Johnston Family
Excerpt from book: "44 Southern Families", by D.C. Stewart
Etowah, TN, 2006.
JOHNSTON or JOHNSON III
Across the River Shannon from County Limerick, lreland came a clan of Johnstons' landing in Virginia by 1769. An old obituary says that in that year they first settled in Rockbridge County, VA. Yet Rockbridge did not actually exist until 1778. In 1769 the area would have been Augusta and Botetourt Counties' domains of the resolute Scotch-Irish.
Of these Johnston's only two are known to the writer, Noble Johnston, sometimes called "Noblet" and his younger brother James. The lives of both men would leave an indelible mark upon the hills of Western North Carolina' a legacy of honor to their posterity.
The records of the D.A.R. provide much of the history of these two pioneer brothers. Noble Johnston was born in Limerick, Ireland about 1758 and came to Virginia as a boy with his parents and siblings. Some of the family left the Rockbridge area.
Noble Johnson and James Johnson appear on the 1779 Tax List of Henry County, Virginia. It was here that Noble Johnson joined the fight for colonial independence, enlisting in the Henry County Militia in 1781, under Col. Abram Penn.
Source information includes, "Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine", Oct. I914, p. 206-207, and, the D.A.R. application of Lena Johnson Reid, National Number 12O-7O1-91. Mrs. Reid was a great grand-daughter of Noble Johnson. She was a resident of Seneca, South Carolina, and was accepted into the Society in 1917.
After the war, Noble Johnston moved to Washington County, Virginia, where he appears on the 1787 Tax List with Joseph Cole, Zacheus Cole, and Sampson Cole, all on list "B". On this tax record Noble Johnston owns five horses and five head of cattle.
Noble Johnston had a wife Sara. By Nov. 1790 they had moved to Greenville County, South Carolina on the Saluda River, where Noble Johnston and kinsman John Johnston witnessed a deed for Abraham Bradley, according to Greenville County Deed Book B, page 231.
On July 20, 1791 William Read sold to Noblet Johnson 303 acres on the south fork of Georges Creek, a tributary of Saluda River, witness John Johnson, this tract being in Pendleton District. Noblet Johnson and wife Sarah sold 150 acres of this Land to William Jewel on Feb. 8, 1792, these transactions according to, "Pendleton District, S.C. Deeds 1790-1806" , by Willie. Then, Apr. 3, 1792, Noblet Johnston of Georges Creek buys from William Usrey, 110 acres on both sides of Clear Creek of Tyger River in Greenville County, witness John Johnston Greenville County Deed Book C, page 215.
On the same day Noblet Johnston bought from Henry Pearson 30 acres on the north side of Clear Creek, witness John Johnston, Greenville County Deed Book C page 2I7. Early the next year on Jan. 2,1793, Noblet Johnston of Georges Creek bought from William Pearson another 100 acres on both sides of Clear Creek of south Tyger River, witness Samuel Johnston, Greenville County Deed Book C, page 222.
Noble Johnson and others witnessed a deed from John Childress, Sr. to John childress, Jr. land on Beaverdam creek of Tyger River, May 5, 1795, Greenville County Deed Book C, page 430. This deed is of additional interest to the writer as Beaverdam Creek of Tyger River is the area where his Stewart ancestors settled a few years later.
The writer speculates that sometime before 1800 Noble Johnson's health begins to deteriorate. He and wife Sarah moved to nearby Buncombe County, North Carolina where they appear on the 1800 census, living near James Johnson a brother.
On July 10, 1802, Sarah Johnson, wife and Executrix of Noblet Johnson deceased, of Buncombe County' North Carolina, sold to Jeremiah Bruce and Joel Bruce the Clear Creek tracts in Greenville County, South Carolina, according to Greenville County Deed Book F, pages 531 & 546.
Noble Johnston had died by 1800 in Buncombe County, and was buried near his cabin not far from his brother. His burial place later evolved into the Shaw's creek Methodist Cemetery, on what is today the junction of Campground Road and Broyles Road via Highway 64/74 in present Henderson County. Noble's original tombstone is still standing.
The known children of Noble and Sarah Johnston were:
1) The 1790 Census of Pendleton County, S.C. indicates that Noble Johnson had two more children, a son and daughter, not listed in the D.A,R. records. A son, so signified, over 16 years, or born circa 1781-1782, based on the exact age of the next named child.
2) Mary Johnston, born Nov. 1, 1783 (D.A.R.). At the time of her birth the family was still living in Virginia.
3) James Johnston, born June 19, 1785.
4) John Johnston, born May 5, 1787. He was born the same year his father Noble appeared on the 1787 Tax List of Washington County, Virginia. John Johnston, or Johnson, married Elizabeth Alloway Strange Apr. 15, 1807 (D.A.R. ). John Johnson was an original member of Mills River Methodist church in 1826. The church at that time was in Buncombe County, but the place became Henderson county in 1838.
John Johnson was also one of the trustees of Mills River Academy in 1829. In Aug. 1841, John Johnson and James Brittain conveyed land to the county court to be used as the town site for Hendersonville, North Carolina. John Johnson, Hendersonville's founding father, died Nov. 15, 1848. Wife Elizabeth died Jul. 29, 1856. They were buried in Mills River Methodist Church Cemetery.
Additional information on this family is found in the Henderson
County, North Carolina Heritage Book, Volume 1, article 261. Elizabeth
was a daughter of Aurelleus Alloway Strange and wife Mary Anne
Moore. Aurelleus was a son of Edmund A. Strange who was born in
Scotland, according to article 261.
5) Fanny Johnston, born Oct. 13, 1789, died young May 17, 1796.
6) Daughter, born circa 1790?, or was she the oldest child?, reflected in the 1790 Census of Pendleton County, S.C. If she was the oldest she could have been born as early as 1780.
7) Waitstill Johnston, born Nov. 25, 1793 in South Carolina. The "Nashville Christian Advocate", reported Feb. 16, 1849, Waitstill MeCarson, nee Johnston, born in S.C., moved with parents to N.C., where she married William McCarson in 1812, moved to Ala., then to DeSoto Co. Miss. in 1934. She died there Dec. 22, 1848 age 55.
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James Johnston was born Jan. 16, 1761 in Limerick, Ireland. The highlights and hardships of his remarkable life have been preserved in his surviving obituary originally printed by the "Carolina Baptist" of Hendersonville, North Carolina in 1852. His obituary and that of his wife are reproduced in the book, "The Garners and Allied Lines", by Stewart.
James Johnston came to Virginia as a boy with his parents about 1769. The family settled in the region that would become Rockbridge County. James and eldest brother Noble Johnston moved to Henry County, Virginia, where they appear on the 1779 Tax List.
During the Revolution, James Johnston enlisted in the 2nd Virginia Regiment. His military pension file W7935 provide additional details of his service and activities after the war. James Johnston was in the battles of Camden, South Carolina, fought Aug. 16, 1780, where he received "a musket ball, through the thigh", and Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina, fought Mar. 15, 1781. At the battle of Eutaw Springs, South Carolina he was captured by British troops on Sept. 8, 1781.
James Johnston was carted off to Charleston, then called Charles Town, which had been in British control since May 1780. Confined in chains on board a prison ship off Charleston harbor, he endured great deprivation for over thirteen months. He said in his pension application many years later that his exposure to heat and cold caused a partial hearing loss. James Johnston was finally released about Oct. 1782.
He made his way back to Virginia to regain his health. About 1791 he moved to South Carolina. There he married Ann Cole in Greenville County on Jul. 22, 1791, according to pension file W7935 ("Declaration for Widow").
Only two days earlier on Jul. 20, 1791, brother Noble Johnston bought land on Georges Creek of Saluda River in nearby Pendleton District. James wife, Ann Cole Johnson, was believed to be a daughter of Hugh Cole of New England and his wife Sarah Bishop (see Cole section.
The Cole family had migrated from New York State to Washington County, Virginia by 1774, but Hugh Cole arrived later. Noble Johnston, as previously mentioned, was acquainted with Hugh Cole's brothers in Washington County, as indicated by the tax list after the war.
