Thomas Johnston
Honor Code SignatorySigned 22 Nov 2020 | 2,192 contributions | 32 thank-yous | 76 connections
Signed 22 Nov 2020 | 2,192 contributions | 32 thank-yous | 76 connections
My Kingdom for a Horse.
The theft of a horse by a band of Border reivers led to the Battle of Dryfe Sands, the disbandment of the border reivers and their banishment to the colonies by King James VI of Scotland after he became King James I of England and Ireland in 1603. The kingdom was united, and all for the theft of a horse!
- theauthorsshow #authors #books #readabook @theauthorsshow #bookstagram
https://thomasmarkjohnston.com/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Kingdom-Horse-Thomas-Johnston-ebook/dp/B0BP42Z2K2/ref=sr_1_5?crid=7N6XHRTCYPPB&keywords=my kingdom for a horse&qid=1670322189&sprefix=my kingdom for a hors,aps,781&sr=8-5
tested
Mr Thomas M. Johnston
Born 1970s.
Ancestors 
Son of James Johnston
and [private mother (1930s - unknown)]
Brother of
[private brother (1950s - unknown)], [private sister (1950s - unknown)], [private brother (1950s - unknown)], [private brother (1950s - unknown)], Ann (Johnston) Cassidy, [private brother (1950s - unknown)], [private brother (1960s - unknown)], [private brother (1960s - unknown)], [private brother (1960s - unknown)] and Maria (Johnston) Ayre
[children unknown]
Profile last modified
| Created 15 Nov 2020
This page has been accessed 3,133 times.
Contents
Introduction
The Ulster Plantation: Origins in Scotland
The exact origins of the Johnston family are complicated when one takes into account the large numbers of both Irish and Scottish septs who share the names Johnston and Johnson (36).
The Distribution of Families
The families of Johnstons may be divided into four groups. 1. The Johnstones of Annandale in Dumfrieshire. 2. The Johnstones of Westerraw, Lanarkshire, who in later times moved to Westerhall, in Dumfriesshire. 3. The Johnstons of Elphinstone, Haddingtonshire. 4. The Johnstons of Caskieben, Aberdeenshire. All Johnstons are descended from these four groups (43).
The Johnston and the Johnson families are linked because septs of the clan, such as the American dect simply dropped the 'T.' (32). However the Donegal, Fermanagh South Tyrone Johnstons were of the Scottish border reiver (border raider) family of that name.
In Scotland the Johnston name also has a number of origins. The city of Perth for instance was often called St Johnston and families took their name from that. Another was the lands of Jonystoun in East Lothian (2).
The Johnstones of Wamphray
My father, James (Jim) Johnston's (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Johnston-20609) favourite story was that we were descended from Scottish horse thieves who were given the choice to join in on the Ulster Plantations or face hanging in Scotland. This story is told in my book; 'My Kingdom for a Horse.' (1). There is the story of the Ane Black horse that five Johnstons of Wamphray stole. One got hung and the other four got away (38). The Battle of Dyfe Sands ensued, with the Johnstons and their constant allies, the Scotts, Grahams and Elliotts defeating the Maxwells and their allies, the Crichton, Douglass and Armstrong clan. They were also backed by royal troops. This was a decisive Johnston victory that ended 100 years of feuding (39). These could be the infamous horse thieves that got sent to the Ulster Plantations. The Johnstones of Wamphray were described as Barons of very poor rent (42). That, along with being branded outlaws and horse thieves probably put pressure on them to take part in the Ulster Plantations, just as my father always claimed. King James VI of Scotland, and I of England offered land to the Johnstons of Anandale in Ireland (51).
There is evidence pointing towards the Ulster Plantation clans being sheep Stealers from Northern England. (34). Either way, these clans are descended from the former Kingdom and Earldom of Northumbria, and this connection should be kept foremost in mind. The highland Scots call the Lowlanders Sasenach, which means the English. Sasenach probably comes from Saxon because the Kingdom of Northumbria was an Anglo-Saxon Kingdom, with the two main centres being Bamburgh in the now Northumberland and Edinburgh, capital of Scotland. This is why the Border Reivers (35) and thus the Johnstons were classed as Boernican (37) tribes. The Johnstones were a Boernican tribe long before they were a Scottish Clan, and Bernica was a northern province of Northumbria long before Lothian, Dumfries and Galloway were southern provinces of Scotland.
