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Hello, and thanks for joining Revolution 250, where we look at events that took place 250 years ago this week.

This is from the American Revolution podcast, a short bonus episode to remind you about important anniversaries of the Revolutionary War.

This week, we remember the arrest of John Johnson, which took place on January 17, 1776.

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At the outset of the

Revolutionary War, New England leaned very heavily in favor of the Patriot Cause. Neighboring New York,

however, was much more divided. One of the leaders of the loyalists in New York was John Johnson.

The Johnson family had dominated upstate politics for many years. Sir William Johnson

had come to the colony in 1739. He quickly developed a relationship with the nearby Iroquois,

who made him an honorary member of the tribe. He served as an active military leader for the British

in King's Georgia's War and the

French and Indian War. His service and relationship with the native tribes got him a large land grant

and a government position as a British Indian agent. Over time, he acquired hundreds of thousands of

acres of land in upstate New York.

William Johnson died in 1774, leaving his son, John Johnson, as heir to his lands and title.

When the war began the following year, Johnson volunteered his services to the loyalist cause.

He began raising an army of battalion of loyalists and contacted the royal governor, Tryan, to volunteer their services. He also told the governor that he could enlist

hundreds of Indian warriors who would fight alongside his loyalist brigade. In addition, he accumulated

...