February 2, 2006:

Hi to All,
 
I am trying to sort out the various Johnston families in hopes of learning which 
one my gggm Margaret Ann Johnston belonged  to. She was born in Ireland about 1827 
and came to Canada in 1828 ( according to the info on the 1901 census); she married 
Francis Little about 1847, and after his death in 1866 remarried to a Thomas Parton 
about 1870. She died in 1903 and is buried at St Georges Hawthorne.
 
Am I right in thinking there were at least 4 seperate families of Johnstons in 
Gloucester by say 1835 ie.
 
 1. a Joseph Johnston, probably from Ireland on L 23 C 2 OF ie Cyrville/Glen Ogilvie 
    moved on by 1842 (land sold to Laurence Gravelle)
 
 2.  that of James Johnston from Londonderry, Ireland, settled on L 25 Cs 3&4 RF ie 
     Hardscrabble / Johnston Corners 
 
 3.  another James (I think) also from Ireland on L 17 JG ie Hawthorne (some of his
     family were, I think, Plymouth Brethren; all the others were some variety of Presbyterian)
 
4.   that of Sgt John Johnston, Royal Artillery, from Scotland via England 
     who settled on L20 C 5 OF ie Ramsayville area 
 
Any and all help appreciated
 
Thanks  
Al Craig 
March 1, 2006:
Hello All,
I do believe that I am a descendant of James Johnston, who settled in Gloucester 
Twp, Carleton County, Ottawa. I have been looking at some of the e-mails written in 
2005.  If anyone has managed to sort out the family, I would be so happy to hear 
from them. I think that James had a son William in 1831, who had my grandfather 
in Manitoba in 1885 (Armon Harrington Johnston), and then my mother in 1925. 
Hoping to hear from anyone of you that has information on this family of James 
Johnston and Margaret Jane Groves.
Thanks so much.
Peggy Gordon, 
BC, Canada
March 6, 2006:

Allen Craig is researching Francis LITTLE and Margaret Ann JOHNSTON.

March 7, 2006:

Hi Al:     I tried to send this earlier, but I guess it didn't get 
through.  Hopefully it will help Peggy in her search. As for Al Craig, I 
have his "Margaret Ann Johnston" as follows:
... Bill Sharkey
                        
    1      William JOHNSTON    1798 - 1856    b: 1798 in Ireland       
 d: 14 June 1856 in Gloucester Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada
.        +Jane PALEN    1806 - 1880    b: 1806 in Ireland    m: Bef. 
1827 in Ireland    d: 1880 in Carleton County, Ontario, Canada

....    2      Margaret Ann JOHNSTON    1827 - 1903    b: 29 April 1827 
in Ireland        d: 28 June 1903 in Gloucester Township, Carleton 
County, Ontario, Canada
........        +Francis LITTLE    1807 - 1866    b: 1807    m: Bef. 
1863 in Carleton County, Ontario, Canada    d: 19 October 1866 in 
Gloucester Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada
..........    3      John F. LITTLE    1863 - 1927    b: 19 January 1863 
in Carleton County, Ontario, Canada        d: 11 May 1927 in Carleton 
County, Ontario, Canada
..........    3      Jane LITTLE    1864 - 1869    b: 1864 in Carleton 
County, Ontario, Canada        d: 16 June 1869 in Carleton County, 
Ontario, Canada

....        *2nd Husband of Margaret Ann JOHNSTON:
........        +Thomas PARTON    1817 - 1901    b: 11 January 1817 in 
England    m: Aft. 1866 in Carleton County, Ontario, Canada    d: Aft. 
1901 in Gloucester Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada

--------------------
For Peggy Gordon:

Descendants of James Johnston

    1      James JOHNSTON    1798 - 1870    b: 1798 in Londonderry, 
Northern Ireland     d: 15 January 1870 in Gloucester Township, Carleton 
County, Ontario, Canada
......    +Margaret Jane GROVES    1803 - 1845    b: 1803 in 
Londonderry, Northern Ireland    m: Abt. 1822 in Ireland    d: 17 March 
1845 in Gloucester Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada

....   2      Mary Ann JOHNSTON    1823 - 1847    b: 1823 in 
Londonderry, Northern Ireland    d: 23 July 1847 in Marlborough 
Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada
.......+William LEE(S)    1816 - 1908    b: 25 June 1816 in Townland 
Dunamoney, County Derry, Ireland    m: 09 January 1845 in Carleton 
County, Ontario, Canada    d: 16 December 1908 in Osgoode Township, 
Carleton County, Ontario, Canada