Ann Johnson, nee Cole, was born Jan, 5, 1772 in the State of New York according to her obituary. The family later moved to Virginia then to South Carolina. In 1792 while still in South Carolina, James and Ann Johnson joined the Methodist Church under the ministry of Tobias Gibson. In 1798 they moved to a branch of Shaws Creek in Buncombe County, North Carolina. The place is today Henderson County. Their cabin was located at what is now the junction of Highway 64/74 and "Old Homestead Road".
The cabin of brother Noble Johnson was nearby, closer to what is now the junction of "Campground Road" and Broyles Road. Noble died sometime after the 1800 census and was buried near his house. A year years later James Johnson and wife Ann helped to establish a Methodist Campground near brother Noble's grave. This would later grow into the Shaws Creek Methodist Church and cemetery.
According to Ann's obituary they were Methodists "....at the time when Methodism was unpopular with the world".
There are two versions of James Johnstons obituary. The one printed by the "Carolina Baptist", which is shorter, and spells the surname "Johnston", with the "t" and the one published in the book, "The Garners and Allied Lines", by Stewart of Huntsville, Alabama.
The account in the Garner book is longer, spells "Johnson" with no "t", and contains an additional story of James nearly attempting escape from the prison ship. James, with some of his comrades were ready to jump over-board and try to swim ashore when the moment was right. Just as they were about to leap, they noticed a dead compatriot floating in the water near the ship, who had jumped a few nights before. The body had drifted back. This sad scene dashed their hopes of escape. According to the obituary the distance from ship to shore was about a three mile swim in the ocean. This would be arduous and dangerous even for a strong, healthy, expert swimmer.
Johnson, in all probability, was emaciated and his general health much degraded. But fate would intervene.
Had James Johnson jumped over-board that night, he never would have met Ann Cole, never would have lived in Henderson County, and there never would have been a Shaws Creek Methodist Church and cemetery. History would have went in another direction.
James Johnson in his later years would become a Methodist theologian. He died Jul. 2, 1852 at age 91. Wife Ann died Jan. 25, 1857, age 85. Both were buried in Shaw's Creek Methodist cemetery now at the junction of Broyles Road and Campground Road in Henderson County, North Carolina. Descendant Betty O' Brien of Greer, South Carolina has beautified their gravesite with fencing and Supplemental markers.
The Rev. James H. Reese of Macon, Georgia; a grandson of James Johnson, wrote a brief sketch of his family history in 1861, This paper in its entirety is located at the Henderson County Genealogical & Historical Society, presently in downtown Hendersonville, North Carolina.
This he wrote about James Johnson,
"He was a model man"
"As a Christian, he was not excelled"
"The immortal James Johnson"...That never in all the earth has he met
with a man he considered quite his equal"
The children of James Johnson and wife Ann are given in the Johnson Bible record, which was included in the pension file W7935, Ann's 1857 death notice, and the Reese autobiography (May 1861). They were:
1 ) Hugh Johnson, believed to have been named after his heroic grand father Hugh Cole who died in the Revolution. The tombstone of Hugh Johnson says he was born Jul. 29, 1793, but, the family Bible gives his date of birth as Jul. 29, 1794.
Hugh Johnson married Sarah Lane Bradley who was born Jan. 22, 1793" Her gravestone reads in part, "wife of Capt. Hugh Johnson". He was a veteran of the War of 1812, serving in the Buncombe County First Regiment according to the book, "Soldiers of the War of 1812: North Carolina". The Rev. Reese wrote of Hugh Johnson and his wife, "he has been a substantial citizen of his country"..."He had a sweet' kind and an affectionate disposition." Wife Sarah, "a deeply pious woman". Their house was located at what is today the junction of Highway 64/74 and Banner Farm Road. Sarah died Feb. 7, 1868. Hugh died June 8, 1876. Both are buried in Shaw's Creek Methodist Church cemetery.
2) Sarah Johnson, believed to have been named after her grandmother Sarah Bishop Cole, the Bible gives her date of birth as Feb. 16, 1796. She married Andrew McBrayer.
The Rev. Reese wrote that Sarah was "a woman of good intelligence". She later joined the Baptist Church. Reese also wrote that Mr. McBryer was "a very clever man". They moved to Alabama.
3) Uranah Johnson, believed to have been named after her grand aunt Uranah or Urania Cole Rounds who' moved to Vermont ("The Descendants of James Cole of Plymouth 1633", by Cole, 1908). The Bible record gives her birthdate as Dec. 27, 1797. She married Charles Greer who was born Jan. 27, 1791. Uranah died Nov. 7, 1832 at age almost 35. Mr. Greer "made a great deal of money" according to Rev. Reese. His second wife was Sarah, born June, 1811. She died Aug. 18, 1870. Both wives were buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery on what is today old Kanuga Road in Henderson County, North Carolina. Sarah's tombstone reads, "safe at home".
Charles Greer died Dec. 17, 1878 and was buried near his two wives. His tombstone reads, "In God we trust". The original tombstones are in very bad condition, especially the tombstone of Uranah, which is virtually illegible.
4) James Johnson, Jr., born Jan. 22, 1798 according to the Bible record. He married first Rixey Davidson. She died and he later married a "deeply pious woman whose name was Susan. He seems to have had a problem with alcohol after the death of his first wife. Rev. Reese wrote that James Johnson was "a man of good business talent and quite a gentleman". He joined the Methodist church in 1849, but died Ju1. 5, 1854 at age 56. He was buried in Shaw's Creek Methodist cemetery. Wife Susan lived until Feb. 12, 1885. Her age at death was 79. Susan was married three times, and her original tombstone at Shaws Creek Methodist cemetery names all three husbands, the first H. Franklin, the second, James Johnson, Jr., and the third John Fletcher. It is noteworthy that Susan chose to be buried next to her second husband James Johnson' Jr.
5) Malinda Johnson, was born May 29, 1800 according to the Bible record. She married the Rev. John B. Reese Sept. 12, 1826. He was born in South Carolina Feb. 24, 1801, and raised in Newberry County. Malinda "became an extensive reader in Methodist theology" her son wrote. They later moved to Georgia. John Reese died Nov. 28, 1875. Wife Malinda died Oct. 9, 1882. Both were buried in Level Creek Methodist cemetery near Suwanee, Georgia in Gwinnett County.
6) Ann Johnson, born Nov. 25, 1802. She married the despotic James Osborn (see Osborn section). They moved to Union County, Georgia in a part that became Towns County. Ann died sometime after the 1870 census. The extant family pages from the Johnson Bible did not include death dates"
7) Joseph Johnson, believed to have been named after his great grandfather the elder Joseph Cole. He was born Feb. 2, 1805 according to the Bible record. The Rev. Reese included Josephs obituary in the family sketch which reads in part, "a kind father and a devoted husband", and, an acceptable member of the Methodist church". He married Nancy Edwards, "a meek unassuming Christian". They moved to Alabama. Joseph Johnson died Aug. 9, 1855. Wife Nancy, who was born Jul, 16, 1806, died Jul. 12, 1881. Both were buried in Bethany cemetery near Reece City in Etowah County, Alabama. Their original tombstones at this time are still standing.
8) Noble Johnson named after his uncle Noble Johnson, was born April 26, 1807 according to the Bible record. Rev. Reese wrote "He was always a very quiet and harmless man." Noble Johnson married Charlotte "Lottie" Edwards, who was born Nov. 8, 1810. She was "a kind hearted woman". Lottie died Feb. 15, 1892. Noble seems to have had the longest life of all the children, passing away at age 89, on Mar. 9, 1896.
9)His sister Sarah Johnson McBryer, passed away 6 Mar 1871 and both her and her husband, are buried at Liberty Cemetery, St. Clair, Alabama. Noble and wife Lottie were buried in Shaws Creek Methodist cemetery.
10) Mary Johnson, the writer's great great great grandmother, was born Aug. 11, 1810 according to the Bible record. She married the Rev. Nicholas R. Osborn, a Baptist minister. They later moved to Gilmer County, Georgia (see Osborn section). The Rev. Reese wrote of them, "She is a burning and a shining light in the Missionary Baptist Church." And, "in 1830, she was married to Nicholas Osborn, who is much of a gentleman, and has made quite a large property." For more information on this Johnson family the reader is referred to the book, "The Garners and Allied Lines", by Lucy
Excerpt from book: "44 Southern Families", by D.C. Stewart
Etowah, TN, 2006.
