Three Rivers
Hudson~Mohawk~Schoharie
History From America's Most Famous Valleys

The Life and Times of
Sir William Johnson, Bart.,
by William L. Stone
Vol. II
Albany: J. Munsell, 78 State Street, 1865.

APPENDIX No 10.

Disinterment and Reburial of the Remains of Sir William Johnson.

The remains of SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON, as stated in the text, were placed in his own private tomb under the altar of the stone church erected by himself. In 1836 this church was destroyed by fire; and when in 1838 it was rebuilt, its site was changed several feet, leaving the place originally occupied by the altar in the open churchyard. The precise location of the tomb was thus lost for several years. In the early summer of 1862, however, Rev. Mr. Kellogg, the rector of the Episcopal church in Johnstown, with praiseworthy zeal, set about discovering the tomb; and after taking measurements was so fortunate as to light upon the tomb by the first shaft sunk. The tomb was found, in a measure, well preserved, although a few of the bricks composing the top had fallen in. A few pieces of the mahogany coffin were found together with some wrought nails. A plain gold ring (probably the wedding ring of Lady Johnson, -worn by her husband after her decease,) was also discovered among the remains, marked on the inside,-"June 1739, 16" The skull and the bones of the legs and arms were in a good state of preservation, which, with the other portions of the skeleton filled a peck measure. Mr. Kellogg had the remains placed in a hollow block of granite and hermetically sealed, and on the seventh of June, 1862, they were replaced in the tomb with appropriate services-the Rt. Rev. Bishop Alonzo Potter, of the state of New York, officiating.

Thanks to James F. Morrison for loaning his book for the purpose of putting it on the internet.