JOHNSON, JAMES [SSNE 8467]

Surname

JOHNSON

First name

JAMES

Title/rank

SERGEANT-MAJOR

Nationality

ENGLISH

Social status

OFFICER

Text source

James Johnson was an English officer. He first served under Sir Thomas Leighton against the Northern Earls in 1569 and then as a Sea-Beggar under Captain Bellingham in the seizure of Brill in 1572. He then served in the company of Captain Nicholas Palmer [SSNE 8129] in the Low Countries before joining Sir Arthur Grey's expedition in 1580. He remained in Ireland under Captain Drewe as a sergeant and then as a sergeant, ensign, and lieutenant in various companies in the Low Countries until 1589 when he served as sergeant-major in the expedition to Portugal. He obtained a pass from the Privy Council in July 1590 to serve in Poland, along with Lieutenant James Metcalf [SSNE 8465], though it is unclear whether or not he went to Poland as he also served in Brittany and Normandy under Norris and Essex around 1591.

 

Sources:

British Library, Lansdowne MS 1218, f. 126.

Acts of the Privy Council of England, 19, 1590, p. 291.

 

This entry created by Mr Jack Abernethy.

Service record

ENGLAND, ENGLAND, LOW COUNTRIES, IRELAND, PORTUGAL, FRANCE

Arrived 1569-01-01, as VOLUNTEER

Departed 1591-12-31, as SERGEANT-MAJOR

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY