Guy Park

Guy Park. Revolutionary War Heritage Trail. , Guy Johnson came from Ireland in 1756 to work for his uncle, William Johnson. He became Deputy of Indian Affairs and took over as the Superintendent upon Sir William's death in 1774., During the French and Indian Wars, Guy was a colonel in the local militia. He later served as a judge in Tryon County Court. He married his cousin Mary, Sir William's daughter, in 1763 and settled on family lands near her brother and sister., When the American Revolution began, Guy Johnson represented the British government, bringing him threats of imprisonment from local patriots who also feared his influence with the Six Nations. In July 1775 Guy Johnson, his family, loyal supporters and Mohawk allies fled to Canada. On the way, his wife died in childbirth at Oswego., Col Guy Johnson and several Mohawks traveled to England in 1776 to lobby for the Loyalist interests. While there, he and Karonghyontye (Capt. David Hill posed for a portrait by Benjamin West (far right)., By 1779 Guy had established headquarters in Niagara and was directing British raids on the Mohawk Valley. He moved to England after the war., [Map and Drawing Captions], The Johnsons were the largest landowners in the Mohawk Valley. Their holdings included Johnson Hall near Johnstown and three family homes on the Mohawk River. Erskin map, 1779, Collection of the New-York Historical Society, Guy and Mary Johnson's first house was destroyed by a bolt of lightning in the spring of 1773. They rebuilt it with limestone, creating the central block of the building you see here today.