Individual Details

Came to America at the port of Charleston, SC with his brother Lancelot Johnston on 13 Sep 1769. A third brother may have arrived at the same time or earlier, who was reported to be William. Served in the Revolutionary War and lost his left arm in the Battle of Blackstocks on the Tyger River in SC on 20 Nov 1780.

30 Nov 1827 - Williamson Co, TN
In the name of God amen. I David Johnston of the county of Williamson and State of Tennessee being of sound, disposing mind and memory, and imposed with the one certainty of human life and certainty of death, do make this my last will and testament is with the following manner – First I will and bequeath the whole of my estate both real and personal, to my grandchildren David Johnston, Robert Johnston, William Johnston, James Johnston, Lancelot Johnston & Martha Johnston.
Secondly I will and desire that all my just debts (if any there be) shall be paid.
Thirdly I desire that my body be interred in a Christian like manner. The expenses of which to be paid by my Executors out of the estate which I hereby bequeath to the above named children.
Fourthly I wish to be and appoint my grandsons David Johnston and Robert Johnston executors of this my last will and testimony hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have sworn to set my hand and seal this 30th day of November 1827.

Signed, noted and published; [Signed] David Johnston (Seal)
In the presence of –
[Signed] A. Reed
[Signed] John Reed


Timeline of David Johnston
Contributed by Janet J. Johnston
Written on 3/18/2017

1745 - Born at Ardess in County Fermanaugh, Ireland.1

1769 - Arrived in America with his brother, Dr. Lancelot Johnston at the port of Charleston, South Carolina.2

1780 - Was a private in the North Carolina Mecklenburg Militia and lost his left arm in the Battle of Blackstocks on the Tyger River in South Carolina on November 20, 1780.3

1784 - He was living in Caswell County, North Carolina. He and his family were living in the household of his brother, Dr. Lancelot Johnston.4

1785 - In July, 1785, the Caswell County, North Carolina Court recommended that David Johnston, a militia soldier, be given state aid in view of his loss of an arm "in the service of his Country." Early the following year, he was awarded €15.5

1788 - On November 19, 1788, he appealed to the North Carolina General Assembly for a pension. On November 25, 1788 the General Assembly rejected his claim and he was told, “…that by an act passed at Hillsborough in the year 1784 the County Courts are fully empowered and authorized to make allowances to citizens wounded in the service of the State...”6

1789 - On March 16, 1789, the Hillsborough District granted him an annual allowance of 24 pounds.7

1791 - On January 5, 1791, Col. Robert Irwin sold him 320 acres of land located on the waters of the Little Harpeth in Williamson County, Tennessee. The deed says that David Johnston was living in Caswell County, North Carolina.8

1792 - On January 13, 1792, Ephraim McLean of Davidson County, Tennessee conveyed to David Johnston 700 acres located in what is now Williamson County, Tennessee.9

1796/1797 - He witnessed a 1796 deed, in Caswell County, North Carolina, for William Holderness who had sold land he owned in Montgomery County, Tennessee to George Oldham. David appeared in the Caswell County Court, January 1797 term, as subscribing witness to the deed.10

1799 - He is in Logan County, Kentucky owning 200 acres of land located on the Red River.11

1800 - He received exemption, by a Logan County, Kentucky court order, from paying taxes on his Logan County, Kentucky land. “Ordered that David Johnston (with one arm) be exempt from paying County Levy.”12

1801 - On February 9, 1801, he purchased 145 acres of land located on the Whippoorwill in Logan County, Kentucky from William Roberts of Shelby County, Kentucky.13

1804 - On July 17, 1804, he surveyed and acquired 200 acres of land on the Red River in Logan County, Kentucky.14

1812 - He was living in Williamson County, Tennessee and sold to Jesse Williams 213 acres of his land located on the Red River in Logan County, Kentucky.15

He is listed on the Logan County, Kentucky tax lists from 1799 to 1806. It will show that his sons, Robert and James are included in some years.16

He is listed on the Williamson County, Tennessee tax lists from 1802 to 1826. It will show that his sons, Robert and James are included in some years.17

1829 - He died on February 18, 1829 in Williamson County, Tennessee and is buried, with his wife, Elizabeth in the David Johnston Cemetery located on the property of the Baptist Children’s Home at 1310 Franklin Road, Brentwood, Williamson County, Tennessee.18

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1 Letter written by Dr.William Johnston in 1849 about the Johnstons. The letter is in the Johnston family collection, located in the Wilson Library, University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
2 Newspaper article printed Sunday, April 27, 1902, page 18 in the Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Georgia where they were issued a “Let Pass” document that was dated September 13, 1769.
3 David Johnston’s pension file number S13587. Further records show that he was a member of the Mecklenburg Militia Light Horse Dragoons under Col. Thomas Polk and commanded by Col. Robert Irwin. They both signed a certificate, dated November 14, 1788, describing David Johnston’s service and loss of his arm.
4 North Carolina 1784 State Census. The enumeration on the census fits the ages and gender of both Lancelot’s and David’s families.
5 Caswell County, North Carolina Court Record.
6 David Johnston’s pension file. Caswell County, North Carolina is in the Hillsborough District.
7 Ibid.
8 Davidson County, Tennessee deed book C page 27.
9 Land Deed Genealogy of Davidson County, Tennessee 1783-1792, page 240.
10 Montgomery County, Tennessee Deed Book A, page 526. William Holdnerness previously purchased 390 acres from Dr. Lancelot Johnston on November 13, 1795. Caswell County, North Carolina Deed Book J, page 188.
11 Logan County, Kentucky tax list.
12 Logan County, Kentucky Court Orders Book A-1, December 1800, page 194.
13 Logan County, Kentucky Deed Book A-1, page 356.
14 Logan County, Kentucky Survey Book C, page 93.
15 Logan County, Kentucky Deed Book C, page 383. There is no other record of him buying or selling land in Logan County, Kentucky.
16 Logan County, Kentucky Tax Lists.
17 Williamson County, Tennessee Tax Lists.
18 His will is recorded in Williamson County, Tennessee. The tombstones were placed by the Lt. Andrew Crockett Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and David Johnston is marked as Patriot.

Birth	Abt 1745	County Fermanagh, Ireland
Marriage	Abt 1772	Elizabeth HOLDERNESS
Death	18 Feb 1829	Williamson County, Tennessee

Spouse	Elizabeth HOLDERNESS (1747 - 1827)
Child	Robert Johnston (1775 - 1827)
Child	James Johnston (1780 - 1826)

Father	James Johnston ( - 1774)
Mother	Grace O'Donnell ( - 1775)
Sibling	Dr. Lancelot Johnston (1748 - 1832)

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