Jacob Johnson was born in Virginia in about 1701. A free person of color and sailor, he resided in Carteret Precinct, North Carolina on Core Sound. In 1724 he and several others were charged with burglarizing the home of Peter Perdeau Sr., but the case was eventually dismissed. In March 1728 Johnson came before the court again, this time because he was accused of committing adultery by living with Ann Johnson, wife of Peter Johnson. Jacob Johnson died sometime after April 1740.