JOHNSTON or JOHNSON III
Across the River Shannon from County Limerick, lreland came a clan of Johnstons' landing in Virginia by 1769. An old obituary says that in that year they first settled in Rockbridge County, VA. Yet Rockbridge did not actually exist until 1778. In 1769 the area would have been Augusta and Botetourt Counties' domains of the resolute Scotch-Irish.
Of these Johnston's only two are known to the writer, Noble Johnston, sometimes called "Noblet" and his younger brother James. The lives of both men would leave an indelible mark upon the hills of Western North Carolina' a legacy of honor to their posterity.
The records of the D.A.R. provide much of the history of these two pioneer brothers. Noble Johnston was born in Limerick, Ireland about 1758 and came to Virginia as a boy with his parents and siblings. Some of the family left the Rockbridge area.
Noble Johnson and James Johnson appear on the 1779 Tax List of Henry County, Virginia. It was here that Noble Johnson joined the fight for colonial independence, enlisting in the Henry County Militia in 1781, under Col. Abram Penn.
Source information includes, "Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine", Oct. I914, p. 206-207, and, the D.A.R. application of Lena Johnson Reid, National Number 12O-7O1-91. Mrs. Reid was a great grand-daughter of Noble Johnson. She was a resident of Seneca, South Carolina, and was accepted into the Society in 1917.
After the war, Noble Johnston moved to Washington County, Virginia, where he appears on the 1787 Tax List with Joseph Cole, Zacheus Cole, and Sampson Cole, all on list "B". On this tax record Noble Johnston owns five horses and five head of cattle.
Noble Johnston had a wife Sara. By Nov. 1790 they had moved to Greenville County, South Carolina on the Saluda River, where Noble Johnston and kinsman John Johnston witnessed a deed for Abraham Bradley, according to Greenville County Deed Book B, page 231.
On July 20, 1791 William Read sold to Noblet Johnson 303 acres on the south fork of Georges Creek, a tributary of Saluda River, witness John Johnson, this tract being in Pendleton District. Noblet Johnson and wife Sarah sold 150 acres of this Land to William Jewel on Feb. 8, 1792, these transactions according to, "Pendleton District, S.C. Deeds 1790-1806" , by Willie. Then, Apr. 3, 1792, Noblet Johnston of Georges Creek buys from William Usrey, 110 acres on both sides of Clear Creek of Tyger River in Greenville County, witness John Johnston Greenville County Deed Book C, page 215.
On the same day Noblet Johnston bought from Henry Pearson 30 acres on the north side of Clear Creek, witness John Johnston, Greenville County Deed Book C page 2I7. Early the next year on Jan. 2,1793, Noblet Johnston of Georges Creek bought from William Pearson another 100 acres on both sides of Clear Creek of south Tyger River, witness Samuel Johnston, Greenville County Deed Book C, page 222.
Noble Johnson and others witnessed a deed from John Childress, Sr. to John childress, Jr. land on Beaverdam creek of Tyger River, May 5, 1795, Greenville County Deed Book C, page 430. This deed is of additional interest to the writer as Beaverdam Creek of Tyger River is the area where his Stewart ancestors settled a few years later.
The writer speculates that sometime before 1800 Noble Johnson's health begins to deteriorate. He and wife Sarah moved to nearby Buncombe County, North Carolina where they appear on the 1800 census, living near James Johnson a brother.
On July 10, 1802, Sarah Johnson, wife and Executrix of Noblet Johnson deceased, of Buncombe County' North Carolina, sold to Jeremiah Bruce and Joel Bruce the Clear Creek tracts in Greenville County, South Carolina, according to Greenville County Deed Book F, pages 531 & 546.
Noble Johnston had died by 1800 in Buncombe County, and was buried near his cabin not far from his brother. His burial place later evolved into the Shaw's creek Methodist Cemetery, on what is today the junction of Campground Road and Broyles Road via Highway 64/74 in present Henderson County. Noble's original tombstone is still standing.
The known children of Noble and Sarah Johnston were:
1) The 1790 Census of Pendleton County, S.C. indicates that Noble Johnson had two more children, a son and daughter, not listed in the D.A,R. records. A son, so signified, over 16 years, or born circa 1781-1782, based on the exact age of the next named child.
2) Mary Johnston, born Nov. 1, 1783 (D.A.R.). At the time of her birth the family was still living in Virginia.
3) James Johnston, born June 19, 1785.
4) John Johnston, born May 5, 1787. He was born the same year his father Noble appeared on the 1787 Tax List of Washington County, Virginia. John Johnston, or Johnson, married Elizabeth Alloway Strange Apr. 15, 1807 (D.A.R. ). John Johnson was an original member of Mills River Methodist church in 1826. The church at that time was in Buncombe County, but the place became Henderson county in 1838.
John Johnson was also one of the trustees of Mills River Academy in 1829. In Aug. 1841, John Johnson and James Brittain conveyed land to the county court to be used as the town site for Hendersonville, North Carolina. John Johnson, Hendersonville's founding father, died Nov. 15, 1848. Wife Elizabeth died Jul. 29, 1856. They were buried in Mills River Methodist Church Cemetery.
Additional information on this family is found in the Henderson
County, North Carolina Heritage Book, Volume 1, article 261. Elizabeth
was a daughter of Aurelleus Alloway Strange and wife Mary Anne
Moore. Aurelleus was a son of Edmund A. Strange who was born in
Scotland, according to article 261.
5) Fanny Johnston, born Oct. 13, 1789, died young May 17, 1796.
6) Daughter, born circa 1790?, or was she the oldest child?, reflected in the 1790 Census of Pendleton County, S.C. If she was the oldest she could have been born as early as 1780.
7) Waitstill Johnston, born Nov. 25, 1793 in South Carolina. The "Nashville Christian Advocate", reported Feb. 16, 1849, Waitstill MeCarson, nee Johnston, born in S.C., moved with parents to N.C., where she married William McCarson in 1812, moved to Ala., then to DeSoto Co. Miss. in 1934. She died there Dec. 22, 1848 age 55.
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James Johnston was born Jan. 16, 1761 in Limerick, Ireland. The highlights and hardships of his remarkable life have been preserved in his surviving obituary originally printed by the "Carolina Baptist" of Hendersonville, North Carolina in 1852. His obituary and that of his wife are reproduced in the book, "The Garners and Allied Lines", by Stewart.
James Johnston came to Virginia as a boy with his parents about 1769. The family settled in the region that would become Rockbridge County. James and eldest brother Noble Johnston moved to Henry County, Virginia, where they appear on the 1779 Tax List.
During the Revolution, James Johnston enlisted in the 2nd Virginia Regiment. His military pension file W7935 provide additional details of his service and activities after the war. James Johnston was in the battles of Camden, South Carolina, fought Aug. 16, 1780, where he received "a musket ball, through the thigh", and Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina, fought Mar. 15, 1781. At the battle of Eutaw Springs, South Carolina he was captured by British troops on Sept. 8, 1781.
James Johnston was carted off to Charleston, then called Charles Town, which had been in British control since May 1780. Confined in chains on board a prison ship off Charleston harbor, he endured great deprivation for over thirteen months. He said in his pension application many years later that his exposure to heat and cold caused a partial hearing loss. James Johnston was finally released about Oct. 1782.
He made his way back to Virginia to regain his health. About 1791 he moved to South Carolina. There he married Ann Cole in Greenville County on Jul. 22, 1791, according to pension file W7935 ("Declaration for Widow").
Only two days earlier on Jul. 20, 1791, brother Noble Johnston bought land on Georges Creek of Saluda River in nearby Pendleton District. James wife, Ann Cole Johnson, was believed to be a daughter of Hugh Cole of New England and his wife Sarah Bishop (see Cole section.
The Cole family had migrated from New York State to Washington County, Virginia by 1774, but Hugh Cole arrived later. Noble Johnston, as previously mentioned, was acquainted with Hugh Cole's brothers in Washington County, as indicated by the tax list after the war.
