VACULPEP-L Archives

From: "Joe Johnston" <>
Subject: [VACulpeper] William Johnston family and slaves
Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2002 12:52:35 -0500

While searching the Culpeper List archives, I noticed that there was some
interest in this family a few months ago. I can offer some information
about them in case that interest still exists. There is a long genealogical
footnote about them in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol.
XXXVIII (July, 1930), p. 244 ff, which is a good starting point, but ignore
the part about William's having been the son of the Marquis of
Annandale--that lordly William died in 1721. I don't know where the William
Johnston who married Ann Chew came from--possibly Scotland, possibly
Gloucester Co., Va.
William and Ann's children, according to the VMHB note, were:
1. Joseph, who died young.
2. ROBERT ( who was of interest in prior postings to this list) married,
first, Ann Cook and, second, Lucy Ann Overton. I don't remember seeing
anything about his marrying Peggy McClanahan.
3. Larkin, married Mary Rogers.
4. Judith, married Robert Farish.
5. John
6. Benjamin, married Dorothy Jones and eventually moved to what became
Louisville, Kentucky. One of their sons was the General George Washington
Johnston, asked about in a prior posting. "General" was his name (!), not
his rank.
7. James, married Mary Ware.
8. William, married, first, Ann Flint and, second Elizabeth Winn.
9. Hannah, married Francis Coleman, the son of William Johnston's third
wife, Elizabeth Wyatt Coleman.
10. Richard, who married, first, Dorothy Waller and, second, Ann Smith.
11. Elizabeth, married John Benger.
After Ann Chew's death, William married, in 1744, Betty Taylor, widow of
James Taylor. She bore William two daughters, Lettice and Sarah. After her
death, James Taylor's relatives, in 1749, sued William, probably over
whatever was left of James's estate. I haven't found out what became of the
two girls.
William married for the third time Elizabeth Wyatt Coleman, widow of Samuel
Coleman. They had two children, Philip and Catherine.
William Johnston was sheriff of Spotsylvania County in 1731 and was a member
of the House of Burgesses from Spotsylvania, 1736-40. He was a captain in
that county's militia. However, in later years he was a merchant in
Caroline County.
The only one of this family that I know lived in Culpeper County was William
and Ann's son, Richard. Richard's son, Richard Waller Johnston, was born at
Culpeper Court House, April 18, 1768, and baptized by Rev. John Thompson.
Surities were French and Lucy Strother, Hugh and Fanny Cruder, and Joel
Williams. Richard advertised in the Virginia Gazette, April 14, 1768, "a
scheme of a Lottery for disposing of a tract of Land, Slaves, &c . . .
intended to raise a sum of money to discharge my debts." He gave his
address as "Culpeper court-house." The land was in Spotsylvania and the
slaves were named John and Judy. In the Gazette, Sept. 21, 1769, still
living in Culpeper, Richard advertised for the return of a runaway convict
servant and "a Negro boy named Frank, about 13 years old."
I don't know how long Richard Johnston lived in Culpeper or whether he was
related to any of the other Johnstons who lived there. He married his
second wife in Louisa County in 1772 and their two children were born in
Caroline.
This has gone on 'way too long; I have more information about the family
that I can share and I would very much appreciate other information anyone
may have, especially about Richard's relationship, if any, to other Culpeper
Johnstons.
Kind Regards,
Joe Johnston
Dodge City, Kansas

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• [VACulpeper] William Johnston family and slaves by "Joe Johnston" <>