The Road Less Travelled? - William Johnson 1759 - 1830

Relationship to me: -

1. James Johnson & Elizabeth Patterson
     2. William Johnson - brother to Rachael Johnson
          3. Rachael Johnson & James Rogers
               4. Jane Rogers & John Bragg
                     5. Charles Bragg & Matilda Swallow
                           6.  John Thomas Bragg & Julia West Gamble
                                 7.  Russell Mackie Bragg & Dorothy Madeleine Harrigan
                                        8. Me

Grave of Elizabeth Patterson
Robie Street Cemetery
Truro, Nova Scotia

William Johnson was the son of James Johnson and Elizabeth Patterson, original settlers of Truro, Nova Scotia.  He was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire and travelled with his parents in 1761 to Canada.  As a young man, he was living in Brookfield, a village just south of Truro and was married to Sarah Miller. They had 9 children.

In the year 1792 the Brookfield settlers, in conjunction with the people of Truro, were waging a battle over the location of the portion of the great Pictou Road, leading through both places.  Before the road was established there were two bridle paths or blazed trails, one the present road leading from Truro, beyond Brookfield, the other, from Truro, called Young's Road, meeting the first at a place known as "Tuckers Clearing".

One of these tracks was to be opened at public expense to form part of the Pictou Road.  Government left it to the Truro and Brookfield people to determine which path should be chosen.  The people from Truro, headed by old Lieutenant John  Johnson, (William's Uncle) insisted on a bet of five gallons of rum, that a Truro man could walk the line his people wanted in less time that a Brookfield resident could cover the route of their choice.

Memorial Plaque

The day and time of starting for the walking match was settled.  Long John Archibald was chosen for the Truro route and William Johnson for that of the Brookfield track.  At the time appointed both started.  The Brookfielders had a horse concealed on the track for their man to ride, which he used the best part of the way.  As a result, Johnson reached Tuckers Clearing and walked about twenty rods into Young's Road toward Truro, where he met Archibald.  The Brookfield route was therefore confirmed.

The manner in which it was obtained was kept a profound secret by the parties interested for 6 or 7 years afterwards.

Parson Waddell, on being made acquainted with the circumstances in Brookfield remarked he did not hesitate to say it was the most scandalous transaction he had ever heard of.