Ann Johnson, nee Cole, was born Jan, 5, 1772 in the State of New York according to her obituary. The family later moved to Virginia then to South Carolina. In 1792 while still in South Carolina, James and Ann Johnson joined the Methodist Church under the ministry of Tobias Gibson. In 1798 they moved to a branch of Shaws Creek in Buncombe County, North Carolina. The place is today Henderson County. Their cabin was located at what is now the junction of Highway 64/74 and "Old Homestead Road".
The cabin of brother Noble Johnson was nearby, closer to what is now the junction of "Campground Road" and Broyles Road. Noble died sometime after the 1800 census and was buried near his house. A year years later James Johnson and wife Ann helped to establish a Methodist Campground near brother Noble's grave. This would later grow into the Shaws Creek Methodist Church and cemetery.
According to Ann's obituary they were Methodists "....at the time when Methodism was unpopular with the world".
There are two versions of James Johnstons obituary. The one printed by the "Carolina Baptist", which is shorter, and spells the surname "Johnston", with the "t" and the one published in the book, "The Garners and Allied Lines", by Stewart of Huntsville, Alabama.
The account in the Garner book is longer, spells "Johnson" with no "t", and contains an additional story of James nearly attempting escape from the prison ship. James, with some of his comrades were ready to jump over-board and try to swim ashore when the moment was right. Just as they were about to leap, they noticed a dead compatriot floating in the water near the ship, who had jumped a few nights before. The body had drifted back. This sad scene dashed their hopes of escape. According to the obituary the distance from ship to shore was about a three mile swim in the ocean. This would be arduous and dangerous even for a strong, healthy, expert swimmer.
Johnson, in all probability, was emaciated and his general health much degraded. But fate would intervene.
Had James Johnson jumped over-board that night, he never would have met Ann Cole, never would have lived in Henderson County, and there never would have been a Shaws Creek Methodist Church and cemetery. History would have went in another direction.
James Johnson in his later years would become a Methodist theologian. He died Jul. 2, 1852 at age 91. Wife Ann died Jan. 25, 1857, age 85. Both were buried in Shaw's Creek Methodist cemetery now at the junction of Broyles Road and Campground Road in Henderson County, North Carolina. Descendant Betty O' Brien of Greer, South Carolina has beautified their gravesite with fencing and Supplemental markers.
The Rev. James H. Reese of Macon, Georgia; a grandson of James Johnson, wrote a brief sketch of his family history in 1861, This paper in its entirety is located at the Henderson County Genealogical & Historical Society, presently in downtown Hendersonville, North Carolina.
This he wrote about James Johnson,
"He was a model man"
"As a Christian, he was not excelled"
"The immortal James Johnson"...That never in all the earth has he met
with a man he considered quite his equal"
The children of James Johnson and wife Ann are given in the Johnson Bible record, which was included in the pension file W7935, Ann's 1857 death notice, and the Reese autobiography (May 1861). They were:
1 ) Hugh Johnson, believed to have been named after his heroic grand father Hugh Cole who died in the Revolution. The tombstone of Hugh Johnson says he was born Jul. 29, 1793, but, the family Bible gives his date of birth as Jul. 29, 1794.
Hugh Johnson married Sarah Lane Bradley who was born Jan. 22, 1793" Her gravestone reads in part, "wife of Capt. Hugh Johnson". He was a veteran of the War of 1812, serving in the Buncombe County First Regiment according to the book, "Soldiers of the War of 1812: North Carolina". The Rev. Reese wrote of Hugh Johnson and his wife, "he has been a substantial citizen of his country"..."He had a sweet' kind and an affectionate disposition." Wife Sarah, "a deeply pious woman". Their house was located at what is today the junction of Highway 64/74 and Banner Farm Road. Sarah died Feb. 7, 1868. Hugh died June 8, 1876. Both are buried in Shaw's Creek Methodist Church cemetery.
2) Sarah Johnson, believed to have been named after her grandmother Sarah Bishop Cole, the Bible gives her date of birth as Feb. 16, 1796. She married Andrew McBrayer.
The Rev. Reese wrote that Sarah was "a woman of good intelligence". She later joined the Baptist Church. Reese also wrote that Mr. McBryer was "a very clever man". They moved to Alabama.
3) Uranah Johnson, believed to have been named after her grand aunt Uranah or Urania Cole Rounds who' moved to Vermont ("The Descendants of James Cole of Plymouth 1633", by Cole, 1908). The Bible record gives her birthdate as Dec. 27, 1797. She married Charles Greer who was born Jan. 27, 1791. Uranah died Nov. 7, 1832 at age almost 35. Mr. Greer "made a great deal of money" according to Rev. Reese. His second wife was Sarah, born June, 1811. She died Aug. 18, 1870. Both wives were buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery on what is today old Kanuga Road in Henderson County, North Carolina. Sarah's tombstone reads, "safe at home".
Charles Greer died Dec. 17, 1878 and was buried near his two wives. His tombstone reads, "In God we trust". The original tombstones are in very bad condition, especially the tombstone of Uranah, which is virtually illegible.
4) James Johnson, Jr., born Jan. 22, 1798 according to the Bible record. He married first Rixey Davidson. She died and he later married a "deeply pious woman whose name was Susan. He seems to have had a problem with alcohol after the death of his first wife. Rev. Reese wrote that James Johnson was "a man of good business talent and quite a gentleman". He joined the Methodist church in 1849, but died Ju1. 5, 1854 at age 56. He was buried in Shaw's Creek Methodist cemetery. Wife Susan lived until Feb. 12, 1885. Her age at death was 79. Susan was married three times, and her original tombstone at Shaws Creek Methodist cemetery names all three husbands, the first H. Franklin, the second, James Johnson, Jr., and the third John Fletcher. It is noteworthy that Susan chose to be buried next to her second husband James Johnson' Jr.
5) Malinda Johnson, was born May 29, 1800 according to the Bible record. She married the Rev. John B. Reese Sept. 12, 1826. He was born in South Carolina Feb. 24, 1801, and raised in Newberry County. Malinda "became an extensive reader in Methodist theology" her son wrote. They later moved to Georgia. John Reese died Nov. 28, 1875. Wife Malinda died Oct. 9, 1882. Both were buried in Level Creek Methodist cemetery near Suwanee, Georgia in Gwinnett County.
6) Ann Johnson, born Nov. 25, 1802. She married the despotic James Osborn (see Osborn section). They moved to Union County, Georgia in a part that became Towns County. Ann died sometime after the 1870 census. The extant family pages from the Johnson Bible did not include death dates"
7) Joseph Johnson, believed to have been named after his great grandfather the elder Joseph Cole. He was born Feb. 2, 1805 according to the Bible record. The Rev. Reese included Josephs obituary in the family sketch which reads in part, "a kind father and a devoted husband", and, an acceptable member of the Methodist church". He married Nancy Edwards, "a meek unassuming Christian". They moved to Alabama. Joseph Johnson died Aug. 9, 1855. Wife Nancy, who was born Jul, 16, 1806, died Jul. 12, 1881. Both were buried in Bethany cemetery near Reece City in Etowah County, Alabama. Their original tombstones at this time are still standing.
8) Noble Johnson named after his uncle Noble Johnson, was born April 26, 1807 according to the Bible record. Rev. Reese wrote "He was always a very quiet and harmless man." Noble Johnson married Charlotte "Lottie" Edwards, who was born Nov. 8, 1810. She was "a kind hearted woman". Lottie died Feb. 15, 1892. Noble seems to have had the longest life of all the children, passing away at age 89, on Mar. 9, 1896.
9)His sister Sarah Johnson McBryer, passed away 6 Mar 1871 and both her and her husband, are buried at Liberty Cemetery, St. Clair, Alabama. Noble and wife Lottie were buried in Shaws Creek Methodist cemetery.
10) Mary Johnson, the writer's great great great grandmother, was born Aug. 11, 1810 according to the Bible record. She married the Rev. Nicholas R. Osborn, a Baptist minister. They later moved to Gilmer County, Georgia (see Osborn section). The Rev. Reese wrote of them, "She is a burning and a shining light in the Missionary Baptist Church." And, "in 1830, she was married to Nicholas Osborn, who is much of a gentleman, and has made quite a large property." For more information on this Johnson family the reader is referred to the book, "The Garners and Allied Lines", by Lucy
Johnston Family
Excerpt from book: "44 Southern Families", by D.C. Stewart
Etowah, TN, 2006.
