Aunt Cecelia said the oldest Johnsons she knew and heard of were their great grandfather and great
grandmother, Noah and Augusta Johnson and their children James, Edward, William, Amanda, Mary
Jane, all who were born and reared at Back Creek (Somerset, Maryland), and remained there until
they moved their houses here(Freetown Hill or Upper Hill, Somerset Maryland). They were all free
negroes and the name of this road Upper Hill was Free Town Hill. Most of these people are related.
There were once four families, Johnson, Gillis, Boggs, and Waters. This later generation made a
living by Tonging oysters, shucking oysters, crabbing, fishing, and gardening. Each family man
owned a sail boat.
There had been out from this place & Berlene Md. more preachers than any other place in the Del.
conference, and uncle William (Buddie) Johnson was the first ordained sent from Upper Hill.
Grandfather James Edward Johnson and his wife Christiana Talafara Johnson were parents of 8
children, all married, owned their homes and boats.
Grandfather James Edward Johnson, was the first free negro to move to Free Town Hill, purchase
land and built his house, and the others followed until all left. Back Creek were they lived is
now Green Mount Cementery, still owned by us here on Free Town Hill were our papa and his children
were born. Grandfather James his wife, papa, mamma, and lots of Free Town folk were buried there.
Papa and Mamma parented 11 children, Alecia, Irving, Effie, Cecelia, Charles, Carolyn, Anthony,
Esther, Evelyn, Roberta, and Celestine.
This road running past our homes is Free Town Hill Road and is on our deeds.
Grandfather Anthony Waters Jr. (father of our mother Mary C Waters), parents were Anthony and Leah
Waters. They were from White Haven, MD and were slaves. I do not know or have heard much about
them. Mamma’s parents were Anthony Waters Jr. and Carolyne (Hunter) Waters and were slaves, they
and all of their children but Mamma. Mama was born the year of the emancipation. Their owner was
Judge James Dennis of Princess Anne, MD. Papa and mamma were married in his house. The residents
have moved and made homes elsewhere. Mammas name was Mary Cecelia Waters., (I later found out
Cecelia was the name of Mary’s parents slave owning Mistress).
About Waters:
Grandfather Anthony Water’s home was White Haven, Md. He lived there before he came to Princess
Anne, (I later found out because he was inherited to James Dennis by his father John Dennis upon
his death and will). He was suppose to have been of indian (native american) decent. He really
looked the part. He had a grocery store of his own and like other indians, he gathered many herbs,
barks and other things that grew in the fields, these were used for many illnesses. His family
seldom had a doctor.
Mamma (His daughter) inherited this gift for healing other folk in Upper Hill. They called her
whenever there was illness in there families. She always went willingly, day or night. She cured
many of their illnessess including her own family. Many of us never had to call in a medical
doctor until we left home (Upper Hill) to work elsewhere
(This information was hand written to Celestine Johnson Rasberry by her older sister Cecelia
Johnson on May 3 1978 at the age of 89 years. She passed away 5 years later at age of 94.)

From what I have learned from a cousin who actually trailblazed the research into this line of our family, my great great grandmother Mary Jane Wilson’s maiden name was Johnson (she was Mary Jane Johnson Wilson). I was struck by Jahrod Pender’s comment that his ancestor James Johnson was a brother in-law of William Wilson; this seems to be compelling evidence that the James Johnson he is referring to was very likely the brother of Mary Jane Johnson (my great great grandmother – and William Wilson’s wife). The implication here is that Jahrod Pender and I are cousins (via the Johnson line). I am now inspired to attempt a confirmation of this.

You have motivated me to research the actual Somerset County deed records as well. Though the Internet is indeed a wonderful tool, it cannot always replace researching the actual paper records of birth, death and deed information. Thank you again for making this information available.