Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Johnson, Isaac
JOHNSON, ISAAC (d. 1630), one of the founders of Massachusetts, was a native of Clipsham, Rutlandshire. In 1630 he accompanied Winthrop to America, arrived at Salem on 12 June, and was one of the four who founded the first church at Charlestown on 30 July. The want of good water at Charlestown obliged them, on 7 Sept., to remove to Shawmut, now Boston, which was settled under Johnson's supervision. He died at Boston on 30 Sept. 1630. the richest man in the colony. His wife Arbella, daughter of Thomas, earl of Lincoln, had died at Salem in the preceding August. It was in honour of her that the admiral ship of Winthrop's fleet, before called the Eagle, was renamed the Arbella.
[Prince's Annals, pp. 314, 316-33; Savage's Genealog. Dict.; Winthrop's New England, ed. Savage, 1825, i. I, 34; Holmes's Annals. i. 206; New England Hist. and Genealog. reg. viii. 339.]