Edward Johnson
Edward Johnson was an Englishman born in the late 1500s, originally from Canterbury. He married Susan Munnter in 1618, and together they had eight children. Johnson worked as a world trader and held a military rank of captain before emigrating to America in 1636 with his family. Upon arrival, he contributed to the establishment of Woburn, Massachusetts, where he served in various municipal and military roles for over thirty years. Johnson is also recognized for his authorship of the book "Wonder-Working Providence of Sions Saviour in New-England," published in 1654, which is considered the first history of colonial New England. His writing reflects controversial views on Puritanism and addresses historical events from 1637 to 1652. Notably, Johnson is acknowledged for his respectful treatment of Indigenous peoples, often regarding them as equals, which was uncommon for his time. He lived into the early 1670s, reaching over seventy years of age.
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Edward Johnson
Historian
- Born: September 16, 1598
- Birthplace: Canterbury, England
- Died: April 23, 1672
- Place of death: Woburn, Massachusetts
Biography
Born in England in the late 1500’s, Edward Johnson was the son of parish clerk in Canterbury. In 1618, he married Susan Munnter, with whom he had eight children. During this time, he worked as a world trader, even going to the American colonies briefly in 1631, and he also worked some in the military, earning the rank of captain, which would stick with him for the rest of his life. In 1636, Johnson emigrated to America with his wife and children, listing himself as a joiner, although by many accounts he was a sort of jack-of-all-trades whose job most approximated that of a carpenter and shipbuilder at this time.
Upon his arrival in America, he helped found and literally erect the town of Woburn in Massachusetts. Johnson served the fledgling Puritan town of Woburn in various municipal and military capacities for more than thirty years after its inception.
Johnson is the author of at least one anonymous work published in the mid-seventeenth century. First appearing in 1654, the book Wonder-Working Providence of Sions Saviour in New-England can be definitively attributed to him. The work contained somewhat controversial views on the Puritan religion and covered the historical record from roughly 1637 until its release date. It is also considered to be the first history of the colonial United States and made its way across the Atlantic back to England, where it was later published as A History of New-England, from the English Planting in the Yeere 1628, Until the Yeere 1652.
Whatever works truly were Johnson’s doing is unclear beyond this sole manuscript, but his style is universally regarded as exceptionally crude and unpolished. However, what has shone through is his fair and honorable treatment of the Indian peoples, sometimes acting as if they were his equals—an unusual stance by a white man at the time. Johnson passed away in the early 1670’s, having lived more than seventy years.