View Cart

Johnson of the Mohawks by Arthur Pound (Macmillan Co., 1930) 424 pages, 5.34Mb

Add to Cart $2.45

Pound's classic biography of Sir William Johnson was the first to follow Stone's 1865 collection of reminiscences and legends. With access to the newly-published Johnson Papers, this biography dispels many of the myths provides substantial additional material about one of the most remarkable and accomplished men of the French and Indian War era. The narrative traces Johnson's origins in Ireland to his earliest years in the Province of New York under the patronage of his uncle, Admiral Sir Peter Warren. His relationship with the Mohawks and the Iroquois nation are carefully chronicled as are his military accomplishments at Lake George, Oswego, Niagara, and Detroit. Addenda to the work include his last will and testament, the full text of the Albany Conference's Plan of Union, genealogical material, and much more useful information, plus Pound's bibliography and index.

The original 1930 revised edition contains about thirty illustrations, all of which have been carefully preserved. As their combined, full-scale digital size would make a fully-illustrated PDF edition too large for convenient download, all the the illustrations are thumbnailed in the text, and available in a full-scale resolution below.

The Digital Edition is published in portrait orientation; fully-searchable, fully-printable, all footnotes are at the bottom of the pages in which they appear.

Major General Johnson’s map of Lake George sector, sent by him to Sir Thomas Robinson, principal Secretary of State, January 17, 1756. Key appears on reverse. Probably both map and key are the work of Thomas Pownall

Add to Cart
$2.45

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON, BARONET: From a miniature painting in the Public Archives of Canada, showing Johnson at about forty years of age, in the heyday of his new honors. Hitherto unpublished in the United States.

COLONEL WILLIAM JOHNSON: From an oil painting by John Wollaston in the Albany Institute of History and Art. 1751.

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON: From an oil painting labeled as by T. Adams, in the possession of the novelist, Robert W. Chambers, at Broadalbin, N.Y. Supposed to be the painting from which Spooner made the famous mezzotint "The Hero of Lake George"

THE HERO OF LAKE GEORGE: The military Johnson, as purveyed to the London of 1756. Mezzotint engraving by J. Spooner from the Adams painting. A copy of the mezzotint is in the collection at Fort Johnson.

ANOTHER JOHNSON, AS LONDON SAW HIM:
Print published in London in 1756. From the New York State Library.

JOHNSON AT THE ZENITH OF HIS POWERS: Circa 1765, his fiftieth year. From the gallery of the New York Historical Society. This has been identified as a copy, the original being in possession of a descendant of the Baronet in England. Probably this is the likeness from which J. C. Buttre made his famous steel engraving of Sir William, first published as a frontispiece in the "Life and Times of Sir William Johnson, Bart.," by W. L. Stone.

THE STANDARD JOHNSON: J. C. Buttre engraved this, the standard likeness of the mature Johnson, from a copy of an oil painting, as above. The engraving formed the frontispiece for W. L. Stone’s sterling work, The Life and Times of Sir William Johnson, Bart, published 1865. As an engraving from a copy of an original painting, it is hence the synthetic product of three artists, two of whom never saw Johnson.

SIR PETER WARREN, K.B., THE ADMIRAL:
Johnson’s maternal uncle who brought him to America. From a print by Ridley in the Naval Chronicle.

Add to Cart
$2.45

GRAVE OF SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON: To which the paths of glory led him at the age of fifty-nine.