JOHNSTON or JOHNSON III
Across the River Shannon from County Limerick, lreland came a clan of Johnstons' landing in Virginia by 1769. An old obituary says that in that year they first settled in Rockbridge County, VA. Yet Rockbridge did not actually exist until 1778. In 1769 the area would have been Augusta and Botetourt Counties' domains of the resolute Scotch-Irish.
Of these Johnston's only two are known to the writer, Noble Johnston, sometimes called "Noblet" and his younger brother James. The lives of both men would leave an indelible mark upon the hills of Western North Carolina' a legacy of honor to their posterity.
The records of the D.A.R. provide much of the history of these two pioneer brothers. Noble Johnston was born in Limerick, Ireland about 1758 and came to Virginia as a boy with his parents and siblings. Some of the family left the Rockbridge area.
Noble Johnson and James Johnson appear on the 1779 Tax List of Henry County, Virginia. It was here that Noble Johnson joined the fight for colonial independence, enlisting in the Henry County Militia in 1781, under Col. Abram Penn.
Source information includes, "Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine", Oct. I914, p. 206-207, and, the D.A.R. application of Lena Johnson Reid, National Number 12O-7O1-91. Mrs. Reid was a great grand-daughter of Noble Johnson. She was a resident of Seneca, South Carolina, and was accepted into the Society in 1917.
After the war, Noble Johnston moved to Washington County, Virginia, where he appears on the 1787 Tax List with Joseph Cole, Zacheus Cole, and Sampson Cole, all on list "B". On this tax record Noble Johnston owns five horses and five head of cattle.
Noble Johnston had a wife Sara. By Nov. 1790 they had moved to Greenville County, South Carolina on the Saluda River, where Noble Johnston and kinsman John Johnston witnessed a deed for Abraham Bradley, according to Greenville County Deed Book B, page 231.
On July 20, 1791 William Read sold to Noblet Johnson 303 acres on the south fork of Georges Creek, a tributary of Saluda River, witness John Johnson, this tract being in Pendleton District. Noblet Johnson and wife Sarah sold 150 acres of this Land to William Jewel on Feb. 8, 1792, these transactions according to, "Pendleton District, S.C. Deeds 1790-1806" , by Willie. Then, Apr. 3, 1792, Noblet Johnston of Georges Creek buys from William Usrey, 110 acres on both sides of Clear Creek of Tyger River in Greenville County, witness John Johnston Greenville County Deed Book C, page 215.
On the same day Noblet Johnston bought from Henry Pearson 30 acres on the north side of Clear Creek, witness John Johnston, Greenville County Deed Book C page 2I7. Early the next year on Jan. 2,1793, Noblet Johnston of Georges Creek bought from William Pearson another 100 acres on both sides of Clear Creek of south Tyger River, witness Samuel Johnston, Greenville County Deed Book C, page 222.
Noble Johnson and others witnessed a deed from John Childress, Sr. to John childress, Jr. land on Beaverdam creek of Tyger River, May 5, 1795, Greenville County Deed Book C, page 430. This deed is of additional interest to the writer as Beaverdam Creek of Tyger River is the area where his Stewart ancestors settled a few years later.
The writer speculates that sometime before 1800 Noble Johnson's health begins to deteriorate. He and wife Sarah moved to nearby Buncombe County, North Carolina where they appear on the 1800 census, living near James Johnson a brother.
On July 10, 1802, Sarah Johnson, wife and Executrix of Noblet Johnson deceased, of Buncombe County' North Carolina, sold to Jeremiah Bruce and Joel Bruce the Clear Creek tracts in Greenville County, South Carolina, according to Greenville County Deed Book F, pages 531 & 546.
Noble Johnston had died by 1800 in Buncombe County, and was buried near his cabin not far from his brother. His burial place later evolved into the Shaw's creek Methodist Cemetery, on what is today the junction of Campground Road and Broyles Road via Highway 64/74 in present Henderson County. Noble's original tombstone is still standing.
The known children of Noble and Sarah Johnston were:
1) The 1790 Census of Pendleton County, S.C. indicates that Noble Johnson had two more children, a son and daughter, not listed in the D.A,R. records. A son, so signified, over 16 years, or born circa 1781-1782, based on the exact age of the next named child.
2) Mary Johnston, born Nov. 1, 1783 (D.A.R.). At the time of her birth the family was still living in Virginia.
3) James Johnston, born June 19, 1785.
4) John Johnston, born May 5, 1787. He was born the same year his father Noble appeared on the 1787 Tax List of Washington County, Virginia. John Johnston, or Johnson, married Elizabeth Alloway Strange Apr. 15, 1807 (D.A.R. ). John Johnson was an original member of Mills River Methodist church in 1826. The church at that time was in Buncombe County, but the place became Henderson county in 1838.
John Johnson was also one of the trustees of Mills River Academy in 1829. In Aug. 1841, John Johnson and James Brittain conveyed land to the county court to be used as the town site for Hendersonville, North Carolina. John Johnson, Hendersonville's founding father, died Nov. 15, 1848. Wife Elizabeth died Jul. 29, 1856. They were buried in Mills River Methodist Church Cemetery.
Additional information on this family is found in the Henderson
County, North Carolina Heritage Book, Volume 1, article 261. Elizabeth
was a daughter of Aurelleus Alloway Strange and wife Mary Anne
Moore. Aurelleus was a son of Edmund A. Strange who was born in
Scotland, according to article 261.
5) Fanny Johnston, born Oct. 13, 1789, died young May 17, 1796.
6) Daughter, born circa 1790?, or was she the oldest child?, reflected in the 1790 Census of Pendleton County, S.C. If she was the oldest she could have been born as early as 1780.
7) Waitstill Johnston, born Nov. 25, 1793 in South Carolina. The "Nashville Christian Advocate", reported Feb. 16, 1849, Waitstill MeCarson, nee Johnston, born in S.C., moved with parents to N.C., where she married William McCarson in 1812, moved to Ala., then to DeSoto Co. Miss. in 1934. She died there Dec. 22, 1848 age 55.
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James Johnston was born Jan. 16, 1761 in Limerick, Ireland. The highlights and hardships of his remarkable life have been preserved in his surviving obituary originally printed by the "Carolina Baptist" of Hendersonville, North Carolina in 1852. His obituary and that of his wife are reproduced in the book, "The Garners and Allied Lines", by Stewart.
James Johnston came to Virginia as a boy with his parents about 1769. The family settled in the region that would become Rockbridge County. James and eldest brother Noble Johnston moved to Henry County, Virginia, where they appear on the 1779 Tax List.
During the Revolution, James Johnston enlisted in the 2nd Virginia Regiment. His military pension file W7935 provide additional details of his service and activities after the war. James Johnston was in the battles of Camden, South Carolina, fought Aug. 16, 1780, where he received "a musket ball, through the thigh", and Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina, fought Mar. 15, 1781. At the battle of Eutaw Springs, South Carolina he was captured by British troops on Sept. 8, 1781.
James Johnston was carted off to Charleston, then called Charles Town, which had been in British control since May 1780. Confined in chains on board a prison ship off Charleston harbor, he endured great deprivation for over thirteen months. He said in his pension application many years later that his exposure to heat and cold caused a partial hearing loss. James Johnston was finally released about Oct. 1782.
He made his way back to Virginia to regain his health. About 1791 he moved to South Carolina. There he married Ann Cole in Greenville County on Jul. 22, 1791, according to pension file W7935 ("Declaration for Widow").
Only two days earlier on Jul. 20, 1791, brother Noble Johnston bought land on Georges Creek of Saluda River in nearby Pendleton District. James wife, Ann Cole Johnson, was believed to be a daughter of Hugh Cole of New England and his wife Sarah Bishop (see Cole section.
The Cole family had migrated from New York State to Washington County, Virginia by 1774, but Hugh Cole arrived later. Noble Johnston, as previously mentioned, was acquainted with Hugh Cole's brothers in Washington County, as indicated by the tax list after the war.