....   2      James "Boggy" JOHNSTON, ??    1827 - Deceased    b: 1827 
in Billings Bridge (Ottawa), Carleton County, Ontario, Canada     d: 
Deceased
........    +Sara Jane RITCHIE    Unknown - Deceased    b: Unknown in 
Carleton County, Ontario, Canada    m: Unknown in Carleton County, 
Ontario, Canada     d: Deceased

....    2      John Robert JOHNSTON    1833 - 1900    b: 15 September 
1833 in Carleton Place, Beckwith Twp., Lanark County, Ontario     d: 09 
November 1900 in Gloucester Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada
........    +Mary 'Jane' CAMPBELL    1838 - 1919    b: 1838 in Carleton 
County, Ontario, Canada    m: Unknown in Carleton County, Ontario, 
Canada    d: 08 August 1919 in Gloucester Township, Carleton County, 
Ontario, Canada

....    2      Adam Groves JOHNSTON    1836 - 1906    b: 11 February 
1836 in Carleton Place, Beckwith Twp., Lanark County, Ontario     d: 02 
October 1906 in Marlborough Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada
........    +Jessie JOHNSTON-NEE    1840 - Deceased    b: 19 January 
1840 in Ontario, Canada    m: Bef. 1865 in Ontario, Canada     d: 
Deceased in Marlborough Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada

....    2      Kennedy JOHNSTON    1837 - 1907    b: 05 January 1837 in 
Carleton County, Ontario, Canada     d: 04 May 1907 in Carleton County, 
Ontario, Canada
.......        +Mary Ann CAMPBELL    1841 - 1924    b: 01 March 1841 in 
Gloucester Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada    m: 1862 in 
Carleton County, Ontario, Canada     d: 21 September 1924 in Carleton 
County, Ontario, Canada

....    2      William JOHNSTON    1840 - 1921    b: 20 July 1840 in 
Carleton County, Ontario, Canada     d: 1921 in Marlborough Township, 
Carleton County, Ontario, Canada
........    +Hannah Adwen RANE    1841 - 1871    b: 1841 in Ontario, 
Canada    m: Abt. 1861 in Ontario, Canada     d: 28 January 1871 in 
Gloucester Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada

....        *2nd Wife of William JOHNSTON:
........    +Mary Jane BROWNLEE    1847 - 1928    b: 11 February 1847 in 
Carleton County, Ontario, Canada    m: 1871 in Carleton County, Ontario, 
Canada     d: 1928 in Marlborough Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada

....    2      John JOHNSTON    1842 - 1905    b: 24 June 1842 in 
Carleton County, Ontario, Canada         d: 23 August 1905 in Gloucester 
Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada
........    +Hannah MCBRIDE    1845 - 1916    b: 04 February 1845 in 
Ireland    m: Bef. 1867 in Ontario, Canada     d: 24 January 1916 in 
Gloucester Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada

....    2      Mary JOHNSTON    1842 - Deceased    b: 26 June 1842 in 
Carleton County, Ontario, Canada     d: Deceased

....    2      Edward "Ned" JOHNSTON    1844 - 1933    b: 1844 in 
Carleton County, Ontario, Canada     d: 18 May 1933 in Bowesville, 
Gloucester Twp., Carleton County, Ontario, Canada
........    +Susan SPRATT    1844 - 1913    b: 25 November 1844 in 
Gloucester Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada    m: 18 April 
1871 in Gloucester Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada     d: 14 
November 1913 in Bowesville, Gloucester Twp., Carleton County, Ontario, 
Canada

....    2      Catherine JOHNSTON    1845 - Deceased    b: Bef. 1845 in 
Carleton County, Ontario, Canada     d: Deceased in Ontario, Canada
........    +_____ (m) BASKERVILLE    Unknown - Deceased    b: Unknown 
in Ontario, Canada    m: Unknown in Ontario, Canada     d: Deceased in 
Ontario, Canada

....    2      Elizabeth JOHNSTON    1845 - Deceased    b: Bef. 1845 in 
Carleton County, Ontario, Canada     d: Deceased in Ontario, Canada
........    +_____ (m) ALLAN    Unknown - Deceased    b: Unknown in 
Ontario, Canada    m: Unknown in Ontario, Canada     d: Deceased in 
Ontario, Canada

....    2      George JOHNSTON    1845 - Deceased    b: Bef. 1845 in 
Carleton County, Ontario, Canada     d: Deceased in Ontario, Canada

....    2      Robert Allan JOHNSTON    1845 - Deceased    b: Bef. 1845 
in Carleton County, Ontario, Canada     d: Deceased in Ontario, Canada

