William JOHNSON & Mary BENNETT
Father: William JOHNSON
Mother: Mary BENNETT, b. West Chester England, d. 1720, Lancaster County Virginia
NOTE: Genealogy.com official genealogy of George Washington says his grandmother is indeed Mary Bennett and not Mary Montague. This woman the grandmother of George Washington is still part of a genealogical mystery. for some genealogists, Some claim that Joseph Ball married a woman named Mary Montague as his second wife., , others say that this is not so and Mary Montague married a man named Thomas Payne and died prior to Mary Ball Washington's birth. However, most of the evidence I have seen shows that he probably married a woman who was the widow Johnson or Mrs Mary Johnson at the time of his marriage to her. And her maiden name was Bennett. See the twisted tale of documented evidence which tries to sort out who the grandmother of George Washington is and what her maiden name may be. I have only chosen to copy the information listed as documented evidence on the Montague family site, not the information that is gossip or undocumented info. I think that the evidence below points to the fact that he married Mary Bennett the widow of .William Johnson. Since this is so well documented as far as I am concerned I have gone with Mary Bennett as I do not believe his wife was Mary Montague at all as according to this info she was probably dead and too old to be the mother of Mary Ball who also had siblings. FROM THE HOUSE OF MONTAGUE WEB SITE Documented Sources <What follows are a compilation of all the documented facts available on the issue. Each fact standing alone is but a brick, but taken together with all the other bricks creates something of a brick wall, in that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts: About 1664: The approximate birth date of Mary (dau. of Peter I) [citing HGPM 62, (8)]. Prior to 12 March 1666/7: Mary [Montague] was born before 12 March 1666/7 because on that date she “… was given a “heyfer” by her aunt Elizabeth Montague” [Adventurers of Purse and Person, pp 452-453 citing Lancaster Co. Deeds &c 4, 1666-82, p. 18.] Establishes Elizabeth Montague (dau. of Peter I and sister of Peter II) had niece named Mary and that Mary was one of the children of Peter II. citing Middlesex Co. Wills 1675-1798, p. 6]. ). Establishes Mary Montague is daughter of Peter II. 24 Oct 1682: Mary Montague weds Thomas Paine, [John Otto Yurechko's, Christ Church Parish Register of Middlesex County Virginia, 1615-1812, p. 12; and Adventurers of Purse and Person, p. 453 citing Lancaster Co. Deeds 1666-82, p. 18]. “Adventurers” shows this is Mary Montague, dau. of Peter II & Mary Minor It is almost certainly her first marriage, as she is listed as a Montague, and not “widdow” or “relic” as is the custom. Establishes that Mary's first husband was Thomas Paine or Payne. 17 Feb 1686/7: Christ Church Parish Register of Middlesex Co., 1615-1812 lists that in 1686/7 “17 Feb Mary Payne” was buried. This doesn't state if it is Mary, wife of Thomas; a child of Thomas & Mary; or a completely different person. [This is the last time the name of Mary (Montague) Payne is ever known to have been recorded on any documents.] 10 Feb 1688/9: Christ Church Parish Register of Middlesex Co., 1615-1812, “William Johnson of Norwich and Mary Bennett of West Chester were married 10 Feb 1688/9.” [Could this be the Mary Johnson who m. Joseph Ball between 6 Feb 1707-25 Jun 1711? They had two children: Elizabeth & John.] 4 Feb 1693/4: 1703: Mary Johnson is witness to a gift deed from Col. Joseph Ball to his son-in-law Rawleigh Chinn. After 6 Feb 1707: Mary Johnson marries Col. Joseph Ball. Married Well and Often–Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649-1800:24, citing Parish Register of Christ Church Middlesex Co., 1997, p. 37. 1708: Mary Ball is born to Mary Johnson and Col. Joseph Ball. [Mary Montague would have been about 44 years old.] 25 June 1711: Col. Joseph Ball's will leaves to his beloved step daughter Elizabeth Johnson, 100 acres of land for her life.Bef 12 Aug 1712: Richard Hues (Hewes, Hughes) marries Mary Johnson Ball. His will mentions his wife Mary & her children Elizabeth & John Johnson in his will. [Married Well and Often–Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649-1800:190, citing Northumberland Co., VA, 12 Aug 1712-17 Feb 1713/4]h) Following the death of her third husband, Mary Hewes lived either in Westmoreland Co. near her daughter Elizabeth Johnson who married Samuel Bonam or with her son John Johnson. She died in 1721 and appointed her son John Johnson and well beloved friend, George Eskridge, executors of her will in which she placed her daughter, Mary Ball, “under the tutelage and government of Capt. George Eskridge.”
Married 1688/1689, Middlesex County Virginia
Children:
- Elizabeth JOHNSON, d. 1726
- (Private)