Hello and sorry in advance for the long winded explanation and request… And thank you in advance for any help you can give us! We are hoping someone can help us with our mystery… We are researching the family of William Johnson of Middlesex and Goochland Counties. All the evidence we have found so far points to Henry Johnson of Essex and Lancaster Counties and Elizabeth Mussett (step daughter to Richard Bond of Essex VA.) However DNA has proven NOT to be a match with a proven son of Henry (or any known Johnson line since before 1500). However, we are a match with a branch of the Horton family between 8 and 12 generations ago. (Who to their knowledge never had any connections in Virginia.) We are trying to figure out if we were on the wrong track the whole time - and we are a previously unknown line of Johnsons or if there was an adoption or maternal mishap. As I said, we thought William must be a son of Henry Johnson and Elizabeth Mussett but it is all circumstantial evidence. Here is a synopsis of our evidence tying us to Henry Johnson: 1) William Johnson of Middlesex born about 1700 and his wife Margaret Pace named their oldest daughter and son Elizabeth and Henry… The second oldest son is named William after himself. Sons were also named after Margaret’s father and grand-father. Henry Johnson died in Lancaster County in 1722 the order book states that Henry's oldest son (indicating there was at least one other son living at the time of Henry’s death) Sylvanus Johnson qualified as administrator of his estate along with Elizabeth Johnson and Robert Newsom. 2) Robert Newsom is the uncle of Margaret Pace who married William Johnson of Middlesex Lancaster County B 10 page 397 - May 11, 1722 Johnson Heirs bond for administration of Henry Johnson Estate Eliza Johnson, oldest son Sill Johnson & Robert Neusom of Lancaster County are bound in the amount of 200 lbs jointly and firmly to administer the estate of Henry Johnson dec'd. Signed Eliza' Johnson Sill Johnson Rob't Neusom The Robert Neusom who witnessed the will of Henry Johnson in Lancaster is the brother to William Johnson’s mother in law, Elizabeth Newsome Pace. Wiliam Johnson and Margaret Pace lived in Urbanna but we have not been able to find a deed to his property there… Our only clue is in Middlesex Order Book 4, page 252. William Johnson was appointed surveyor of the Roads in place of William Kidd and the Court then ordered that the "surveyor of the road leading to Urbanna Town do cause the way to be made convenient for conveying tobacco from the Upper Where house to the landing." This, along with the fact that according to the Pace Society of America, Margaret's parents John Pace and Elizabeth Newsom lived on LaGrange Creek in Urbanna would indicate that William & Margaret also lived in or very near Urbanna. 3) William Johnson purchased his property in Goochland from Charles Bond. IF William Johnson was the son of Henry and Elizabeth, then he would have purchased this land from his cousin: A deed from Charles Bond to William Johnson of Middlesex County is recorded in Goochland DB 2, pages 193 and 194… Charles Bond and wife Mary to William Johnson of the County of Middlesex two hundred and fifty acres on the Little Byrd Creek. Witness: James George, Joseph Pace, Thomas Brackett. On Goochland County DB 2, page 194 Charles Bond agreed on paper to put up twice the amount of money than what William Johnson paid for the land. A bond of this type was not very common during this period and usually had a neutral third party involved. Which indicates William knew and did not trust Charles Bond’s word. Charles Bond’s wife was Mary Parks from Essex County and Charles Bond was a nephew of Henry and Elizabeth Mussett Johnson: 1) Elizabeth Mussett Johnson was the step-daughter to Richard Bond of Essex: The identity of Henry's wife Elizabeth as stepdaughter to Richard Bond is found in 1700 Essex County DB 10 PG 63: Deposition of John Webster Aged 50 yeares or thereabouts saith that about 14 or 15 years ago Mr. Richard Bond and his twoe sons arrived att my house ______ They came from Maryland at their request I gave them entertainment & some time after he sent for his wife and daughter & accordingly they came & I heard the said Bonds wife say very ofton that that was her daughter which she had by a former husband whose name was Mussitt & that her name was Elizabeth Mussitt and I heard her father in law Mr. Richard Bond & his two sons say the very same and this Eliza whole sirname was formerly Mussitt is now the Wife of Henry Johnson & I heard the said Bond & his wife say that when they was in Maryland they lived upon an island in Patuxusnt River and further saith not. When William Johnson of Middlesex died in 1744 he left his estate in Middlesex to his son Henry and his estate in Goochland to his son William. All other properties were to be sold and divided among his remaining children. (These children are all listed in the Christ Church Parrish Register) At this time, William Johnson Jr and his brother Benjamin Johnson both settled in Goochland County. (We have a paper trail for both Benjamin and William Jr. from Middlesex to Goochland.) At the same time William and Benjamin Johnson appear in Goochland, the Newsome, Pace, and Kidd families all appear. At this same time, Francis Thurston also appears in Goochland from Middlesex. Back in Middlesex, Henry Johnson had been appointed as guardian to Francis and Elizabeth Thurston, orphans of John Thurston. DNA proves the most recent common ancestor between branches of our Johnson family is the son of Benjamin Johnson and the grandson of William Johnson of Middlesex. Therefore the anomaly had to have occurred around 1739 or before. Which agrees with the FTDNA analysis of how closely we are related to the Horton family of 8-10 generations. Also, we have not found any Hortons in Goochland at all! Can anyone help us unravel this mystery? Thank you so very much, Val Johnson To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html