The Johnstones of Anandale
By far the largest and most important of these families were the Johnstons of Annandale in Dumfriesshire, one of the great riding clans of the Scottish Borders. It is this family, scattered by James VI of Scotland (James I of England) who are the source of most of the “true” Ulster Johnstons. Their ferocity (they were known as “The gentle Johnstons) made it possible for them together with their former fellow border reivers neighbours the Elliotts, the Grahams, Acotts and the Armstrongs, to survive the 1641 rebellion which drove out other more faint hearted families. (1). In 1587 an Act of Parliament under King James VI dissolved the border clans for lawlessness. Among these were the Johnstons and their allies, the Scotts,the Grahams and the Elliotts (33). They were sent to various colonies, Including Ulster and subsequently America.
"Within the bounds of Anandale the gentle Johnstones ride; they ha'e been here a thousand years, and a thousand more they'll bide.' Old Border Verse (51).
The Wider Johnston Family
The Johnston name has many spellings. On the family history search, it has changed spelling over the generations and centuries. What previously were thought to be separate branches are now believed to be interlinked. It has been noted that it has been spelled as it sounded and this led to the spelling differences. Not to mention the earlier De Johnstons, eg, Johnston-8731 Stephen (Johnston) de Johnston (9) and DeJOHNSTON-5 Gilbert DeJOHNSTON, (10), indicating a Norman Ancestry among others, including Viking (Northmen), and Anglo-Saxon (Northumbria). Variations of the name include; Ioannidis, Ioannou, Ivanenko, Ivanić, Ivanov, Ivanović, Ivanovski, Janavičius, Jānsons, Janowicz, JansenI, Jansons/Jansone, Janssen, Jensen, Johansson, Johns, Johnston, De Johnston, Johnstone, Jonavičius, Jonson, Jonsson, Jónsson, Johnsson, Jones, Jovanović, Mac Eoin, MacIain, Mac Seáin, McKeown, McKeon, McLachlan (8). This is testimony to the success and proliferation of the wider Johnston family.
Biography
I have had my surname spelled Johnson, Johnston and Johnstone during my life, and I believe these are all part of the wider Johnston family. I believe this is proof of the name changing because of the different ways it was pronounced by various people. If it can be spelled several different ways today, it surely could be spelled incorrectly centuries ago. Not to mention the Johnstones of Anandale adding an 'E' to differentiate themselves from the rest if the clan when they became Earl's and Marquis' of Anandale.
Main Life Events
◾1972 – Bloody Sunday occurs. Fourteen people are killed by the British Army. ◾1973 – The IRA start their bombing campaign in England. ◾1974 – The Irish National Liberation Army (Arm Saoirse Náisiúnta na hÉireann – INLA) is formed. ◾1974 – The Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) is founded. ◾1985 – The Anglo-Irish Agreement is signed. ◾1990 – Mary Robinson becomes first female President of Ireland. ◾1995 - Northern Ireland. East Tyrone. ◾1997 – Mary McAleese becomes President of Ireland. ◾1998 – The Good Friday Agreement is signed by Irish and UK governments ◾1998 – The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) is reformed into the Police Service of Northern Ireland (5). ◾1999 - Kosovo Conflict. (6). ◾2003 - Iraq War. ◾2004/5 - Northern Ireland. South Armagh. ◾2007 - South Africa CP Course. ◾2008/9 India, Mumbai and Hyderabad Risk Assessments in the wake of the Mumbai terror Attacks. ◾2007-2016 CP Team Member. ◾2016-2018 - Tideway Project. Zone Supervisor. ◾2018-2021 - Government Project. Area Lead Security Advisor.