Add to Cart
$2.45

View Cart

Add to Cart
$2.45

View Cart

Add to Cart
$2.45

View Cart

- PREFACE

I. - KEEPERS OF THE MOHAWK PASS

II. - THE DOOR TO THE WEST

III. - WILLIAM JOHNSON ARRIVES IN AMERICA

IV. - FRONTIERSMEN ALL

V. - HE FOUNDS A BUSINESS

VI. - HE BUYS A WIFE

VII. - HIS NEIGHBORS THE IROQUOIS

VIII. - A BREAK WITH THE FAMILY

IX. - JOHNSON MOVES OUT AND UP

X. - THE SAVING OF OSWEGO

XI. - COLONEL JOHNSON TAKES COMMAND

XII. - A COLONEL OF INDIANS RESIGNS

XIII. - OF BROWN LADY JOHNSON AND OTHERS

XIV. - JOHNSON AND THE BLACK ROBES

XV. - LIQUIDATING A BAD PEACE

XVI. - THE ALBANY CONGRESS

XVIL - COMMISSIONED BY THE CROWN

XVIII. - A SMALL VICTORY AND A GREAT DEFEAT

XIX. - THE COMMANDERS FALL OUT

XX. - JOHNSON’S CROWN POINT CAMPAIGN

XXI. - PAINS OF VICTORY

XXII. - HE BECOMES SIR WILLIAM

XXIII. - MONTCALM MAKES HIS BOW AT OSWEGO

XXIV. - THE COVENANT CHAIN WEARS THIN

XXV. - WRINGING HOPE FROM DISASTER

XXVI. - SIR WILLIAM WINS NIAGARA

XXVII. - THE END OF NEW FRANCE

XXVIII. - A RUM-RIDDEN AGE

XXIX. - ORDEAL BY THE WEST

XXX. - A JOLLY MARCH ON DANGER

XXXI. - IN OLD DETROIT

XXXII. - A WEARY TRAVELER RETURNS

XXXIII. - LAND BARON AND REFEREE

XXXIV. - A FEUDAL FAMILY ON THE FRONTIER

XXXV. - LIFE AT THE HALL

XXXVI. - WAR IN THE WEST

XXXVII. - SIR WILLIAM MAKES PEACE

XXXVIII. - JOHNSON AND HIS CHILDREN

XXXIX. - THE HEIR APPARENT

XL. - THE CLOSING YEARS

XLI. - DEATH UNBARS THE DOOR

XLII. - OPENING THE WEST

---

I. - EARLY MOHAWK FACTS

II. - THE FUR TRADE OF NEW YORK

III. - FORT JOHNSON

IV. - FRANKLIN’S PLAN OF UNION

V. - EMINENT INDIANS OF JOHNSON’S TIME

VI. - BRITISH REGIMENTS

VII. - THE INDIAN SERVICE UNDER JOHNSON

VIII. - THE WILL OF SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON

IX. - SOME DIRECT DESCENDANTS

X. - HISTORICAL BASIS OF THE FORT STANWIX LINE

- BIBLIOGRAPHY

- INDEX

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON, BARONET
From a miniature painting in the Public Archives of Canada, showing Johnson at about forty years of age, in the heyday of his new honors. Hitherto unpublished in the United States.

SIR PETER WARREN, K.B., THE ADMIRAL
Johnson’s maternal uncle who brought him to America. From a print by Ridley in the Naval Chronicle.

THE JOHNSON COAT OF ARMS
Left, Sir William’s Coat of Arms from his bookplate; right, that filed at Dublin Castle by his brother Warren.

SPECIMEN JOHNSON MANUSCRIPT
As it emerged from the fire in the New York State Capitol at Albany in 1911. Letter from Johnson to Goldsbrow Banyar, Deputy Secretary of State of the Colony, June 19, 1755. Lower signature enlarged.

COLONEL WILLIAM JOHNSON
From an oil painting by John Wollaston in the Albany Institute of History and Art. 1751.

FORT JOHNSON
Erected 1749-50. From an old French print.

THE CASTLE AT FORT NIAGARA
Of French construction, it was captured by Johnson in 1759. From a photograph by Dr. Frank Severance of Buffalo, N.Y.

FORT JOHNSON IN 1759
From a sketch by Guy Johnson showing the complete group of buildings and defences.

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON
From an oil painting labeled as by T. Adams, in the possession of the novelist, Robert W. Chambers, at Broadalbin, N.Y. Supposed to be the painting from which Spooner made the famous mezzotint "The Hero of Lake George"

OLD HENDRIK
From a contemporary copper engraving in the Emmet collection, New York Public Library. It shows the old chief in the court dress he wore when presented to Queen Anne in 1710. Though frequently called "King Hendrik," the title was merely one of courtesy. Sold, originally, by Elizabeth Birchin in Cornhill.

THOMAS POWNALL
Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey and Governor, respectively, of Massachusetts and South Carolina. Johnson’s staunch friend in Imperial politics. From the original in possession of the Bostonian Society.

WILLIAM SHIRLEY
Colonial Governor of Massachusetts and Commander-in-Chief of British forces in North America between Braddock’s death and Abercromby’s arrival. From the original in the possession of the Bostonian Society.

JOHNSON’S MAP OF LAKE GEORGE SECTOR
Sent to Sir Thomas Robinson, principal Secretary of State, on Jan. 17, 1756, endorsed on the back, "Sketch of the Country between Fort St Frederick & Fort Edward." Map and key are probably both by Thomas Pownall.

HENDRIK AND SIR WILLIAM
From a photograph of the monument erected on the battlefield at Lake George by the Colonial Dames of America. Statue by Weinert.

