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

16 THE JOHNSTOUNS OF ELPHINSTONE
the export of coal from Haddington was finally stopped by the Lords in
Council. As the home trade was overstocked, and the employers had to
support their men, misfortune overtook them. James is said to have moved
to Newmonkland, where he again farmed and mined for coal about 1693,
but except his traditional grave nothing more is known of him ; and in the
eighteenth century it was believed by the Marquis of Annandale and the
Johnstones of Westerhall that the descendants of the Baronets of Elphinstone
were extinct.
But this is not easily proved of the collaterals, particularly of those who
had mixed in the life of the neighbouring city. James Johnstoun of Elphinstone
left younger sons, one of whom, John, was probably the John Johnston who, in
Sept. 1567, received the clerkship of the Commissary of Edinburgh, "which
was given by the King's mother to Sebastian Denellourt, Frenchman, but
now taken from him because of his unfitness for the office, and because of
his holding of the same is against the treaty made by the said King's mother,
promising to give no such office to foreigners." In 1596 John Johnestoun,
Writer 1 to the Signet, was appointed to the clerkship of the Commissariat of
Edinburgh in succession to James Johnstoun (who was connected with Elphinstone).
John resigned the next year, 1597, when his eldest son, another James
Johnstoun, was appointed to the post.
In 1599 John Johnstoun of Elphinstone and others were " directed by the
Town Council of Edinburgh to make a perfect inventory of all the town evidents
(writs) being in the Charter House to put them in good order and to call in the
writs that are given forth or missing." In 1602 he was made Commissioner
" for taking order with all the town's affairs concerning the Kirk's livings within
and without this burgh."
This John Johnstoun's Will, dated at Prestonpans, near Elphinstone,
Oct.
John
31, 1607,
Ramsay.
1S witnessed by Samuel
Among his many debtors
Johnstoun of Elphinstone and
was the tutor of Borthwick, Mr
Mungo Rig of Carbery, Sir James Bannatyne of Brochtoun, Sir Robert Melvill,
Bessie Borthwick, relict of Mr Adam Johnstoun, Provost of Crichton, and James
Johnstoun, her son. Altogether he was owed £17,202, 3s. 8d., the amount
being confirmed by David Home of Godscroft, and the inventory was only
£696, 13s. 4d. He left no debts. His executors were his two sons-in-law
—Mr John Ker, Minister at Prestonpans, and Sir Robert Hamilton—and his
youngest daughter, Rachel. His son, John, is not mentioned except in a
decreet in 1613 with his sisters, Barbara, called of Elphinstone in 1635 (the
Rev. John Ker's wife), Janet, and Rachel.
John Johnstoun of Elphinstone, merchant in Edinburgh, appears in 1581.
He seems to have been Andrew Johnstoun's younger son, John, described as
"an indweller in Edinburgh," and father " of Jonathas" of Elphinstone, who was
at Douay College in 15S1, after being under a tutor at Seton.
1 There had been many political changes between 1567-96, and, as the Johnstouns warmly
embraced the cause of the Queen and fought at Langside, he was probably deprived of his
post and reappointed in 1596.