Early Years
I was born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland in 1970. I was raised on a farm in Copany, with my seven brothers and three sisters. My first year at school was the last year of the schools of yesteryear, attending Tullynaught National School in 1974 (29, 30). I then attended the Glebe National School (7) and the Abbey Vocational School in Donegal Town (31). My earliest memories are of working on the farm, and taking part in numerous sporting activities with my brothers while growing up. This included starting Copany Rovers Football Club up to the point of joining the Donegal League in 1998 (4). This spelled the end of my fledgling footballing career as I wasn't good enough to get on the team and other social activities took over.
Early Career
After school I got a job in a factory, however my dream was to join the army. My military career started when I joined the Church Lads Brigade (Later Church Lads and Church Girls Brigade) as a boy in Laghy (16). This is when I learned drill, played sports and went camping for the first time. I always said that the CLB never got the recognition they deserved 🤣😎. This was based in and run by Laghy Church, which I am still part of despite living in the UK (20, 21). I joined the Irish Guards in 1995, leaving at the rank of Sergeant in 2007. The secrets of this service will told in good time (25).
Later Career
Afterwards, I got a job in close protection and executive protection (24). This involved providing security for Bank Executives and government officials. I also conducted risk assessments and site surveys worldwide. This culminated in conducting surveys in Hyderabad and Mumbai in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai Terror attacks. I moved into a role in security management as a Zone Supervisor in 2016, covering several sites across London for the Tideway Project (15). This moved to a Security Advisor role in 2018 and Area Lead Security Advisor in 2019, which is my current position on a major government infrastructure project. This is sensitive work and the details may be disclosed later in life (17, 18, 52).
Qualifications and Creative Writing
I completed a BTech Level 4 qualification in Site Survey and Design (22). I graduated with a degree in Security and Risk Management from the University of Leicester in 2018 (19, 23). I also attained a diploma in creative writing (26). I am a published author and an award winning writer (27, 28). I am currently researching the Johnston family tree and I have written a book called 'My Kingdom for a Horse.' (1)
Conclusion
The Johnston family has its origins leading to the Earl's of Northumberland (3). This is the link back to Earl Siward Bjornsson and Ealdorman Uthred 'The Bold' of Bebbenburg. This is also the case for the Clan Kirkpatrick (Kilpatrick) , who were also founded in the Dumfrieshire area of Lowland Scotland. There are striking similarities between their coats of arms to prove this link (14).
Sources
1. My Kingdom for a Horse by Thomas Mark Johnston, Available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Kingdom-Horse-Thomas-Johnston-ebook/dp/B0BP42Z2K2/ref=sr_1_5?crid=7N6XHRTCYPPB&keywords=my+kingdom+for+a+horse&qid=1670322189&sprefix=my+kingdom+for+a+hors%2Caps%2C781&sr=8-5
2. Origins in Ulster :Scottish Plantation. Johnston. Ulster Ancestry. http://www.ulsterancestry.com/free/ShowFreePage-42.html#gsc.tab=0 (Accessed 22 December 2020).
3. Google. Johnston Origins, Earl's of Northumberland. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.houseofnames.com/amp/johnston-family-crest (Accessed 21 December 2020).
4. Copany Rovers, Celebrating 25 Years in the Donegal League. 2013. Page 10.
5. Your Irish Culture. 20th Century Ireland. https://www.yourirish.com/history/20th-century/20th-century-irish-history accessed 23 December 2020).
6. The Irish Guards in Kosovo 1999. Page 11.
7. Glebe National School Reunion. With Donegal, Killymard, Clar and Tullynaught Schools. Brown Printers, Letterkenny. Page 91.
8. Wikipedia. Johnson. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson (accessed 25 December 2020).
9. Stephen Johnston De Johnston. Wiki Tree Profile. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Johnston-8731 (accessed 25 December 2020).
10. Gilbert DeJOHNSTON. Wiki Tree Profile. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/DeJOHNSTON-5 (accessed 25 December 2020).
11. Siward Bjornsson (Northumbria) of Northumbria. Wiki Tree Profile. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Northumbria-1 (accessed 25 December 2020).
12. Uhtred (Northumbria) of Northumbria. Wiki Tree Profile. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Northumbria-2 (accessed 25 December 2020).
