Colonel Johnson Harmon (or Harman; c. 1675 – 1751) was an army officer in colonial America. He led the expedition during Father Rale's War that killed Father Sébastien Rale in the Battle of Norridgewock. Harmon was heralded as a hero upon his return to Boston. New England Officer and historian Samuel Penahallow proclaimed the attack was "the greatest victory we have obtained in the three or four last wars." [2]
Harmon was from York and was a teenager during the Raid on York (1692) during King Williams War. [3] During Queen Anne's War, in 1707 he was present, with his younger brother John, at Winter Harbour ( Biddeford, Maine) he helped repulse the attack of natives in 50 canoes. [4] [3] In this battle Benjamin Donnell was killed by Indians. [5] On 10 October 1710 Bomazeen with 60–70 Indians attacked the village of Winter Harbour, killing 3-4 and taking many more prisoner, including Harmon. [6] (Harmon was part of the expedition that killed Bomazeen, upon their return from the Battle of Norridgewock. [4]) He was released from captivity at Chambly, Quebec on 22 May 1711 in exchange for Beauvenire de Vercheres who was taken in the Raid on Haverhill (1708). [7] [8] [9]
In 1716, Harmon was considered for the position of messenger for the Indians. [9]
A year prior to the Battle of Norridgewolk, the Abenaki Indians made a failed attempt to assassinate Harmon. [10]
Harmon was the brother-in-law of the second-in-command of the expedition to Norridgewock, Col. Jeremiah Moulton. He was the father-in-law of the soldier that killed Rale, Richard Jacques.
Harmon was representative to the Massachusetts General Court (1727). [4] [11]
At age 70, Harmon applied to fight in the Siege of Louisbourg (1745). While Harmon did not fight in the Siege, Moulton and Jacques did.