David Johnston was the son of Robert and Mary Johnston,the grandson of David and Mary Boyd Johnston, and the husband of Sarah Neel . Sarah was the daughter of Col. Thomas Neel, JR. and Jean Spratt Neel. The Johnstons descend from CLAN JOHNSTON of Annandale Scotland. Clan Johnston was among the fiercest of the borderers. The Bells "THE BLOODY BELLS" were members of CLAN JOHNSTON. They were the hereditary enemies of the Maxwells and were continuously WARING with their English neighbors. The CLAN was WARLIKE, PROUD , and EXTREMELY BRAVE. In Dumfries Scotland, household names were Henderson, Scott, Goldie, Moffat, Gibson, Bell, and Johnston. In the BATTLE OF DRYFE-SANDS, December 6, 1593, Lord Maxwell crossed the Lochmaben hills with his army of two thousand men, encamping for the night on the Skipmyre heights, below which, at a considerable distance, flowed the Dryfe River. Crossing it next forenoon, the Maxwells found themselves faced by the Johnstons, the latter of whom were strongly posted on an elevated piece of ground. Sir James Johnstone (Lord Johnston) possessed no small amount of military skill; and by disposing of his men on this acclivity, he was able to force the Maxwells into an engagement on ground which the latter would never of their own choice have taken up. Johnston initiated the fighting by "sending forth some prickers to ride and make provocation." On went the horsemen thus commisioned, hurling at them stinging epithets, challenging them to come on if they dared, shouting the Johnston's WAR-CRY, "Ready, aye ready!" As if to reproach the unreadiness of their opponents, and then riding back unharmed to their own ranks. The enraged Maxwell men, at a time when coolness was especially needed -sent a large detachment up the hill after them, who rushed forth, crying, "Wardlaw! Wardlaw!" The well-known slogan of the Maxwells. The Maxwells were received by a much larger body of Johnstons that had been hidden over the brow of the hill. The Maxwells were then driven down the hill and communicated to the main army of the Maxwells a share of its own confusion. Most of Lord Maxwell's brother barons panicked and fled the field. Most of his army fled in the direction of Lockerbie, which was the heart of Johnston country, instead of returning over the mountains to their homes. The mounted victors following hard upon their tracks, and slaying all whom they overtook. A backhand stroke of the Johnston's sword on the Maxwells as they ran down the road became known as the "Lockerbie Lick". There were more killed in this way (700) than there were in the battle (200). A story is told that Dame Johnston, wife of James Johnston of Kirkton, went out after the battle with her attendants to look for her husband and help the wounded and found Lord Maxwell, wounded, laying against a tree. She took her large key ring, that she had on her belt because she had just locked the doors at Kirkton Tower herself, and beat him to death. This was the Lord Maxwell that had burned Lady Johnston's home "Lochwood Tower" and had said he did it so Lady Johnston would have the light to set her bonnet by. Lady Johnston was a great favorite in the court of King James VI and Lord Maxwell was very jealous of her. Her finery out shown his. Lady Johnston was the mother of Sir James Johnston and the daughter of Sir Walter Scott of Buccleuch. Her maiden name was Margaret Scott. Sir Walter Scott had sent five hundred men to fight in the Battle of Dryfe-Sands, the Scotts of Eskdale and Teviotdale, under the leadership of Sir Gideon Murray, who bore the banner of the Buccleuch. David's great grandfather THOMAS BOYD served with the Army of WILLIAM OF ORANGE. He fought in The BATTLE OF THE BOYNE, in Northern Ireland. The Boyds and Johnston were PRESBYTERIANS. David Johnston was a Revolutionary War soldier serving in Captain Barnett's Troop of Horse of General Sumter's command. David and his wife Sarah resided on their share of the Neel tract about four hundred yards above the Buster Boyd Bridge at the present site of Lake Wylie, South Carolina. David was a farmer. He was a breeder of and raced thoroughbred horses. He met his death at the hands of one of these creatures, being thrown against a tree and suffered a broken neck. He died at the age of forty-one years. David and Sarah had daughters Sarah, Mary, Jean, and Elizabeth, and one son David Jr. "Big David". Sarah and Mary were twins. Sarah married John Franklin Glenn. Sarah is my GG Great Grandmother. Mary married John McGill. Mary is my GGG Grandmother. Jean married John Boyd. Jean is my GGG Grandmother. Elizabeth married Joseph Wood. David JR married Mary "Polly" Glenn, sister to John Franklin Glenn. Added by Nancy Glenn Clampitt