JOHNSON LAUGHLIN
THE STORY AS I KNOW IT
Johnson Laughlin was born in 1791 in Pendleton District or York County, South Carolina. His parents were Anthony W. Laughlin and Sarah Wherry. Anthony had moved to York County with his family about 1771. He was on the Pendleton district 1800 census.
A genealogy by Eva Laughlin LeBlanc named Descendants of John Laughlin from the Atlantic to the Pacific is available from the LDS library. Much of the information in this piece comes from that source.
The Anthony Laughlin family moved to Livingston County Kentucky by 1805. He had a land grant of 200 acres. That area of Livingston County became Caldwell County in 1809.
Johnson married Louisa L. Cook. Bonds were posted Dec 21, 1818 and John Travis J.P. married them Dec.30. This is from Caldwell County Marriage Bonds From 1809.
A bit of oral family history came from Anna Lucielle Kennaday via her grandson. It held that Johnson Laughlin was an Irish pioneer from NC. A surveyor of note and owner of vasts estates of land. The bourndries were known by low ax cuts on trees – as he was very short.
On the 1820 Caldwell County Census we find the Johnson Laughlin family listed with 1 male 16-26, 1 male and 1 female less than 10. For some reason, Louisa was not on the census. Perhaps she had died (or left) within two years of marriage, and the boy and girl were either twins or very close in age. But on the 1830 Caldwell County Census we find the Johnson Laughlin family listed as 1 male 40-50, 1 male 20-30, 1 male 10-15, 2 females 5-10, and 2 females under 5. No wife listed. Three more children, still no wife listed and the ages don't match. The male 20-30 was probably not a son, possibly George Laughlin his younger brother.
According to the LeBlanc Genealogy Johnson married second to Mildred Waller or Walker January 1831.
Walter Blackburn, a researcher in Princeton, Ky sates that Johnson Laughlin and Louisa Cook had at least two daughters: Rosanne who wed Lewis Blackburn and Sarah Jane.
My ancestor Sarah Jane Laughlin was born in Jan 1826. She could/would have been one of the females under the age of 5. Johnson Laughlin was her witness at her wedding. However, I need stronger evidence that Johnson was indeed her father, and then clarity on whom was her mother.
Willard Rouse Jillson lists Johnson with a number of grants in The Kentucky Land Grants. He is listed with:
100 acres on Caney Creek in Livingston County on Jan 18, 1806,
160 acres on Trade Water on Dec 1834,
100 acres on Trade Water on Dec. 1841.
Johnson Laughlin was appointed Commissioner to layout the School Districts in Caldwell County in 1839. This was found in the Family Files of the Caldwell County Library.
The Caldwell county Deed Books list the the following transations. From Deed book Q on March 21, 1853 Johnson Laughlin sold land on Tradewater "received by patent #25472". From Deed book V page 253, on
April 10, 1865 Johnson Luaghlin sold land to Lewis Blackburn for $2. It was witnessed by WW Blackburn and James C. Blackburn.. He was still actively trading with Mildred, his wife in 1868.
LeBlanc states that Johnson was living in Livingston County in 1851 but that nothing is known of this death or his children. The oral history states that he is buried in Laughland Place north of Princeton.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
If you know the answer please CONTACT US
1. Was Johnson Sarah Jane's father?
2. What was his birthdate?
3. Why would a 15 year old be given a grant of land?
4. What happened to Louisa?
5. Who was giving him children during the 1820s.?
6. Who was the 20 - 30 year old man living there in 1830?
7. What were his children's names and birthdates?
8. Get 1840, 1850, and 1860 Census of Caldwell County, Livingston County and Illinois.
9. When did Johnson die?
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Date Last Edited: 7/11/1999