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From: "Sylvia Hight" <>
Subject: Re: [NCORANGE-L] William JOHNSTON Of Orange Co. NC
Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 16:14:28 EDT


Is this an ancestor to Zeno Johnson/Johnston, Sr. of Chatham Co.
area.

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: (MS LOUISE T OVERTON)
Date: Thu, 6 May 1999 10:44:41, -0500

>Will of William JOHNSTON, he describes himself as "the only son and heir of
Robert JOHNSTON, late of Harthwood in the Parish of Lochmabin and Shire of
Annadale". Dr C. Richard SANDERS goes on to describe him in his book on the
CAMERON Plantation as "a man of considerable wealth, important family and
social connections in the colony". Most of the facts that follow are
compiled from Dr SANDERS book.
JOHNSTON's affairs were varied, his relatives powerful. He represented
Hillsborough at the Provincial Congresses at Halifax in April and November
1776. He served as Commissioner for Hillsborough in 1777. He was financial
agent for the Transylvania Company headed by Richard HENDERSON, Samuel
JOHNSTON., an early Governor of North Carolina was his uncle. Through his
uncle's sister, JOHNSTON was connected by marriage to James IREDELL and the
McCULLOHS of Hillsborough. Gabriel JOHNSTON, colonial Governor in 1734, was
his great uncle.
JOHNSTON may have actually owned two plantations; one on Tyrell's Creek
some distance south of Hillsborough; another 15 miles northeast of
Hillsborough at Snow Hill on Little River. Snow Hill was the center of his
attention. Here on the Great Indian Trading Path, he and Richard BENNEHAN
operated a store well stocked with goods ranging from books to bonnets. He
may have run a foundry for he was authorized to manufacture arms and
ammunition. Here it is said that Daniel BOONE worked for a month for board
and lodging and that the Transylvania Company was outfitted for the
exploration into Tennessee and Kentucky.
On 3 May 1785 William JOHNSTON died and was buried with his wife Ann and
children on the ridge overlooking the wide pastoral valley of the Little River.
After JOHNSTON's death in 1785, his only surviving child Amelia
disappointed the BENNEHAN's by eloping with Walter ALVES, son of James
HOGG, thereby thwarting marriage plans that would have consolidated the
JOHNSTON and BENNEHAN fortunes. The HOGGS were also well-to-do and this
marriage of the heart was not imprudent.
Amongst other lands, Amelia and Walter ALVES owned the 100 acre mill
tract at the SENNETT Hole on the Eno. They disposed of it in 1791. Then
around 1800, they crossed over to Amelia's inheritance in Kentucky where
descendants continue to live.
JOHNSTON left a very long and detailed will in Orange County. In this
will he gives names of all sisters and brothers. He describes in detail the
cemetery where he is to be buried, and the number of children he has buried
there.
Sources:
The Cameron Plantations in Central North Carolina (1776-1973) and its
Founder Richard BENNEHAM, Durham, NC 1974
by C. Richard Sanders
Orange County, NC Original Land Grant Locational Map
by Allan Byron Markham Durham, NC
Tombstone: In the Memory of William JOHNSTON and Ann his wife. A worthy
pair. He died May the 3rd 1785. Ann died in 1769 Aged 48 years.
Erected by Walter and Amelia ALVES

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