There was still no Benezette Township or Elk County at the time of the 1820 census, but the people living in Gibson Township, Clearfield County occupied approximately the same area.

In 1820, the census enumerator counted 233 people in 37 households. As in the 1810 census, only the name of the head of household was recorded; the members of the household were counted by age and sex.

Males outnumber females by ten percent. Kids under age 10 make up the biggest group, accounting for 37 percent of the total population. That’s a lot of mouths to feed, and they were undoubtedly given chores that matched their abilities as soon as possible. Lives were short - only 29 people (12%), 18 men and 11 women, were over the age of 45.

Everyone listed was counted as “free white,” so there were no slaves. In Pennsylvania, there was already an effort underway to ban slavery. Like those present in 1810, these are homesteaders. They are families who have come to start a farm to support their families.

Thew Johnson Sr

Arrived in Philadelphia in 1801, from Canada; he was the father of Ralph Johnson, the “primary immigrant.” Source:  ALLISON, ROBERT J. Naturalization Records of Clearfield County Pa., 1822-1862. Clearfield, PA: the compiler, 1981. 57pp.

Last will and testament of Thew Johnson Senr. of Gibson Township, Clearfield County, PA

I Thew Johnson considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory blessed by Almighty God for the same do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say, First I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Ann Johnson one bed and bedding to include a comfortable bed, one beaureau and some other trifling articles which she the said Ann may think she wants. Said Ann my wife to have the first choice of the beds after my daughter Ann and Margaret have made their choice of the beds. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann Johnson one bed and bedding together with one cow and two sheep. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Margaret Johnson one bed and bedding together with one cow, two sheep. I give and bequeath to my grand daughter Betsy Johnson daughter of Ralph Johnson one bed and bed and bedding, one cow and two sheep. I will and order that the above described beds, cows and sheep be given unto the said respective legatees by my Executors immediately after my decease. I will and order that my beloved wife Ann Johnson be kept supported and maintained during her natural life at the proper cost and charges of my two sons Simpson and William Jonson [sic] or so long as she shall remain satisfied to live with them but if she my said beloved wife Ann Johnson should at any time after by decease think proper to have the board or residence of the said Simpson and William Johnson then she . . .  shall so leave the board of the said Simpson and William Johnson [and they] shall pay or cause to be paid . . . [to Ann] forty dollars per year each and every year during her natural life as dower for her support and maintenance. I further will and bequeath to my daughter Ann Johnson seventy dollars. I give and bequeath to my daughter Margaret Jonson [sic] seventy dollars. I give and bequeath to my son Ralph Jonson [sic] five dollar. I give and bequeath to my son Thew Jonson five dollars. I give and bequeath to my son John Jonson five dollars. I give and bequeath to my daughter Betsy Hall wife of Jesse Hall five dollars. I give and bequeath to my daughter Louisa Gergen wife of James Gergen five dollars. I give and bequeath to daughter Ellen Holdern wife of William Holding [which is it, Holding or Holdern?] five dollars which same several legacies or sums of money I will and order to be paid to the said respective legatees in five years after my decease and not sooner. I will and bequeath unto my two sons Simpson and William Jonson all and every part of my real estate, lands and tenements containing twenty acres more or less equally share and share alike and lastly as to all the rest residue and remainder of my lands and tenements and personal estate my half of the saw mill and sawed lumber on hand and all my saw logs in the mill pond or elsewhere together with the remainder of cows, horses, [oxen?], young cattle, sheep and hogs and all the grain growing in the ground together with all the hay and grain in the barn bings [bins?] and cribs of every description together with the rest residue and remainder of beds and bedding, household furniture, hitching and farming [utensils?] of every description whatsoever together with all the said profit and issues arising or that may arise from my farm. Now the property of John Pickering so long as the said Pickering may suffer peaceable possession and all and every remaining part of my personal estate not herein mentioned I give and bequeath unto my two sons Simpson Johnson and William Jonson whom I hereby appoint my Executors of this my last will and testament…

Thew Johnson, 3 March 1836

Witnessed by Ellen Holding wife of William Holding, Thomas Dent, Robert E Winn

Source Citation: Probate Records, 1823-1919; Indexes; Author: Pennsylvania. Orphans' Court (Clearfield County); Probate Place: Clearfield, Pennsylvania, Will Book,  A-C, 1823-1887, pages 48-50     Source Information:  Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.  Original data: Pennsylvania County, District and Probate Courts.

