Family-histories and genealogies : containing a series of ...

we are happy to find by yr Letter that M" Johnson was neither so much fatigued,
nor y"* way so formidable and rugged, as what might reasonably have been expected
from y"^ representation given us before yr departure—her being something Indispos'd
immediately on y** fatigue and worry of fixing oiif, is not much to be wonder'd at
it's remarkable y' she bore y** Journey so well— it's happy y' she likes her Situation,
and enjoys such a share of Health, sprightliness and Vigour—these no Doubt will
conduce to heighten yr domestick and matrimonial Felicity—if our kind Wishes for
yr Happiness wou'd serve to promote it, you wou'd be happy enough. M" Gibbs,
Miss B tt and myself send our very kind regards to yr Self, y' amiable Spouse and
desirable Children—nothing of y'^ News kind occurs, worthy of transmitting to such
a Distance, shall therefore subscribe, with respect, your Friend and humble Servant
John Eddy."
One of the letters here given, written May 8, 1776, alludes to
Johnson's having recently entertained the thought of going "into service
in the Army." But he had already been in the field. A letter from him
to Lieut.-Gov. Matthew Griswold, of October 5, 1775, was written
"in Camp at Roxbury" (see ^rl[StUOltr)» Another of these letters,
dated April 16, 1776, speaks of a meeting of the First Ecclesiastical
Society of Lyme, the day before, at which, notwithstanding the personal
solicitations of Col. Parsons, they could not agree to part with their pastor.
It is a matter of record, however, that about a month later, on the 22*^ of
May 1776, the following vote was passed at a meeting of the Society :
"At the same Meeting Voted that this Society consent that the Rev. Mr. Stephen
Johnson Accept the Appointment of the Gen' Assembly to be Chaplain to Col' S. H.
Parsons's Regiment ;"
ai.d Johnson accordingly joined the Regiment of Parsons, and probably
was present at the battle of Bunker Hill.
But ten years before the beginning of the American Revolution
Rev. Stephen Johnson, then in the vigor of manhood, had served the
cause of his country in a more memorable manner, by his pen, than he
afterwards did by his presence with the patriot-army. His writings pub-
322
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