....    2      Solomon JOHNSTON    1845 - Deceased    b: Bef. 1845 in 
Carleton County, Ontario, Canada     d: Deceased in Ontario, Canada

*2nd Wife of James JOHNSTON:
        +Margaret Jane JOHNSTON-NEE    1803 - 1885    b: 1803 in 
Ireland    m: Abt. 1847 in Gloucester Township, Carleton County, 
Ontario, Canada     d: 03 March 1885 in Marlborough Township, Carleton 
County, Ontario, Canada

....    2      Isaiah JOHNSTON, M.D.    1848 - 1874    b: 1848 in 
Gloucester Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada     d: 30 May 1874 
in Ontario, Canada

....    2      _____ (m) JOHNSTON    1849 - 1866    b: 1849 in 
Gloucester Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada     d: 08 August 
1866 in Gloucester Township, Carleton County, Ontario, Canada


Any corrections, additions and directions are most appreciated. (see next)
Bill Sharkey
____________________
Al,     After looking at more material on the Johnstons and conferring 
with Peggy Gordon, it appears that a few changes have to be made in the 
list I sent.
In a document  "The Johnstons of Johnston's Corners" by Grace Johnston, 
Historian, 18 Nov. 1988: 
" After a long rough trip across the Atlantic Ocean by sailing ship in 
1827, James Johnston, from Londonderry in Northern Ireland, arrived on 
Gloucester's shore by way of the Rideau River.  His party, it is 
believed, consisted of his wife Margaret Jane, their daughter Mary Ann 
aged 4 years, and his widowed mother Ann. ........  
James 1798-1870 and Margaret Jane (Groves) 1803-1845 had ten children: 
Mary Ann(born in Ireland), James Jr., Elizabeth (Allan), Catherine 
(Baskerville), William, Robert Allan, Solomon, Kennedy, George and Adam 
Groves.
    After the death of Margaret Jane, James' first wife in 1845, he 
married another lady named Margaret, by whom he had six children."

In the following update, I have temporarily included John Robert 
JOHNSTON (1833 - 1900), and John JOHNSTON, (1842 - 1905).  Some diagrams 
I have from the Gloucester Museum/Archive, show them to be children of 
James & Margaret, but .....?????

The son William (1840) I previously listed is wrong. The correct one is 
William (14 Apr 1831) and he seems to have had two wives.
Mary Johnston was the sister of the William (1840)(1901 Census) and has 
been removed.  Margaret Jane, the second wife of James has been changed 
to Margaret, as (Margaret)Jane Johnston  (1803-1885) was listed as the 
mother of the William (1840)(1901 census)

   1      James JOHNSTON    1798 - 1870
              +Margaret Jane GROVES    1803 - 1845    m: Abt. 1822 in 
Ireland

....    2      Mary Ann JOHNSTON    1823 - 1847
........        +William LEE(S)    1816 - 1908    m: 09 January 1845 in 
Carleton County, Ontario, Canada

....    2      James "Boggy" JOHNSTON    1827 - Deceased
........        +Sara Jane RITCHIE    Unknown - Deceased

....    2      Elizabeth JOHNSTON    1828 - Deceased
........        +_____ (m) ALLAN    Unknown - Deceased

....    2      Catherine JOHNSTON    1829 - Deceased
........        +_____ (m) BASKERVILLE    Unknown - Deceased
....    2      William R. JOHNSTON    1831 - 1911
........        (I believe her to be: +Hannah Adwen RANE    1841 - 1871
....        *2nd Wife of William R. JOHNSTON:
........        +Jane Russell SPENCE    1855 - 1911

....    2      John Robert JOHNSTON, ??    1833 - 1900
........        +Mary 'Jane' CAMPBELL    1838 - 1919

....    2      Robert Allan JOHNSTON    1833 - Deceased

....    2      Solomon JOHNSTON    1835 - Deceased

....    2      Adam Groves JOHNSTON    1836 - 1906
........        +Jessie JOHNSTON-NEE    1840 - Deceased

....    2      Kennedy JOHNSTON    1837 - 1907
........        +Mary Ann CAMPBELL    1841 - 1924

....    2      John JOHNSTON, ??    1842 - 1905
........        +Hannah MCBRIDE    1845 - 1916    m: Bef. 1867 in 
Ontario, Canada

....    2      George JOHNSTON    1845 - Deceased
        *2nd Wife of James JOHNSTON:
.        +Margaret JOHNSTON-NEE    Unknown - Deceased
                 Ontario, Canada

....    2      Isaiah JOHNSTON, M.D.    1848 - 1874

....    2      _____ (m) JOHNSTON    1849 - 1866   

... Bill
June 13, 2006:
Hello all, 

A couple of months ago, I was very interested to come across your postings 
regarding the JOHNSTON families of Gloucester Twp 

Three or four years ago, while we were visiting Ottawa, my husband took some photos 
of JOHNSTON gravestones on Albion Rd., as there was known to be some family connection 
to his Ggrandmother, Margaret Jane JOHNSTON, b. abt 1856.  Marriage records for 
Margaret, recently obtained from Manitoba Vital Statistics and transcribed below, have 
enabled me to make the connection to your JOHNSTON research.   