13. The Scots in Ulster. Matheson's Special Report. http://www.ancestryireland.com/scotsinulster/Case Studies/Key Names.php?name=Johnston (accessed 25 December 2020).
14. Clan Kirkpatrick. Wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Kirkpatrick (accessed 27 December 2020).
15. Tideway Paper. The Tributary. Kirtling Street Hub Site, 9 Elms Road, Vauxhall, Central Zone. 2017.
16. Church Lads and Church Girls Brigade. Wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_Lads%27_and_Church_Girls%27_Brigade (accessed 27 December 2020).
17. LinkedIn Profile. Thomas Mark Johnston. https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-mark-johnston-msyi-7820a376 (added 27 December 2020).
18. FaceBook Profile. https://www.facebook.com/thomas.m.johnston (added 28 December 2020).
19. University of Leicester. Degree Congregations 25-26 January 2018. Page 36.
20. The Legacy That is Laghy Community and Church. Paperback.
21. The Legacy That is Laghy Community and Church. http://donegalgenealogy.com/mgraham.htm (accessed 28 December 2020).
22. ARC Training. International Academy for Security Management. The Security Surveying and Design Course. 01 May 2009. (BTech Level 4 Equivalent).
23. FdA Security and Risk Managemnet. University of Leicester 26 January 2018.
24. City & Guilds. Level 3 Certificate in Close Protection. January 2007. ( Army Resettlement Course).
25. Discharge Paperwork. Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency. Kentigern House, 65 Brown Street, Glasgow, G2 8EX. 16 May 2007. 25039688 Sgt Johnston. Certificate of Discharge and Transfer to the Reserve 15/02/07.
26. Creative Writing Diploma. Writers Bureau. 17 July 2013.
27. Warriors. Trafford Publishing, 2007. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Warriors-Thomas-Mark-Johnston/dp/1425124291/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549027553&sr=1-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=thomas+mark+johnston&dpPl=1&dpID=51FMdPMXuLL&ref=plSrch
28. The Picture of Health, Amazon, 2018. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MGP2Y1H/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1545601113&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=thomas+mark+johnston&dpPl=1&dpID=41mt0rVanZL&ref=plSrch
29. Ulster Ancestry. Tullynaught National School. Boys Register 1956-1975. http://www.ulsterancestry.com/free/ShowFreePage-178.html#gsc.tab=0 (accessed 27 December 2020).
30. Schools of Yesteryear.
31. Abbey Vocational School Class of 87 Reunion in the Abbey Hotel. Donegal Post. Wednesday 09 January 2008. Page 51.
32. Gregory R. Johnson. A Scots-Irish Journey. Johnson / Johnston Family Roots. GRJ Publishing. 2016.
33. House of Names. Dissolution of the Border Clans. https://www.houseofnames.com/blogs/border-clans-dissolutionResearch Notes== (accessed 30 December 2020).
34. Bell, R. 1994. Sheep Stealers from the North of England: The Riding Clans in Ulster. History Ireland. Published in 20th Century Social Perspectives, Early Modern History (1500–1700), Features, Gaelic Ireland, Issue 4 (Winter 1994), Volume 2 https://www.historyireland.com/early-modern-history-1500-1700/sheep-stealers-from-the-north-of-england-the-riding-clans-in-ulster-by-robert-bell/ (accessed 30 December 2020).
35. Border Reivers. Wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_reivers (accessed 31 Dwcember 2020).
36. History of Clan Johnston. http://www.johnston.org.nz/historystd.htm (accessed 31 December 2020).
37. House of Names. Scotland: The Boernicans. https://www.houseofnames.com/blogs/Boernicians (accessed 31 Secember 2020).
38. The Theft of the Ane Black Horse. https://www.scotclans.com/the-maxwell-johnstone-feud-the-theft-of-ane-black-horse-and-the-aftermath/#comment-156629 (accessed 31 December 2020).
39. The Battle of Dryfe Sands. Wikipedia. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dryfe_Sands (accessed 01 January 2020).
