Provincetown's only known War of 1812 veteran recognized

Oct. 28--PROVINCETOWN -- With the help of genealogical searches, a little luck and perseverance, a prominent town resident from the 1800s was recognized Saturday in a ceremony at his Provincetown Cemetery gravesite for his service in the War of 1812.

Timothy Parker Johnson, a 15-year-old when he served as a private and drummer boy, is the only resident of Provincetown known to have served in that war. Johnson is buried in a family plot at the cemetery, but his credentials as a soldier have only recently been verified. He had served in a military unit from his hometown in Connecticut and later settled in Provincetown with his wife.

"It's such an honor," one of Johnson's descendants, Martha Jaxtimer, of Bourne, said before the unveiling of a new grave marker. Jaxtimer, related to Johnson through his brother's side of the family, was accompanied by her son Michael Amster, of South Yarmouth, and her sister Suzy Goyette, of Bedford, New Hampshire.

Verifying Johnson's wartime credentials and raising money for an additional grave marker were the work of writer Amy Whorf McGuiggan; Conwell Enterprises, which operates Conwell Lumber in Provincetown; and others. After months of research, Johnson's service as a soldier was confirmed by the National Society United States Daughters of 1812.

During the 19th century, the Johnson family contributed to Provincetown's growth from a remote fishing village to a preeminent whaling, cod fishing and mackerel port, according to research presented at the program, held at Seashore Point and attended by about 50 people.

Johnson owned a wharf between Johnson and Arch streets. His business interests were saltworks, ships' ballast and ownership of Ocean Hall, later known as the Central House and now the Crown & Anchor. Between 1841 and 1848, he was managing owner of the 162-ton brig Gem, one of Provincetown's early whaling vessels. He influenced the building of a Universalist meetinghouse and was a selectman for two years.

Johhson died in 1864 in Provincetown. His wife, Betsy, lived at 341 Commercial St., now known as 368 Commercial St., until her death in 1892.

The War of 1812 was largely fought outside New England, said Charlotte Line, president of the Massachusetts State Society of the United States Daughters of 1812. "However, we did send people," Line said.

A portrait of Johnson from the time he lived in Provincetown hangs at the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum.

___

(c)2019 Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.

Visit Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass. at www.capecodtimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.