Thomas Johnson was a farmer, but also appears to have been living inToronto. The  information presented here is from his probate records which I sent for and from which much of the following information comes. In the packet of documents relative to this probate is the following letter from his attorney to Joseph Johnson the second son of Thomas.

In the name of God, amen. I, Thomas Johnson, of the township of York County of York in the Home District and Province of Upper Canada*, being of sound mind and memory, but feeble in body, and considering that it is appointed unto all men once to die, do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following--that is to say--

First, my will and desire is that all my just debts and funeral expenses be fully paid and discharged :trom my personal property and whatsoever of my said personal estate may remain after said debts are fully paid, I give and bequeath the same to beloved wife Hannah to be solely at her disposal.

Secondly. I give to my eldest son John Dennis Jr. the sum of five shillings** to be paid him :from my wife's _?_____.

Thirdly. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Hannah my farm and lot number eleven on the east side of Yonge (?) Street in the township of York aforesaid, together with all the buildings and appurtenances thereto belonging 'and the rents, issues and profits thereof, to be possessed and enjoyed by her for her own use and benefit, for and during the time that she may continue to be my widow.

Fourthly. I give and bequeath to my second son Joseph a portion of my said farm and lot number eleven of the south side of the same contained within a line to be seen at the distance of eleven chains-** :trom the south side line of said Lot and parallel thereto :from the :front on Yonge Street as it now is to the rear of the said Lot and seven chains in breadth, excepting when it is broken in upon by certain pieces containing one acre and a half already sold off the southwest corner thereof.
This said portion I give to my said son Joseph, his heirs and assigns forever, the same to come into his possession as soon as my said wife shall either die or marry again.

Fifthly. I give and bequeath to my son James Richardson a portion of my said farm and Lot number eleven to be contained between the portion above bequeathed to my son Jospeh and a line to be drawn running at the distance of seven chains :from the north side line of said Lot and parallel thereto, :from the front on Yonge St. and the concession line in the rear, together with all the buildings and appurtenances thereto and belonging or appurtaining, the same to come into his possession as soon as my said wife shall either die or marry again, and to be possessed and enjoyed by him, his heirs and assigns :from this time thenceforward forever.

Sixthly, I give and bequeath the remainder of my said farm and Lot number eleven, being a portion of seven chains wide from the :front to the rear on the north side thereof , together with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging or appurtaining, to my fourth son Henry, to come into his possession when my said wife shall either die or marry again, and to be possessed and enjoyed by him, his heirs and assigns :from that time thenceforward forever.

Lastly. I do hereby nominate and appoint my dear :friends Joseph Dennis and Abraham Johnson Jr and James Davis, all of the township of York, yeomen, to be executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made, and declaring this my last Will and Testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the Township of York this 13th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirtyfour.

Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the herein named Thomas Johnson to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the Testator and of each other.
                                                                                                                                    His
              (Signed)                                                                                             Thomas    +  Johnson
                                                                                                                                     Mark

(Signed) Cornelius Van Nostrand , John McIntosh,  A.C. Robinson

There is a later notation written in another hand that date the death as 15 July 183 5.

Robinson was the name of the woman that son John Dennis Johnson married, so perhaps this witness was her father. Thomas Johnson's wife Hannah, as mentioned in the will, was a Dennis before her marriage, so probably the executor, Joseph Dennis, was some kind of an in-law too.

We have a picture of eldest son John D. Johnson and family, including our greatgrandmother Hannah Johnson Storer as a child. It is an ambrotype, it's like an old daguerrotype on glass, and of course we have that great treasure, the J.D. Johnson Family Bible that almost got away.

Yeoman ,"a small farmer who cultivates his own land, specifically one belonging to a class of English freeholders below the gentry", and above the peasant class.
 

.*    Upper Canada later became known as Ontario
 **  This doesn't necessarily mean that eldest son John Dennis was being cut out of the will--at least we hope not, since he is the one who is our ancestor. Probably his father had already bestowed upon him some funds or         property.
***  a chain is 66 feet