40. The Scots Peerage : Founded On Wood's Ed. Of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage Of Scotland; Containing An Historical And Genealogical Account Of The Nobility Of That Kingdom : Paul, James Balfour, Sir, 1846-1931 : Free Download, Borrow, And Streaming : Internet Archive". Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun01pauluoft/page/258/mode/2up (accessed 03 January 2020).
41. The Theft of the Ane Black Horse. https://www.scotclans.com/the-maxwell-johnstone-feud-the-theft-of-ane-black-horse-and-the-aftermath/#comment-156629 (accessed 03 December 2021).
42. Johnston, CL. http://www.electricscotland.com/history/dumfries/chapter8.htm (accessed 08 January 2021).
43. Full text of "The heraldry of the Johnstons : with notes on the different families, their arms and pedigrees" Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from National Library of Scotland. https://archive.org/stream/heraldryofjohnst1905john/heraldryofjohnst1905john_djvu.txt (accessed on 09 January 2021).
44. Google Images. The First Johnstons. https://www.google.com/search?q=Gilbert+Johnstone+of+Elphinstone&client=ms-android-samsung-gj-rev1&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOPgE-LVT9c3NMywNKgwL083UYJw0wotLMyNK5O0JLOTrfQLUvMLclKBVFFxfp5VQWJRal5J8SJWBffMnKTUohIFr_yMvOKS_LxUhfw0BdecgoxMCHcHKyMAyoSZWWEAAAA&prmd=nmiv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjSjbis4pTuAhUMXsAKHU05B6YQ_AUoA3oECAUQAw&biw=412&bih=732&dpr=1.75#imgrc=0Tcpc_UaHqYS-M (accessed 11 January 2021).
45. Google Images. The Johnstons of Elphinstone. https://www.google.com/search?q=Gilbert+Johnstone+of+Elphinstone&client=ms-android-samsung-gj-rev1&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOPgE-LVT9c3NMywNKgwL083UYJw0wotLMyNK5O0JLOTrfQLUvMLclKBVFFxfp5VQWJRal5J8SJWBffMnKTUohIFr_yMvOKS_LxUhfw0BdecgoxMCHcHKyMAyoSZWWEAAAA&prmd=nmiv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjSjbis4pTuAhUMXsAKHU05B6YQ_AUoA3oECAUQAw&biw=412&bih=732&dpr=1.75#imgrc=NE5roY9-7K89PM (accessed 16 January 2021).
46. Joseph Bain, ed, Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland Preserved in Her Majesty's Public Record Office, London. (Edinburgh: H M General Register House, 1881), I:3, Digital Image Internet Archive (https://archive.org/stream/calendarofdocume01edin#page/2/mode/2up (accessed 17 January 2021).
47. Uctred, Lord of Tyndale. https://www.geni.com/people/Uchtred-Lord-of-Tynedale/6000000003243429224 (accessed 17 January 2021).
48. Wikipedians, (n.d.). City of Sheffield (Part 1 of 3, pp.66). Pedia Press. Google Books. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=PCEKGAoMuL0C&lpg=PA66&dq=Uchtred+(Uchtred)+"of+Tynedale"&pg=PA66&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Uchtred (Uchtred) "of Tynedale"&f=false (Accessed 17 January 2021).
49. Wikipedians, (n.d.). City of Sheffield (Part 1 of 3, pp.74). Pedia Press. Google Books. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=PCEKGAoMuL0C&lpg=PA66&dq=Uchtred+(Uchtred)+"of+Tynedale"&pg=PA66&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Uchtred (Uchtred) "of Tynedale"&f=false (Accessed 17 January 2021).
50. Wikipedia. Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria. https://www.google.com/search?q=waltheof&client=ms-android-samsung-gj-rev1&prmd=nimv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi96-6796PuAhVJQMAKHZPsAz8Q_AUoAnoECBwQAg&biw=412&bih=732&dpr=1.75#imgrc=PgUdWIYloiUGXM (accessed 17 January 2021).
51. Old Border Verse. Glenavy History. http://glenavyhistory.com/books/history-of-the-johnstone-family/ (accessed 21 January 2021).