#1885-06-001059 (RM Silver Creek) Wilson KELSO, 24, farmer, Perth Co.-Ontario, 
Shell River, s/o William & Christena married Margaret Jane JOHNSTONE, 24, Carlton Co.
Ontario, Shell River, d/o James & Sarah; witn: Andrew JOHNSTONE & Julia JOHNSTONE, 
both of Shell River, 8 Apr 1885, Silver Creek-Manitoba.

 [Margaret was widowed before 1891 Census, where she appears with 3 young children.] 

#1901-09-001298 (R.M. Russell)  Henry BLACK, 58, farmer, widower, Toronto-Ontario, 
Silver Creek-Manitoba, s/o Thomas BLACK & Jane WILSON married Margaret KELSO, 45, 
widow, Ottawa-Ontario, Russell-Manitoba, d/o James JOHNSTON & Sarah RITCHIE; witn: 
Mrs. T. HUDDLESTONE & Thomas HUDDLESTONE, both of Russell, 15 Nov 1901, Russell-Manitoba.  

[I have found a marriage on 17 Oct 1887 in Shell River of a Thomas Nelson HUDDLESTONE 
to Louisa JOHNSTON – possibly younger sister of Margaret Jane.] 

I have now been trying to go through census records to learn more about the 
family of James JOHNSTON & Sarah RITCHIE. 

1851 Census Gloucester Twp– James Jr, age 24, still single…lines 32-45…appears 
to be correct Johnston family. 

http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/1851_pdf/e094/e002344755.pdf 

http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/1851_pdf/e094/e002344756.pdf 

1861 Census, Gloucester Twp, Carleton Co, C-1012, p. 12, lines 13-20

JOHNSTON, James, 33; Serah J., 28; Andrew, 9; Robt., 8; Margaret J., 5; 
James R., 3; George H., 1; Elizabeth RICHAY, 19. 

1871 Census, Gloucester Twp, Russell Co, C-10012, E-2, p. 63, family 198

JOHNSTON, James, 43; Sarah Jane, 39; Andrew, 18; Robert, 17; Margaret Jane, 14; 
James Ritche?, 12; George Hamilton, 10; Adam Groves, 8; Elizabeth, 6; Louisa, 4; 
Thomas D’Arcy, 2.  

1871 Census, Schedule 4, p. 10 appears to have this family at Lot 17, JG which has 
me a bit confused after going back and reading Al’s note of Feb. 2/06 re various families. 

1881 Census? 

1891 Census – Shell River, Manitoba – James, Sarah & several children - see families 
#54, 55, 56 (not sure if Johnston family #31 has any connection) - 
http://www.westmanitoba.com/census/shellriver.htm 

1901 Census Manitoba – Shell River
12  
 27
 Johnston James
 M  
 Head
 M
 Nov 17
 1827
 73 
 
13  
 27
 Johnston Sarah J.
 F  
 Wife
 M
 Feb 23
 1831
 69 
 
14  
 27
 Johnston Adam
 M  
 Son
 S
 Jun 15
 1862
 38 
 
15  
 27
 Johnston Lizzie
 F  
 Daughter
 S
 Feb 26
 1864
 36 
 
16  
 27
 Johnston D'Arcy
 M  
 Son
 S
 Aug 22
 1868
 32 
 
17  
 27
 Johnston Georgina
 F  
 Granddaughter
 S
 Jul 29
 1882
 18 
 

1911 / Manitoba / Marquette / 67 Townships 25 / page 13 split view
42 
  
 135
 Johnston Sarah  
 F
 Head
 W
 Feb
 1834
 77
 1901
 
43 
  
 135
 Johnston D,Arcy  
 M
 Son
 S
 Apr
 1868
 43
 1901
 
44 
  
 135
 Johnston Elizabeth  
 F
 Daughter
 S
 Feb
 1864
 47
 1901

Manitoba Death Index shows the following James Johnston who would have been 
born in 1827, but obviously, this needs verification. 

