In 1643 he went with Captain Cook and forty men to Providence to seize John Gorton [q. v.] In the same year he was chosen to represent Woburn in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and was annually re-elected (except in 1648) until 1671. He also held the town-clerkship from 1642 till his death, and was captain of the military company. In 1655 he was speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, and in 1665 he was one of the commissioners to meet Robert Carr, George Cartwright, and Samuel Maverick on their return from a mission to England. He died at Woburn on 23 April 1672. By his wife Susan he had five sons and two daughters.
Johnson is author of a valuable ‘History of New England from the English Planting in 1628 untill 1652’ [anon.], 4to, London, 1654, more generally known from its subtitle as ‘Wonder-working Providence of Zion's Saviour in New England.’ It forms part iii. of Sir F. Gorges's ‘America painted to the Life,’ 1659; and has been reprinted in the second series of the ‘Collections’ of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and again with notes by W. F. Poole in 1867.
[Cal. State Papers, America, 1661–8.]
JOHNSON, Mrs. ESTHER (1681–1728). [See under Swift, Jonathan.]
JOHNSON, FRANCIS (1563–1618), Presbyterian separatist, elder son of John Johnson, mayor of Richmond, North Riding of Yorkshire, was born at Richmond and was baptised there on 27 March 1562. George Johnson (1561-1605) [q. v.] was his brother. He matriculated at Christ's College, Cambridge, graduated B.A. 1581, M.A. 1585, and was elected fellow before Lady day 1584. As a preacher of puritan doctrine he was exceed popular in the university. His theory of ecclesiastical polity was the independent presbyterianism advocated by Thomas Cartwright (1535-1603) [q. v.], and later by William Bradshaw (1571-1618) [q. v.] On 6 Jan. 1589 he expounded this view in a sermon at St. Mary's, Cambridge, claiming that church government by elders is jure divino. In company with Cuthbert Bainbrigg, also a fellow of Christ's, accused of factious preaching, he was convened (23 Jan.) before Neville, the vice-chancellor. Refusing to answer on oath to the articles of accusation, Johnson and Bainbrigg were committed to prison. Johnson gave in written answers which clearly set forth his views, but again on 13 March and 18 April declined the oath. Bail was offered by Sir Henry Knevett and Sir William Bowes, but was rejected by the authorities. At Lady day 1589 he appears for the last time on the list of fellows. On 22 May Johnson and Bainbrigg addressed a letter to Burghley, the chancellor, whom they had previously approached, praying for relief. Burghley was anxious for their release, but the vice-chancellor laid the case before the court of high commission, which directed the vice-chancellor and heads to proceed at discretion. A form of recantation was given to Johnson on 19 Oct., and he was required to read it in the pulpit of St. Mary's. He made a retractation 'in mincing terms, and did not fully revoke his opinions;' accordingly on 30 Oct. he was expelled the university. He claimed a right of appeal, and, refusing to take his departure, was on 18 Dec. again imprisoned, first in the Tolbooth, then in the bailiff's house. On 22 Dec. he wrote a strong appeal to Burghley, backed by two petitions (23 Dec.) signed by sixty-eight fellows. Obtaining no relief, Johnson left Oxford, and proceeded to Middelburg in Zealand, where he became preacher to the English merchants in the Gasthuis Kerk, with a stipend of 200l.
Up to this point he had been an advocate of reforms within the national church, his position being that of a nonconforming churchman strongly opposed to the policy of separation. But his opinions changed on perusing in 1591 'A Plaine Refutation' of the claims of the establishment, penned by Henry Barrow [q. v.] and John Greenwood (d. 1593) [q. v.] in answer to George Gifford (d. 1620) [q. v.], and sent privately in 1591 to Middelburg to be printed. The whole edition, excepting two copies, was burned at the instance of Johnson, who before reading it had obtained the magistrate's authority for suppressing it. In 1592, after perusing the work, he came to London to confer with Barrow and Greenwood, who were then imprisoned in the Fleet. Greenwood was shortly afterwards transferred to the house of Roger Rippon, and formed, in conjunction with Johnson, a separatist church, independent of other churches, but presbyterian in its internal order, At a meeting in the house of Fox, in Nicholas Lane, Lombard Street, Johnson was chosen pastor. Discipline was practised, and the sacraments administered. This conventicle being discovered, Johnson was committed for a time to the compter in Wood Street. To avoid detection the place of assembly was constantly changed. On 5 Dec. 1592 Johnson and Greenwood were arrested in the house of Edward Boyes, a haberdasher on Ludgate Hill; Johnson was imprisoned and was twice examined. He was a third time arrested at Islington (on Sunday,