52. Bowker. C. Secret Agent Skills, Book 1, Personal Protection Guide to Safe Guard You and Your Family. SolutionBooks4U. Page 160. (Accessed 03 February 2021 from https://lnkd.in/ddx2h7B).
Research Notes
My aim is to find a direct link back as far as I can. There are gaps in my family history. I would like to find the link between my family and the early Johnston settlers in Donegal in the 1600's. I also need to confirm their origins back to Scotland. Possibly Matheson's Special Report (13) may provide some answers. There is now strong evidence that the Donegal Johnstons are descended from the Johnstones of Anandale (40). They were sent to the Ulster Plantations after the Wamfrey incident with 'The Theft of the Ane Black Horse (41).'
The ultimate aim is to find the link back to Northumbria-1 Siward Bjornsson (Northumbria) of Northumbria (11) and Northumbria-2 Uhtred (Northumbria) of Northumbria (12).
Siward, Earl of Northumbria and his son, Waltheof of Northumbria are both on Wikipedia. Waltheof is shown as having three children. Two daughters, Maud and Alice, however the third is not mentioned. Uctred (FitzWaltheof) is proven to be a son of Waltheof (Walleof) (46). Further research is needed to find out why his sisters inherited and not him. It also needs to be ascertained why Uctred seems to be largely written out of history.
The main contenders for the Scottish throne, the Balliols, Comyns and Robert the Bruce, were all descendants of Waltheof's daughters. John Johnston was descended from Waltheof's son Uctred, however he supported Robert the Bruce and was rewarded with lands and titles for doing so. Could this be because he had a strong and maybe even stronger claim to the throne than Robert the Bruce? He would not have been given these lands without good reason.
Uctred FitzWaltheof married Bethoc Dunkeld, the only daughter of Donald III, 'Bane,' King of the Scots Donald (Donald III) "Ban, King of Scots" of Scotland formerly Dunkeld aka FitzDuncan Dunkeld-58. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Dunkeld-58. Some sources put this as Uctred of Tyndale (47). I believe these two men are the same person as southern Scotland was also part of Northumbria and it was at this time that Northumbria was split between England and Scotland. There is sufficient evidence to prove Uctred of Tyndale was the son of Waltheof of Northumbria and Judith of Lens (48).
There were numerous revolts by the Earl's of Northumbria, namely Waltheof. Judith of Lens betrayed her husband to her uncle, William the Conquerir and Waltheof was beheaded. Judith refused to marry Simon of Denis and had to flee the wrath of William, who confiscated her estates as a result. This would account for Uchtred not inheriting as the lands were forfeit (49). It would have been much easier to pacify the region when it was split between England and Scotand and William took the opportunity to do just that.
However the region was not fully brought under control until the unification of England and Scotland under King James VI of Scotland, who became King James I of England in 1603 and the border clans being disbanded and sent to the Ulster Plantation. The lands given to the king of Scotland are called the Honour of Huntingdon, or the Honour of Northumbria. This was the systematic conquering and destruction of the Kingdom of Northumbria, which was finally completed in the 17th Centurry with my ancestors being sent to the Ulster Plantation.
The answer to why John Johnston/e supported Robert the Bruce probably lies with the fact that the Bruce family systematically wiped out the Comyns and the Balliols. The Johnstons not only survived, but thrived because they supported Robert the Bruce. A price worth paying in my eyes, and a sound decision was made by my ancestors.
Uctred's son, John FitzUctred needs to be proven and the Link to John Johnston/e, the first Johnston also needs to be proven. If this is done, then the Johnstons will have a direct link back to the Earl's and previous Kings of Northumbria. Not to mention the Kings of Scotland.
The information I have is incomplete and I invite Wiki Genealogists to add any information they might be able to find.
Only the Trusted List can access the following:
- Thomas's formal name
- full middle name (M.)