Ann Johnson, nee Cole, was born Jan, 5, 1772 in the State of New York according to her obituary. The family later moved to Virginia then to South Carolina. In 1792 while still in South Carolina, James and Ann Johnson joined the Methodist Church under the ministry of Tobias Gibson. In 1798 they moved to a branch of Shaws Creek in Buncombe County, North Carolina. The place is today Henderson County. Their cabin was located at what is now the junction of Highway 64/74 and "Old Homestead Road".
The cabin of brother Noble Johnson was nearby, closer to what is now the junction of "Campground Road" and Broyles Road. Noble died sometime after the 1800 census and was buried near his house. A year years later James Johnson and wife Ann helped to establish a Methodist Campground near brother Noble's grave. This would later grow into the Shaws Creek Methodist Church and cemetery.
According to Ann's obituary they were Methodists "....at the time when Methodism was unpopular with the world".
There are two versions of James Johnstons obituary. The one printed by the "Carolina Baptist", which is shorter, and spells the surname "Johnston", with the "t" and the one published in the book, "The Garners and Allied Lines", by Stewart of Huntsville, Alabama.
The account in the Garner book is longer, spells "Johnson" with no "t", and contains an additional story of James nearly attempting escape from the prison ship. James, with some of his comrades were ready to jump over-board and try to swim ashore when the moment was right. Just as they were about to leap, they noticed a dead compatriot floating in the water near the ship, who had jumped a few nights before. The body had drifted back. This sad scene dashed their hopes of escape. According to the obituary the distance from ship to shore was about a three mile swim in the ocean. This would be arduous and dangerous even for a strong, healthy, expert swimmer.
Johnson, in all probability, was emaciated and his general health much degraded. But fate would intervene.
Had James Johnson jumped over-board that night, he never would have met Ann Cole, never would have lived in Henderson County, and there never would have been a Shaws Creek Methodist Church and cemetery. History would have went in another direction.
James Johnson in his later years would become a Methodist theologian. He died Jul. 2, 1852 at age 91. Wife Ann died Jan. 25, 1857, age 85. Both were buried in Shaw's Creek Methodist cemetery now at the junction of Broyles Road and Campground Road in Henderson County, North Carolina. Descendant Betty O' Brien of Greer, South Carolina has beautified their gravesite with fencing and Supplemental markers.
The Rev. James H. Reese of Macon, Georgia; a grandson of James Johnson, wrote a brief sketch of his family history in 1861, This paper in its entirety is located at the Henderson County Genealogical & Historical Society, presently in downtown Hendersonville, North Carolina.
This he wrote about James Johnson,
"He was a model man"
"As a Christian, he was not excelled"
"The immortal James Johnson"...That never in all the earth has he met
with a man he considered quite his equal"
The children of James Johnson and wife Ann are given in the Johnson Bible record, which was included in the pension file W7935, Ann's 1857 death notice, and the Reese autobiography (May 1861). They were:
1 ) Hugh Johnson, believed to have been named after his heroic grand father Hugh Cole who died in the Revolution. The tombstone of Hugh Johnson says he was born Jul. 29, 1793, but, the family Bible gives his date of birth as Jul. 29, 1794.
Hugh Johnson married Sarah Lane Bradley who was born Jan. 22, 1793" Her gravestone reads in part, "wife of Capt. Hugh Johnson". He was a veteran of the War of 1812, serving in the Buncombe County First Regiment according to the book, "Soldiers of the War of 1812: North Carolina". The Rev. Reese wrote of Hugh Johnson and his wife, "he has been a substantial citizen of his country"..."He had a sweet' kind and an affectionate disposition." Wife Sarah, "a deeply pious woman". Their house was located at what is today the junction of Highway 64/74 and Banner Farm Road. Sarah died Feb. 7, 1868. Hugh died June 8, 1876. Both are buried in Shaw's Creek Methodist Church cemetery.
2) Sarah Johnson, believed to have been named after her grandmother Sarah Bishop Cole, the Bible gives her date of birth as Feb. 16, 1796. She married Andrew McBrayer.
The Rev. Reese wrote that Sarah was "a woman of good intelligence". She later joined the Baptist Church. Reese also wrote that Mr. McBryer was "a very clever man". They moved to Alabama.
3) Uranah Johnson, believed to have been named after her grand aunt Uranah or Urania Cole Rounds who' moved to Vermont ("The Descendants of James Cole of Plymouth 1633", by Cole, 1908). The Bible record gives her birthdate as Dec. 27, 1797. She married Charles Greer who was born Jan. 27, 1791. Uranah died Nov. 7, 1832 at age almost 35. Mr. Greer "made a great deal of money" according to Rev. Reese. His second wife was Sarah, born June, 1811. She died Aug. 18, 1870. Both wives were buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery on what is today old Kanuga Road in Henderson County, North Carolina. Sarah's tombstone reads, "safe at home".
Charles Greer died Dec. 17, 1878 and was buried near his two wives. His tombstone reads, "In God we trust". The original tombstones are in very bad condition, especially the tombstone of Uranah, which is virtually illegible.
4) James Johnson, Jr., born Jan. 22, 1798 according to the Bible record. He married first Rixey Davidson. She died and he later married a "deeply pious woman whose name was Susan. He seems to have had a problem with alcohol after the death of his first wife. Rev. Reese wrote that James Johnson was "a man of good business talent and quite a gentleman". He joined the Methodist church in 1849, but died Ju1. 5, 1854 at age 56. He was buried in Shaw's Creek Methodist cemetery. Wife Susan lived until Feb. 12, 1885. Her age at death was 79. Susan was married three times, and her original tombstone at Shaws Creek Methodist cemetery names all three husbands, the first H. Franklin, the second, James Johnson, Jr., and the third John Fletcher. It is noteworthy that Susan chose to be buried next to her second husband James Johnson' Jr.
5) Malinda Johnson, was born May 29, 1800 according to the Bible record. She married the Rev. John B. Reese Sept. 12, 1826. He was born in South Carolina Feb. 24, 1801, and raised in Newberry County. Malinda "became an extensive reader in Methodist theology" her son wrote. They later moved to Georgia. John Reese died Nov. 28, 1875. Wife Malinda died Oct. 9, 1882. Both were buried in Level Creek Methodist cemetery near Suwanee, Georgia in Gwinnett County.
6) Ann Johnson, born Nov. 25, 1802. She married the despotic James Osborn (see Osborn section). They moved to Union County, Georgia in a part that became Towns County. Ann died sometime after the 1870 census. The extant family pages from the Johnson Bible did not include death dates"
7) Joseph Johnson, believed to have been named after his great grandfather the elder Joseph Cole. He was born Feb. 2, 1805 according to the Bible record. The Rev. Reese included Josephs obituary in the family sketch which reads in part, "a kind father and a devoted husband", and, an acceptable member of the Methodist church". He married Nancy Edwards, "a meek unassuming Christian". They moved to Alabama. Joseph Johnson died Aug. 9, 1855. Wife Nancy, who was born Jul, 16, 1806, died Jul. 12, 1881. Both were buried in Bethany cemetery near Reece City in Etowah County, Alabama. Their original tombstones at this time are still standing.
8) Noble Johnson named after his uncle Noble Johnson, was born April 26, 1807 according to the Bible record. Rev. Reese wrote "He was always a very quiet and harmless man." Noble Johnson married Charlotte "Lottie" Edwards, who was born Nov. 8, 1810. She was "a kind hearted woman". Lottie died Feb. 15, 1892. Noble seems to have had the longest life of all the children, passing away at age 89, on Mar. 9, 1896.
9)His sister Sarah Johnson McBryer, passed away 6 Mar 1871 and both her and her husband, are buried at Liberty Cemetery, St. Clair, Alabama. Noble and wife Lottie were buried in Shaws Creek Methodist cemetery.
10) Mary Johnson, the writer's great great great grandmother, was born Aug. 11, 1810 according to the Bible record. She married the Rev. Nicholas R. Osborn, a Baptist minister. They later moved to Gilmer County, Georgia (see Osborn section). The Rev. Reese wrote of them, "She is a burning and a shining light in the Missionary Baptist Church." And, "in 1830, she was married to Nicholas Osborn, who is much of a gentleman, and has made quite a large property." For more information on this Johnson family the reader is referred to the book, "The Garners and Allied Lines", by Lucy
Excerpt from book: "44 Southern Families", by D.C. Stewart
Etowah, TN, 2006.
