History of the Johnstones, 1191-1909, with ... - Electric Scotland

342 JOHNSTONS IN ORKNEY
Bart., of Highden, Sussex), and has issue— Hon. C. J. Johnston of Homewood )
Wellington, New Zealand ; and Hon. J. Johnston. This family claim descent
from that of Annandale through an Ayrshire branch.
Robert Mackenzie Johnston, Author, Tasmania.
S. Johnston of Ornu Whero, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.
Alexander James Johnston, Chief Justice of New Zealand for 1867 and
1886, and puisne Judge of the Supreme Court, New Zealand, was the eldest
son of James S. Johnston of Kinnellar, Aberdeenshire, where he was born 1820.
He was called to the Bar in the Middle Temple 1843, and, after serving as
Deputy Recorder of Leeds, went to New Zealand in 1859. There he was
noted for his quiet dignity during the Maori trouble, objecting to summary
trials by court-martial instead of by the ordinary tribunals. He died in
England in 1888.
The Johnstouns who appear in Orkney in 1677 claim to be a branch direct
from Annandale, but Alexander Johnstoun was a merchant in Wick in 1627,
pointing more to a descent from Caskieben.
Robert Johnstoun of Birsay flourished in 1677. His son, Richard, a
merchant in Stromness, died before 1707, having married, first, Helen Manson,
secondly, Marjorie Cursetter, by whom he had a son, John, born 1690, who,
as well as his father, bought several houses in Stromness and other small
estates. John died 1757. He married a Londoner, Marjorie Crafts, and of
their three sons only the eldest, Joshua, has male descendants.
Joshua Johnston of Outbrieks was a lawyer in Stromness, born 1720.
Married, 1749, Margaret Halcro, the heiress of Coubister. Their son, John,
married his first cousin, Jane, daughter of Dr Henry Taylor, of Quebec, and
his wife, Anne Johnston. He sold his father's property ; but of his four sons
only James left descendants. One of his five daughters married Captain
Nugent ; another, the Rev. W. Smith ; and Ann Matilda, the Rev. S. Stock,
Rector of Killanley, Ireland.
James, born 1798, died 1887, married Margaret, daughter of Lieutenant
James Robertson, R.N., and had: (1) James of Coubister and of Ophirhouse,
married Sarah Sophia, daughter
J. P. and Vice-Convener of Orkney, born 1846 ;
of the Rev. David Ferguson, and has James Halcro, born 1891, and four
daughters. (2) John Nugent, died 1901 ; married Jeanie Fergusson Johnston,
and left four children. (3) Charles Stewart Still, born March 1850; married
Elizabeth, daughter of General Gairdner, C.B., and has issue. (4) William, died
s.p. (5) Henry Halcro, Lieutenant-Colonel R.A.M.C, M.D., C.B., born 1856;
author of medical and other books. (6) Alfred, born 1859; married Amy Leslie.
(7) Ann. (8) Jane, married the Rev. John Steill.