- e-mail address
- exact birthdate
- birth location
- images (13)
- private siblings' names
DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships. Paternal line Y-chromosome DNA test-takers:
It may be possible to confirm family relationships. Paternal line Y-chromosome DNA test-takers:
- Thomas Johnston: Family Tree DNA Y-DNA Test 700 markers, haplogroup R-FGC34569, FTDNA kit #IN09878
Featured German connections: Thomas is 24 degrees from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 27 degrees from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 28 degrees from Lucas Cranach, 25 degrees from Stefanie Graf, 27 degrees from Wilhelm Grimm, 27 degrees from Fanny Hensel, 29 degrees from Theodor Heuss, 19 degrees from Alexander Mack, 38 degrees from Carl Miele, 23 degrees from Nathan Rothschild, 26 degrees from Hermann Friedrich Albert von Ihering and 25 degrees from Ferdinand von Zeppelin on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.
It’s time for our annual Ireland Project check-in! Please respond within the next two weeks to let me know:
Please respond to this message by posting a reply below or sending me a private message on WikiTree. If we don’t hear from you within two weeks, we will assume you are no longer interested in participating in the Ireland Project, and your badge will be removed. If you wish to reapply for membership later, we will be happy to have you back. Many thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you!
Sincerely,
Jen Hutton, on behalf of the Ireland Project
edited by Thomas Johnston
Thanks for work on pre-1700 profiles like Robert Johnston (abt.1608-abt.1668).
I see that for several, the dates are estimated and you have changed the birth and death dates to be a few years later.
For these profiles, it would be helpful if you would explain your rationale for the estimate in a = = Research Notes = = section above the sources section. This way, anyone following after you can understand your thinking and reproduce your thought process. It is also helpful when dates are estimated and you explain why in the research notes to also add at the top a { {Estimated Date|Birth}} or { {Estimated Date|Birth and Death}}, etc. at the top of the profile to point out the estimation and their being a rationale in the research notes.
Let me know if you have any questions about this.
Thanks.
-William
This is a work in progress. I have estimated these dates from the 1630/1 Donegal Muster Rolls. They would have been in their prime then so they would have been born circa 1600-1605.
These are all a work in progress and I actively invite anybody to find out more information about these men. I still need to make the connection from them to the present day Donegal Johnstons.
I would love to find the immigration records and any other records relating to these men and their descendants. Please let me know if you find anything or even edit these profiles yourself because the evidence is hard to find.
Regards, Thomas
E.g., = = Research Notes = =
The birth is estimated from their presence in the 1630/31 Donegal Muster Rolls which suggests they were aged 25-30 at the time and thus born between 1600 and 1606.
I'm sorry I don't have any sources to add at this point, but would encourage you to make sure the 1630/31 Donegal Muster Rolls source is included on each one in case any are missing it.
edited by William Foster Jr
I am putting more meat on the bones of these early Johnston Donegal settlers now. I am concentrating on James and John Johnston because I believe they are the most likely candidates to be my ancestors. I still don't have any references for birth and death dates. And to be honest, I dont think I will ever get this information because the sources are few and far between.
Most of the information is from historical sources that gives a lot of perspective into their lives. And quite frankly, if James was born in 1580 or 1590, and whether John was born in 1600 or 1610, it makes little difference to the story of the Ulster Plantation.
I hope you are happy with what I have done with the information, and please feel free to make any further suggestions you might have.
Merry Christmas. Thomas
I made some formatting changes to his profile to standardize it a bit. Let me know if you have any questions on that.
Merry Christmas to you too.
-William
As you have been a member of WikiTree for a few weeks now, I thought I would check in to see how you are getting on with the site.
Has the New Member How-To been helpful, or left you with any questions?
I am here to help with any problems or queries you may have. To contact me, log into WikiTree, and go to your profile. Use the ‘Reply’ link below my comment so that I will be notified. Alternatively, you can click my name to visit my profile, where you can send a private message, or post a comment on my profile page.
Laura ~ WikiTree Greeter
I am currently trying to make the connection to Scotland. If I need to make a connection change, how do I do that.for instance, I have found four Johnstons on Donegal on the 1630 Muster Rolls. I am not sure which one is my ancestor. How do I delete the ones I have eliminated? Tom
We do not delete profiles, but if you are connected to the incorrect ancestor then you can detach them. Then you can attach the correct ancestor. To do this for example if it is the incorrect parent, go to the child's profile and go into the 'Edit' tab. On the right, you will see the connected family members and there is replace/remove under their name, click that. On the next page if both parents are incorrect scroll to the bottom and make sure that the other parent's name is unchecked also.