LAST NAME: JOHNSTON
GIVEN NAMES: JAMES
DATE OF DEATH: 02/16/1911
AGE: 84
UNITS OF AGE: YEARS
 SEX: M
PLACE OF DEATH: SHELL RIVER
REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1911,004754
REGISTRATION DATE:  

I have only recently started researching this JOHNSTON family.  Any confirmation 
of my findings or additional information would be very much appreciated.  

Edith Bassingthwaighte
ebassing@shaw.ca
February 20, 2009:

Hello all, 

I recently ran across a posting on http://www.bytown.net/johnstonsgloucest.htm , concerning 
the Johnston family in the Ottawa area.  I am researching my wife’s family which originated 
in that area and I am wondering if anyone has information they can send me in this regard.  
Her ancestors are: 

GF Maynard Gordon Johnston, son of William James Johnston and Mary Johnston (same maiden name, 
hopefully not related before marriage!)

William James was (I believe) the son of John Johnston and Hannah (Helen) McBride

Mary was (I believe) the daughter of Edward Johnston and Susan Spratt 

Hopefully someone can help, I am looking for as much info as I can find on these families 
and the Johnston Corners Cemetery as well. 

Thanks

... Mike Vidler
 February 22, 2009:

Hi Mike;
 
William James Johnston is a son of John Johnston and Hannah McBride if the censuses are 
correct.  And Mary Elizabeth Johnston is a daughter of Edward Johnston and Susan Spratt 
(Susan is a daughter of James Spratt and Jane Falconer / Faulkner, both of whom were born 
in Ireland).  Jane Falconer Spratt was born abt 1815 in Ireland and died 17 Apr 1900, living 
on concession 7, W1/2 15 in Osgoode, Carleton county.  It states that she was married on her 
death registration but I can't find James' death registered anywhere.  If the 1891 Osgoode 
census is correct, James was born abt 1805 in Ireland.  In this census, James and Jane 
Falconer Spratt are enumerated with their daughter Esther and her husband Thomas McMenomy.
 
Edward Johnston (sometimes as 'Johnson' in the censuses) died a widower on 18 May 1933 and 
was buried at Johnstons Corners on 20 May 1933.  He was a son of Matthew Johnston and Martha 
Falconer / Faulkner.  The informant was his son Henry (Matthew Henry was his full name).  
Edward's wife Susan died 14 Nov 1913 in Leitrim at age 70.  As their ages and birthdates 
vary throughout the censuses, all I can say is that Edward was born 1843-1846 in Osgoode 
and Susan born Gloucester twp abt 1844.  They were married 18 Apr 1871.  They are in the 
1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 and 1911 Gloucester twp censuses.  Oddly, I cannot find any of their 
childrne's births registered.  In the 1881 census, there is a newborn, 1 month old daughter 
listed as Margaret, looks like born March 1881.  Yet in the 1891 census, we find Mary 
Elizabeth (age 10) and Margaret Ellen (age 8), and in the 1901 we have Mary (born 4 March 
1880) and Margaret E. born Nov 1882, so I'll leave it up to you to figure out.
 
John and Hannah McBride Johnston are in the 1871, 1881, 1891, and 1901 Gloucester, Russell 
censuses.  In the 1901, they say that they were born June 24 1842 Ontario (John) and Feb 4 
1845 Ireland (Hannah) and Hannah says that she came to Canada in 1846.  Son William James 
is 8 in the 1881 census, 19 in the 1891 census, born 25 Dec 1876 in the 1901 census.  
He then married Mary Elizabeth Johnston on 4 Jan 1905 and in the 1911 census says that 
he was born in December of 1872 (so, again, you have a multiple choice).  Mary Elizabeth 
says she was born in May of 1881 (I suspect that she is the 1-month-old child wrongly 
entered as Margaret in the 1881 census, and born in March of 1881 (she says 4 March in the 
1901 census and Margaret is 2 years younger that her).
 
William James and Mary Elizabeth Johnston have 3 children by the 1911 census, siblings of 
your Maynard Gordon Johnston who will be born after this census.  They are Violet Pearl, 
born 22 Nov 1906, Edward born July 1907, and William H. born Nov 1910.  There is something 
strange here as the name of the daughter born 22 Nov 1906 was registered as born on 26 Jan 
1907, yet there is another registration, showing the birth of Victoria Pearl born 22 Nov 
1906 BUT this birth was registered as a 'declaration of birth' by mother Mary Elizabeth 
Johnston on 20 Sep 1937 in Metcalfe.  In neither case was there any mention of twins, so, 
again, you have another mystery to sort out.
 
Hope this helps,
 
... Sue