EARLY FAMILIES OF CHARLESTOWN, NH
From:	Janice Farnsworth (Farns10th@AOL.COM)

Surname: Captivity of Susannah JOHNSON (Part 3 of 3)
Source:  History of Charlestown, NH, The Old No. 4,
     by Rev. Henry Saunderson printed by the Claremont Mfg.
        Co., Claremont, NH 1876

p.452
The savages being now beyond danger gave tokens of their
joy by the most boistrous hallooing and yelling.  They
also, but whether as a diversion or a religious ceremon-
ial, Mrs. Johnson never knew, taught their prisoners to
dance.  Each of themalso was taught a song.  Mrs. John-
son's song was, "Danna witchee nachepung." That of little
Sylvanus Johnson was: "Narwiseumpton".  Of the titles of
the others we are not informed.   But if these things
were a diversion to the Indians they do not appear to
have been so to the prisoners, as Mrs. Johnson informs
us that they were "very painful and offensive."  "Here,
says Mrs. Johnson, we were visited by seven Indians who
were received with great joy by our masters, who took
great pleasure in introducing their prisoners.  The war
dance was held again.   We were obliged to join and sing
our songs while the Indians rent the air with infernal
yelling.  We then embarked and arrived at Crown Point
about noon.  Each prisoner was then lead by his master
to the residence of the French commander.  We were order-
ed to his apartment and used with that hospitality which
characterizes the best part of that nation.  We had
brandy in profusion, a good dinner, and a change of linen.
This was luxury indeed after what we had suffered for
want of these things.  None but ourselves could prize
their value.  We, after dinner, were paraded before the
commander and underwent examination; after which we were
shown a convenient apartment, where we resided four days
not subject to the jurisdiction of our savage masters.
Here we received great civilities and many presents.
I had a nursewho in a great measure restored my exhausted
strength.  My children were all decently clothed, and
my infant in particular.  The remainder of this history
must be briefly told. And only that which particularly
relates to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson will be referred to here
as the incidents relating to Mr. Labaree, Mr. Farnsworth
and Miriam Willard will be given under their own names.

On the 4th day after their arrival at Crown Point the
prisoners were delivered to their Indian masters, when
the whole company embarked in one vessel for St.Johns.
They had not sailed far before on account of the shift-
ing of the wind, it became necessary to cast anchor.
While lying thus, a canoe containing a white woman who
was bound for Albany, came alongside by whom Mr. Johnson
forwarded a letter to Colonel Lydius of that place. This
contained some particulars of their situation and which
afterwards being published in the Boston papers gave to
their New England friends, the first information of their
safety.

After a disagreeable voyage of three days, they arrived
at St. Johns, on the 16th of September where they ex-
perienced once more the politeness of the French command-
er.  From this place they passed on to Chamblee where in
the garrison they found all the hospitality their necess-
ities required.  "Here, says Mrs. Johnson, for the lst
time after our captivity, I lodged on a bed."  Brandy
was handed about in large bowls and we lived in fine
style."  But the next morning they were carried in the
canoes of the Indians to Sorelle, from thence they were
taken to St. Francis which was the home of their masters.
And, the headquarters of the tribe of that name.

Mr. Johnson was allowed to remain only a few days at
St. Francis, before he was taken to Montreal to be sold.
Soon after his arrival at this place, a parole of two
months was granted him that he might return home and
obtain the means of redemption.  By applying to the 
Assembly of New Hampshire, he obtained, after some time,
one hundred and fifty pounds sterling.  But the season
was so far advanced and the winter so severe, that he did
not reach Canada until Spring.  He was then accused of
breaking his parole, and a great partof his money was
taken from him by violence.   He was then shut up with a
part of his family in prison, where he took the smallpox
He was retained in prison three years, when he and his
son, Sylvanus were permitted to return to New England.

On arriving at Boston he had no sooner landed than he 
was put under guard on suspicion of not having performed
his duty in the redemption of the Canada prisoners, which
suspicion was occasioned by his remissness in producing
his vouchers.  But the following certificate procured his
liberty:

"This is to certify whom it may concern that the bearer
Lieutenant James Johnson inhabitant of the town of
Charlestown in the Province of New-Hampshire in New
England, who, together with his family, was taken by the
Indians on the 30th of August, 1754, has ever since
continued a steady and faithful subject to his Majesty
King George, and has used his utmost endeavors to re-
deem his family and all others belonging to the Province
aforesaid that were in the hands of the French and Indians
which he cannot yet accomplish, and that both himself
and family have undergone innumerable hardships and
afflictions since they have been prisoners in Canada.

In testimony of which, we, the subscribers officers in
his Britannic Majesty's service and now prisoners of war
at Quebec, have thought it necessary to grant him this
certificate and do recommend him as an object worthy of
aid and compassion of every honest Englishman.
Signed:               Peter Shuyler
                      Andrew Waztkins
                      William Martin
                      William Padgett
Quebec, Sept. 16, 1757

Mrs. Johnson with her two youngest daughters and her
sister Miriam Willard after remaining in captivity 
eighteen months were conveyed in a cartel ship to England
and arrived in New York on the 10th of December, 1757

Mrs. Johnson in her narrative says: "After his (Mr.
Johnson's) dismission from the guards in Boston, he
proceeded directly to Charlestown (Fort 4).  When within
fifteen miles of Springfield he was met by a gentleman
who had just before seen me and who gave him the best
news he could have heard.  Although it was then late at
night, he lost not a moment.  At two o'clock in the
morning of the lst of January, 1758, I again embraced
my dearest friend. Happy New Year."

(Sad ending)
Mr. Johnson a few days after this meeting, set out for
New York to adjust his accounts in Canada.  On his journey
he was pursuaded by Governor Pownal, to take a Captain's
commission and join the forces bound for Ticonderoga
where he fell at the breast work on the 8th of July 
following, in the battle that proved also fatal to Lord
Howe.

His commission was dated at Boston, March 30, 1758 in the
3lst year of the reign of His Majesty George the 2nd.
He was commissionedto be Captain of a company in the
battalion of light infantry, to be formed out of the
forces then raised by the governor, for a general invas-
ion of Canada, commanded by Colonel Oliver Patridge.

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