JOHNSTON or JOHNSON III
Across the River Shannon from County Limerick, lreland came a clan of Johnstons' landing in Virginia by 1769. An old obituary says that in that year they first settled in Rockbridge County, VA. Yet Rockbridge did not actually exist until 1778. In 1769 the area would have been Augusta and Botetourt Counties' domains of the resolute Scotch-Irish.
Of these Johnston's only two are known to the writer, Noble Johnston, sometimes called "Noblet" and his younger brother James. The lives of both men would leave an indelible mark upon the hills of Western North Carolina' a legacy of honor to their posterity.
The records of the D.A.R. provide much of the history of these two pioneer brothers. Noble Johnston was born in Limerick, Ireland about 1758 and came to Virginia as a boy with his parents and siblings. Some of the family left the Rockbridge area.
Noble Johnson and James Johnson appear on the 1779 Tax List of Henry County, Virginia. It was here that Noble Johnson joined the fight for colonial independence, enlisting in the Henry County Militia in 1781, under Col. Abram Penn.
Source information includes, "Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine", Oct. I914, p. 206-207, and, the D.A.R. application of Lena Johnson Reid, National Number 12O-7O1-91. Mrs. Reid was a great grand-daughter of Noble Johnson. She was a resident of Seneca, South Carolina, and was accepted into the Society in 1917.
After the war, Noble Johnston moved to Washington County, Virginia, where he appears on the 1787 Tax List with Joseph Cole, Zacheus Cole, and Sampson Cole, all on list "B". On this tax record Noble Johnston owns five horses and five head of cattle.
Noble Johnston had a wife Sara. By Nov. 1790 they had moved to Greenville County, South Carolina on the Saluda River, where Noble Johnston and kinsman John Johnston witnessed a deed for Abraham Bradley, according to Greenville County Deed Book B, page 231.
On July 20, 1791 William Read sold to Noblet Johnson 303 acres on the south fork of Georges Creek, a tributary of Saluda River, witness John Johnson, this tract being in Pendleton District. Noblet Johnson and wife Sarah sold 150 acres of this Land to William Jewel on Feb. 8, 1792, these transactions according to, "Pendleton District, S.C. Deeds 1790-1806" , by Willie. Then, Apr. 3, 1792, Noblet Johnston of Georges Creek buys from William Usrey, 110 acres on both sides of Clear Creek of Tyger River in Greenville County, witness John Johnston Greenville County Deed Book C, page 215.
On the same day Noblet Johnston bought from Henry Pearson 30 acres on the north side of Clear Creek, witness John Johnston, Greenville County Deed Book C page 2I7. Early the next year on Jan. 2,1793, Noblet Johnston of Georges Creek bought from William Pearson another 100 acres on both sides of Clear Creek of south Tyger River, witness Samuel Johnston, Greenville County Deed Book C, page 222.
Noble Johnson and others witnessed a deed from John Childress, Sr. to John childress, Jr. land on Beaverdam creek of Tyger River, May 5, 1795, Greenville County Deed Book C, page 430. This deed is of additional interest to the writer as Beaverdam Creek of Tyger River is the area where his Stewart ancestors settled a few years later.
The writer speculates that sometime before 1800 Noble Johnson's health begins to deteriorate. He and wife Sarah moved to nearby Buncombe County, North Carolina where they appear on the 1800 census, living near James Johnson a brother.
On July 10, 1802, Sarah Johnson, wife and Executrix of Noblet Johnson deceased, of Buncombe County' North Carolina, sold to Jeremiah Bruce and Joel Bruce the Clear Creek tracts in Greenville County, South Carolina, according to Greenville County Deed Book F, pages 531 & 546.
Noble Johnston had died by 1800 in Buncombe County, and was buried near his cabin not far from his brother. His burial place later evolved into the Shaw's creek Methodist Cemetery, on what is today the junction of Campground Road and Broyles Road via Highway 64/74 in present Henderson County. Noble's original tombstone is still standing.
The known children of Noble and Sarah Johnston were:
1) The 1790 Census of Pendleton County, S.C. indicates that Noble Johnson had two more children, a son and daughter, not listed in the D.A,R. records. A son, so signified, over 16 years, or born circa 1781-1782, based on the exact age of the next named child.
2) Mary Johnston, born Nov. 1, 1783 (D.A.R.). At the time of her birth the family was still living in Virginia.
3) James Johnston, born June 19, 1785.
4) John Johnston, born May 5, 1787. He was born the same year his father Noble appeared on the 1787 Tax List of Washington County, Virginia. John Johnston, or Johnson, married Elizabeth Alloway Strange Apr. 15, 1807 (D.A.R. ). John Johnson was an original member of Mills River Methodist church in 1826. The church at that time was in Buncombe County, but the place became Henderson county in 1838.
John Johnson was also one of the trustees of Mills River Academy in 1829. In Aug. 1841, John Johnson and James Brittain conveyed land to the county court to be used as the town site for Hendersonville, North Carolina. John Johnson, Hendersonville's founding father, died Nov. 15, 1848. Wife Elizabeth died Jul. 29, 1856. They were buried in Mills River Methodist Church Cemetery.
Additional information on this family is found in the Henderson
County, North Carolina Heritage Book, Volume 1, article 261. Elizabeth
was a daughter of Aurelleus Alloway Strange and wife Mary Anne
Moore. Aurelleus was a son of Edmund A. Strange who was born in
Scotland, according to article 261.
5) Fanny Johnston, born Oct. 13, 1789, died young May 17, 1796.
6) Daughter, born circa 1790?, or was she the oldest child?, reflected in the 1790 Census of Pendleton County, S.C. If she was the oldest she could have been born as early as 1780.
7) Waitstill Johnston, born Nov. 25, 1793 in South Carolina. The "Nashville Christian Advocate", reported Feb. 16, 1849, Waitstill MeCarson, nee Johnston, born in S.C., moved with parents to N.C., where she married William McCarson in 1812, moved to Ala., then to DeSoto Co. Miss. in 1934. She died there Dec. 22, 1848 age 55.
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James Johnston was born Jan. 16, 1761 in Limerick, Ireland. The highlights and hardships of his remarkable life have been preserved in his surviving obituary originally printed by the "Carolina Baptist" of Hendersonville, North Carolina in 1852. His obituary and that of his wife are reproduced in the book, "The Garners and Allied Lines", by Stewart.
James Johnston came to Virginia as a boy with his parents about 1769. The family settled in the region that would become Rockbridge County. James and eldest brother Noble Johnston moved to Henry County, Virginia, where they appear on the 1779 Tax List.
During the Revolution, James Johnston enlisted in the 2nd Virginia Regiment. His military pension file W7935 provide additional details of his service and activities after the war. James Johnston was in the battles of Camden, South Carolina, fought Aug. 16, 1780, where he received "a musket ball, through the thigh", and Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina, fought Mar. 15, 1781. At the battle of Eutaw Springs, South Carolina he was captured by British troops on Sept. 8, 1781.
James Johnston was carted off to Charleston, then called Charles Town, which had been in British control since May 1780. Confined in chains on board a prison ship off Charleston harbor, he endured great deprivation for over thirteen months. He said in his pension application many years later that his exposure to heat and cold caused a partial hearing loss. James Johnston was finally released about Oct. 1782.
He made his way back to Virginia to regain his health. About 1791 he moved to South Carolina. There he married Ann Cole in Greenville County on Jul. 22, 1791, according to pension file W7935 ("Declaration for Widow").
Only two days earlier on Jul. 20, 1791, brother Noble Johnston bought land on Georges Creek of Saluda River in nearby Pendleton District. James wife, Ann Cole Johnson, was believed to be a daughter of Hugh Cole of New England and his wife Sarah Bishop (see Cole section.
The Cole family had migrated from New York State to Washington County, Virginia by 1774, but Hugh Cole arrived later. Noble Johnston, as previously mentioned, was acquainted with Hugh Cole's brothers in Washington County, as indicated by the tax list after the war.