Thew Johnson Jr

By the 1830 census, Thew Jr. was in Covington Township, Clearfield County.

Last will and testament, late of Benezette Township, Recorded 12 March 1867

This is to certify that I Thew Johnson … being of sound mind at the present time and not undue influence from any person or persons whatever do make and revise the following as my last will and testament. First, I bequeath to my two sons Jacob Johnson and Aul? Jonathan Osborn Johnson my farm on which I now reside with all the stock upon it and all the farming utensils appertaliting to it to be held by the said Jacob and Jonathan O Johnson in equal shares. The above bequest is intended upon the following conditions to wit the said Jacob and Jonathan O Johnson are to occupy the farm have the use of the stock and implements during my life and that of my wife [and at the death] of either or both of us and upon that event taking place they are to come into full possession of the farm in fee simple and the stock and farming tools as their own free from any incumbrance whatever. The conditions of the above bequest are intended to be conditional namely if the said Jacob and Jonathan O Johnson shall find a support for me and my family during life we to reside in the house upon the farm where we now reside and further shall pay to the following persons the following sums – to Colman Johnson three hundred dollars, William E Johnson three hundred dollars, to Samantha Winslow two hundred and twenty five dollars, to Nancy Ellen Sheffer two hundred and twenty five dollars and to Sarah Adeline Wylie two hundred and twenty five dollars when she becomes of age if she lives and if not it will fall back to the rest of the Ares [heirs?]. Further I bequeath to Samantha Winslow, Nancy Ellen Shefer and Sarah Elizabeth Barfield the beds and bedding and clothing belonging to the family, after the decease of myself and wife. The said Jacob and Jonathan O. Johnson will pay equal shares which will be seven hundred and fifty dollars a pease [piece]. It is designed that the above Johnathan O Johnson shall occupy the house now standing on the above named farm as a permanent residence.

Witnesses: J. W. Brown, Ralph Johnson Jr, William Murray

Source Citation: Will Books, Volume A, page 104, 1845-1897; Author: Elk County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills; Probate Place: Elk, Pennsylvania    Source Information: Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Thew Johnson Jr, died 8 March 1839, age 72 y 6 m 18 d and is buried in Summerson Cemetery. Was the husband of Sarah (Coleman) Johnson; son Jacob S. Johnson (1830-1903).

Summerson Cemetery, Benezette Township, Elk Co., PA as developed by Jim Burke and others in September 2008. We thank Jim and others (Sherry Jesberger) for use of this cemetery transcription. Many old grave markers are very difficult to read. In addition, occasionally a typing mistake occurs. We apologize for any errors which may occur, and would appreciate any information that would help update this list. https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2288093/summerson-cemetery

Death certificate: Nancy Ellen Shaffer, b 9 January 1835, d 20 November 1907 age 72 y, 10 m, 1 day. At the time of her death she was a widow. She was born in Pennsylvania and was a housekeeper. Her parents were Thew Johnson, born in England, and Sarah Coleman, born in Pennsylvania. She had been attended by Y. K. Corbett of Driftwood who stated she died of “gastric ulcer” at 9 pm on 10 November 1907. The body was buried at Sinnemahoning, 13 November 1907; undertaker was C. M. Wykoff of Sinnemahoning.

Source Citation: Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, PA; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 105321-109070, 1907 p 1397  Source Information: Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1968 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1968. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Thew Johnson, Isaac Shaffer, and Frederick S. Johnson, of Clinton County, PA for land near Wausau, Wisconsin under the provisions of an act for sale of public lands (24 April 1820). Their patent for this land was made 1 May 1873 and totaled about 650 acres.

http://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=WI3480__.149&docClass=STA&sid=kb3zrvf4.cu5