To add the correct parent if the profile already exists on WikTree get their Wiki ID (yours is Johnston-20584). In Edit click the add/remove or replace/remove for the parents you are adding and click it again. This time if you have a Wiki ID paste it in the top box and click 'Go' and that will connect them. If the profile does not exist then you will have to create it. Watch for possible matches that show up when creating a profile so that you do not create a duplicate. If it exists just attach it.
If I have not explained that well, or you have any other questions let me know. :)
Laura
I will keep that in mind. I am seeking several sources for each of the profiles that I have created and my aim is to verify each one fully. I will remove and change as the information that I receive from each source changes.
Thanks again.
Regards, Tom
Thanks for taking the Pre-1700 Quiz!
Pre-1700 ancestors can be shared by many descendants, so collaboration is essential. You can learn more about joining the community in How To #3 and in the Project FAQ.
The Ireland Project may fit your research focus. If not, use the Pre-1700 Projects list to find other possibilities. Review the project page to learn about resources and guidelines as well as how to collaborate with the project members.
Have questions? Ask in the comments section of my profile.
Remember to cite reliable sources in pre-1700 profiles you manage, or edit. (See: Pre-1700 Reliable Sources).
Ginny ~ Pre-1700 Greeter
I will be in touch.
Regards Tom
I read your Communication Preferences. My goodness, you've been a busy person! We're glad to have you here. I wish you luck with the far distant research. I've got some of those - links back to Frankish ancestors and such - and please do add the stories, but put them under research notes so that people don't think they are 100% based on historical records and start sharing them as facts.
The reason I'm here is to thank you for signing the Honor Code! I appreciate your commitment to working with fellow WikiTreers and being as thorough and honest as possible with the profiles under your care.
If you have questions about how WikiTree works, let me know and I will try to find answers. This can sometimes take a little time, so please be patient. Just log into WikiTree and go to your profile. Use the ‘Reply’ link below my comment. Alternatively, click my name, then ask in the comment section of my profile page, or send me a private message.
:)
Claire ~ WikiGreeter
I am only seeing several messages now. I am going to enjoy this journey to find my ancestors. I joined this after a Google search for Uthred of Bebbenburg and found the first Johnston. I really hope that Wiki Tree is correct and I am his descendant. That would be fantastic.
Regards, Tom
I would suggest starting with New Member How-to pages which may save you a lot of time and frustration.
Be sure to ask questions in our very active G2G forum. You can get involved as much or as little as works for you. Check out the tabs at the very top right hand side of your profile, there is lots to discover!
To contact me, log in to WikiTree and go to your profile. Use the ‘Reply’ link below my comment to be sure that I will be notified. You can also click my name to send a private message, or post a comment, on my profile page.
Enjoy the site!
Peggy Mac ~ WikiTree Greeter
I am so glad to find Wiki Tree. I have found links between the first Johnstons and a Viling Earl called Siward Bjornsson. He killed MacBeth and is mentioned in Shakespeare's play. Now my mission is to trace my family tree back to him.
Regards, Thomas
Peggy Mac - WikiTree Greeter
This is just a note to say hi and to let you know that I'm available to answer questions about WikiTree.
To contact me, please log in to WikiTree and go to your profile. Use the ‘Reply’ link below my comment to be sure I will be notified. You can also click my name to send a private message, or post a comment, on my profile page.
Peggy W ~ WikiTree Greeter
(AF | CS | DK | DE | ES | FI | FR | IT | NL | PT | RU | SV | UK | ZH)
I have made tentative links with my early Donegal ancestors and the Johnstons of Caskieben. The evidence connecting them is convincing, but circumstantial. My aim is to either confirm this connection or make other connections if there is evidence to the contrary. I will be in touch if I need to make changes.
Regards, Thomas