THE HERO OF LAKE GEORGE
The military Johnson, as purveyed to the London of 1756. Mezzotint engraving by J. Spooner from the Adams painting. A copy of the mezzotint is in the collection at Fort Johnson.

ANOTHER JOHNSON, AS LONDON SAW HIM
Print published in London in 1756. From the New York State Library.

GUY JOHNSON
Sir William’s nephew and Principal Secretary during the Baronet’s later years. Guy arrived in America in 1756 and married Mary Johnson, the Baronet’s younger daughter, in 1763. His skill as a draftsman appears in many maps. From an engraving by Bartolozzi, sometimes described, in error, as being, alternatively, that of Sir William Johnson and Sir John Johnson.

RT. HON. JEFFREY, LORD AMHERST
Published November 1, 1781, by J. Walker, Paternoster Row, London. Original in New York State Library.

"THE CAUTIOUS COMMANDER"
A caricature of Amherst by Thomas Pownall. Published by C. Bretherton, London, 1782. Original sketch in New York State Library

JOHNSON AT THE ZENITH OF HIS POWERS
Circa 1765, his fiftieth year. From the gallery of the New York Historical Society. This has been identified as a copy, the original being in possession of a descendant of the Baronet in England. Probably this is the likeness from which J. C. Buttre made his famous steel engraving of Sir William, first published as a frontispiece in the "Life and Times of Sir William Johnson, Bart.," by W. L. Stone.

THE STANDARD JOHNSON
J. C. Buttre engraved this, the standard likeness of the mature Johnson, from a copy of an oil painting, as above. The engraving formed the frontispiece for W. L. Stone’s sterling work, The Life and Times of Sir William Johnson, Bart, published 1865. As an engraving from a copy of an original painting, it is hence the synthetic product of three artists, two of whom never saw Johnson.

THE JOHNSON STATUE AT JOHNSTOWN
By Pioggi, with the assistance of E. L. Henry, painter of historic American scenes and personages. Erected by the Aldine Society of Johnstown in 1904. Owned by the State of New York, which also includes Johnson Hall and its grounds. The inscription reads:
In Memory of Sir William Johnson, Baronet, A Man of Strong Character, A Colossal Pioneer, One of the Greatest Men of His Time. Sole Superintendent and Faithful Friend of the Six Nations and Their Allies. Their Warragiyagey. Founder of Johnstown. He Established Here the First Free School in the State. Born in Ireland, 1715. Died in Johnstown, 1774. 326

JOHNSON HALL
The last residence of Sir William Johnson, Bart., restored to almost its original appearance by the State of New York. Begun 1761. Note corner of stone blockhouse in rear at left.

JOSEPH BRANT
Johnson’s protegé, possibly his son, as he appeared during his London visit. From an original drawing some time in the possession of Brant’s host in England, James Boswell, Esq., the biographer of Doctor Samuel Johnson. Boswell entertained the Indian leader in London in 1776.

SIR JOHN JOHNSON IN HIS YOUTH
From a miniature painting in the possession of Jane A. Riggs, Washington, D.C.

SPECIMEN INDIAN TREATY
Entered into between Sir William Johnson and the Delawares and other tribes, July 13, 1765, after Colonel Bouquet conquered them. Note the animal drawings by way of signature.

COLONEL AND MRS. DANIEL CLAUS
Sir William’s eldest daughter Ann and her husband, his chief deputy in Canada (married, 1762). From miniature paintings in the Public Archives of Canada.

SIR JOHN JOHNSON IN LATE MIDDLE AGE
From a pastel in the possession of Major F. C. Ormsby Johnson, Weymouth, England.

GRAVE OF SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON
To which the paths of glory led him at the age of fifty-nine.

Frontiers of the Northern Colonies, showing the Fort Stanwix Treaty Line of 1768. By Guy Johnson

Northern Theater of War, showing trails, military roads and forts from Albany to Crown Point. Prepared by the State of New York

Major General Johnson’s map of Lake George sector, sent by him to Sir Thomas Robinson, principal Secretary of State, January 17, 1756. Key appears on reverse. Probably both map and key are the work of Thomas Pownall

Timothy Clement’s contemporary map of the Lake George battlefield, 1756, showing also sketch of Fort Edward, and the Hudson river route to Lake Champlain, with portages

Victory Map of Niagara, published in New York, 1759, in celebration of Sir William’s success. It shows both fort and surroundings; also the victor’s coat of arms

Map showing trails, portages and settlements from Albany to Niagara, during Sir William Johnson’s superintendency of the Six Nations. Prepared by the State of New York to accompany the Papers of Sir William Johnson