Topic: A Family Pattern

My Scottish Johnstons were not a very imaginative lot. Within five generations there are eight Charles, eight Georges, 12 Marys (five with the same middle name, originally a Generation 3 surname) five Alexanders and four Margarets, Peters and Roberts. Almost all born in Lanarkshire, particularly Glasgow.

The earliest known who can be identified with certainty is Charles Johnston, born in Graetney, Dumfriesshire (on the Scottish-English border) about 1725. He married Helen Glendinning on 8 July 1753 in Graetney. They had six known children, one of them the second Charles. There appears to have been a wider Johnston clan at Graetney as there were other baptisms of Johnstons about the same time as “my” Charles’ children. A subject for future research!

Charles 2 had six children including Charles 3 and Alexander 1. Also a John. Incidentally I only recently discovered that the Graitney Johnston/es were almost certainly descended from the original Lord Johnstone of Lochwood and Earl of Hartfell, a title created by King Charles I in 1633.

The children did not seem to follow the same occupations as their namesakes; nor did the families follow strict naming patterns, which might have made identifying them a little easier!

Of course I couldn’t resist going a little further …. Here is a page from the PR Births in Graetney in 1771. A little difficult to read! But after enlarging and careful scanning I’ve found a total of five Johnstons who may or may not have been related.

March 19, 1771. Baptised John son to John Johnston and Agnes Well in Green – the West Green.

April 8, 1771. Baptised Christian, daughter of Christopher Johnston elder and Mary Blackstock at Miln town on Sark. They m. 12 June 1747 and had 10 children.

April 30, 1771. Baptised David son to Thomas Johnston and Jean Richardson in B….oights. (some more lettering, indecipherable) they m. 1748 Graetna. According to FamilySearch. They had about 11 children.

April 30, 1771. Baptised Charles son to Charles Johnston and Helen Glendinning in N. Graetna. – 7 children

May 17, 1771. Baptised Robert son to Willam Broach and Jean Johnston in Logan M… Half Morton. (There were about 10 Jeans born within a reasonable time frame in the general area so she cannot be identified with certainty).