Treaties. | Indians of North America -- Treaties -- Early works to 1800. | Iroquois Indians -- Early works to 1800. | United States -- History -- French and Indian War, 1755-1763 -- Early works to 1800.
Record Source:
ESTC
References:
Sabin 36337
APS Subjects:
Diplomacy | First Nations | Indian | Native American
Editions:
2x 1756 (Lancaster, PA; London)
Editions Note:

Two editions, both published in 1756 (Lancaster, PA and London).

Holding Note: APS owns two copies, one London edition and one 1930 reprint.


Member(s): Sir William Johnson
265.002
Camp at Lake George, Sept. 9. 1755 : to the governours of the several colonies who raised the troops on the present expedition.
Creator(s):
Johnson, William, Sir, 1715-1774 (Author)
Publication:
[United States: s.n], [1755]
Subjects:
Lake George, Battle of, N.Y., 1755. | United States -- History -- French and Indian War, 1755-1763 -- Campaigns.
Record Source:
ESTC
References:
Evans 7441 | Sabin 36338
APS Subjects:
Military
Editions:
2x 1755
Editions Note:

Two editions, both published in 1755.

Holding Note: APS does not own this text. Help the APS acquire this item.


Member(s): Sir William Johnson
265.003
Proceedings and treaty with the Shawanese, Nanticokes, and Mohikander Indians, living at Otsiningo, on one of the west branches of the Susquehanna river, negotiated at Fort-Johnson, in the County of Albany, in the Province of New-York by the Honourable Sir William Johnson, bart. etc.; published by order of his Excellency the Right Honourable John Earl of Loudoun, Commander in chief of all His Majesty's forces in North-america, etc.
Creator(s):
Johnson, William, Sir, 1715-1774 (Contributor) | Shawnee Nation Treaties, etc. (1757) (Contributor) | Nanticoke Indians Treaties, etc. (1757) (Contributor) | Manican Indians Treaties, etc. (1757) (Contributor)
Publication:
New York: J. Parker & W. Weyman, 1757
Subjects:
New York -- State. Treaties, etc. 1757. | Indians of North America -- Treaties. | Indians of the United States -- New York
Record Source:
APS
References:
Evans 7925 | Sabin 36339 | Sabin 65759
Editions:
1x 1757
Editions Note:

One edition.

Holding Note: APS owns one copy. View Holding


Member(s): Sir William Johnson
265.004
A Treaty with the Shawanese and Delaware Indians, living on and near the Susquehanna River : negotiated at Fort-Johnson, in the county of Albany, in the province of New-York, by the Honourable Sir William Johnson, Baronet, His Majesty’s sole agent, and superintendant of the affairs of the Six Confederate Nations of Indians, their allies and dependents : published from the original records, by order of His Excellency the Right Honourable John Earl of Loudoun, commander in chief of all His Majesty’s forces in North-America, &c. &c. with a preface explaining the rise and progress of the said treaty.
Creator(s):
Johnson, William, Sir, 1715-1774 (Contributor)
Publication:
New-York: Printed and sold by J. Parker and W. Weyman, at the new-printing-office in Beaver-Street, [1757]
Subjects:
Delaware Indians -- Treaties. | Indians of North America -- Treaties. | Shawnee Indians -- Treaties.
Record Source:
ESTC
References:
Evans 40888 | Evans 41752
APS Subjects:
Diplomacy | First Nations | Indian | Native American
Editions:
1x 1757
Editions Note:

One edition.

Holding Note: APS owns one copy. View Holding