Ann Johnson, nee Cole, was born Jan, 5, 1772 in the State of New York according to her obituary. The family later moved to Virginia then to South Carolina. In 1792 while still in South Carolina, James and Ann Johnson joined the Methodist Church under the ministry of Tobias Gibson. In 1798 they moved to a branch of Shaws Creek in Buncombe County, North Carolina. The place is today Henderson County. Their cabin was located at what is now the junction of Highway 64/74 and "Old Homestead Road".
The cabin of brother Noble Johnson was nearby, closer to what is now the junction of "Campground Road" and Broyles Road. Noble died sometime after the 1800 census and was buried near his house. A year years later James Johnson and wife Ann helped to establish a Methodist Campground near brother Noble's grave. This would later grow into the Shaws Creek Methodist Church and cemetery.
According to Ann's obituary they were Methodists "....at the time when Methodism was unpopular with the world".
There are two versions of James Johnstons obituary. The one printed by the "Carolina Baptist", which is shorter, and spells the surname "Johnston", with the "t" and the one published in the book, "The Garners and Allied Lines", by Stewart of Huntsville, Alabama.
The account in the Garner book is longer, spells "Johnson" with no "t", and contains an additional story of James nearly attempting escape from the prison ship. James, with some of his comrades were ready to jump over-board and try to swim ashore when the moment was right. Just as they were about to leap, they noticed a dead compatriot floating in the water near the ship, who had jumped a few nights before. The body had drifted back. This sad scene dashed their hopes of escape. According to the obituary the distance from ship to shore was about a three mile swim in the ocean. This would be arduous and dangerous even for a strong, healthy, expert swimmer.
Johnson, in all probability, was emaciated and his general health much degraded. But fate would intervene.
Had James Johnson jumped over-board that night, he never would have met Ann Cole, never would have lived in Henderson County, and there never would have been a Shaws Creek Methodist Church and cemetery. History would have went in another direction.
James Johnson in his later years would become a Methodist theologian. He died Jul. 2, 1852 at age 91. Wife Ann died Jan. 25, 1857, age 85. Both were buried in Shaw's Creek Methodist cemetery now at the junction of Broyles Road and Campground Road in Henderson County, North Carolina. Descendant Betty O' Brien of Greer, South Carolina has beautified their gravesite with fencing and Supplemental markers.
The Rev. James H. Reese of Macon, Georgia; a grandson of James Johnson, wrote a brief sketch of his family history in 1861, This paper in its entirety is located at the Henderson County Genealogical & Historical Society, presently in downtown Hendersonville, North Carolina.
This he wrote about James Johnson,
"He was a model man"
"As a Christian, he was not excelled"
"The immortal James Johnson"...That never in all the earth has he met
with a man he considered quite his equal"
The children of James Johnson and wife Ann are given in the Johnson Bible record, which was included in the pension file W7935, Ann's 1857 death notice, and the Reese autobiography (May 1861). They were:
1 ) Hugh Johnson, believed to have been named after his heroic grand father Hugh Cole who died in the Revolution. The tombstone of Hugh Johnson says he was born Jul. 29, 1793, but, the family Bible gives his date of birth as Jul. 29, 1794.
Hugh Johnson married Sarah Lane Bradley who was born Jan. 22, 1793" Her gravestone reads in part, "wife of Capt. Hugh Johnson". He was a veteran of the War of 1812, serving in the Buncombe County First Regiment according to the book, "Soldiers of the War of 1812: North Carolina". The Rev. Reese wrote of Hugh Johnson and his wife, "he has been a substantial citizen of his country"..."He had a sweet' kind and an affectionate disposition." Wife Sarah, "a deeply pious woman". Their house was located at what is today the junction of Highway 64/74 and Banner Farm Road. Sarah died Feb. 7, 1868. Hugh died June 8, 1876. Both are buried in Shaw's Creek Methodist Church cemetery.
2) Sarah Johnson, believed to have been named after her grandmother Sarah Bishop Cole, the Bible gives her date of birth as Feb. 16, 1796. She married Andrew McBrayer.
The Rev. Reese wrote that Sarah was "a woman of good intelligence". She later joined the Baptist Church. Reese also wrote that Mr. McBryer was "a very clever man". They moved to Alabama.
3) Uranah Johnson, believed to have been named after her grand aunt Uranah or Urania Cole Rounds who' moved to Vermont ("The Descendants of James Cole of Plymouth 1633", by Cole, 1908). The Bible record gives her birthdate as Dec. 27, 1797. She married Charles Greer who was born Jan. 27, 1791. Uranah died Nov. 7, 1832 at age almost 35. Mr. Greer "made a great deal of money" according to Rev. Reese. His second wife was Sarah, born June, 1811. She died Aug. 18, 1870. Both wives were buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery on what is today old Kanuga Road in Henderson County, North Carolina. Sarah's tombstone reads, "safe at home".
Charles Greer died Dec. 17, 1878 and was buried near his two wives. His tombstone reads, "In God we trust". The original tombstones are in very bad condition, especially the tombstone of Uranah, which is virtually illegible.
4) James Johnson, Jr., born Jan. 22, 1798 according to the Bible record. He married first Rixey Davidson. She died and he later married a "deeply pious woman whose name was Susan. He seems to have had a problem with alcohol after the death of his first wife. Rev. Reese wrote that James Johnson was "a man of good business talent and quite a gentleman". He joined the Methodist church in 1849, but died Ju1. 5, 1854 at age 56. He was buried in Shaw's Creek Methodist cemetery. Wife Susan lived until Feb. 12, 1885. Her age at death was 79. Susan was married three times, and her original tombstone at Shaws Creek Methodist cemetery names all three husbands, the first H. Franklin, the second, James Johnson, Jr., and the third John Fletcher. It is noteworthy that Susan chose to be buried next to her second husband James Johnson' Jr.
5) Malinda Johnson, was born May 29, 1800 according to the Bible record. She married the Rev. John B. Reese Sept. 12, 1826. He was born in South Carolina Feb. 24, 1801, and raised in Newberry County. Malinda "became an extensive reader in Methodist theology" her son wrote. They later moved to Georgia. John Reese died Nov. 28, 1875. Wife Malinda died Oct. 9, 1882. Both were buried in Level Creek Methodist cemetery near Suwanee, Georgia in Gwinnett County.
6) Ann Johnson, born Nov. 25, 1802. She married the despotic James Osborn (see Osborn section). They moved to Union County, Georgia in a part that became Towns County. Ann died sometime after the 1870 census. The extant family pages from the Johnson Bible did not include death dates"
7) Joseph Johnson, believed to have been named after his great grandfather the elder Joseph Cole. He was born Feb. 2, 1805 according to the Bible record. The Rev. Reese included Josephs obituary in the family sketch which reads in part, "a kind father and a devoted husband", and, an acceptable member of the Methodist church". He married Nancy Edwards, "a meek unassuming Christian". They moved to Alabama. Joseph Johnson died Aug. 9, 1855. Wife Nancy, who was born Jul, 16, 1806, died Jul. 12, 1881. Both were buried in Bethany cemetery near Reece City in Etowah County, Alabama. Their original tombstones at this time are still standing.
8) Noble Johnson named after his uncle Noble Johnson, was born April 26, 1807 according to the Bible record. Rev. Reese wrote "He was always a very quiet and harmless man." Noble Johnson married Charlotte "Lottie" Edwards, who was born Nov. 8, 1810. She was "a kind hearted woman". Lottie died Feb. 15, 1892. Noble seems to have had the longest life of all the children, passing away at age 89, on Mar. 9, 1896.
9)His sister Sarah Johnson McBryer, passed away 6 Mar 1871 and both her and her husband, are buried at Liberty Cemetery, St. Clair, Alabama. Noble and wife Lottie were buried in Shaws Creek Methodist cemetery.
10) Mary Johnson, the writer's great great great grandmother, was born Aug. 11, 1810 according to the Bible record. She married the Rev. Nicholas R. Osborn, a Baptist minister. They later moved to Gilmer County, Georgia (see Osborn section). The Rev. Reese wrote of them, "She is a burning and a shining light in the Missionary Baptist Church." And, "in 1830, she was married to Nicholas Osborn, who is much of a gentleman, and has made quite a large property." For more information on this Johnson family the reader is referred to the book, "The Garners and Allied Lines", by Lucy
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