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

THE JOHNSTOUNS OF ELPHINSTONE 17
In 1587 there was a gift to Mr James Johnstoun and Martha Johnstoun,
their heirs, etc., of the escheat of the estate of James Johnstoun of Elphinstone,
now belonging to the King on account of the said James being denounced
a rebel since Nov. 28 for non-fulfilment of a contract with Robert
Richardson. This is followed six months later by an escheat of William
Bonar of Rossie being given to Robert Johnstoun, Elphinstone's son, for the
non-fulfilment of an obligation. Such escheats seem to have been generally
given to a creditor, or were purchased by relatives who restored the goods to
the old owners for an equivalent, and Mr James Johnstoun was probably
Elphinstone's eldest son. In 1591 Mr John Johnstoun, son lawful to James
Johnstoun of Elphinstone, is given his father's escheat, and it appears that
Elphinstone had been security to the deceased Lord Ruthven, who had made
the contract.
John Johnstoun of Elphinstone, who is called brother to Patrick Johnstoun of
Elphinstone, was cautioner for Sir G. Home of Wedderburn when he borrowed
money from David Johnstone of Newbie, merchant of Edinburgh, in 1606. He
had a brother-german, also called John.
Mr James Johnstoun [ante] burgess of Edinburgh, died there in August
1597. He is described in his Will as Clerk-deliverer of the Bills before the
Lords of Session, and Clerk of the Commissariat of Edinburgh, but resigned
in 1596, Michael Finlayson being one of the witnesses. He left ^2043, 2s. 9d.,
and was owed £6448, 17s. 1 id. His mother, Margaret Clerk, was among his
creditors. His wife was Marion Laurie, a widow when he married her, as
appears by his legacies of 1200 marks to her two unmarried daughters, Katrena
and Helen Symsoun, and £200 each to his wife's grandchildren, Marion and
Christian Marjoribanks. His sons, David and John, were minors, but he directs
that John should " be trained by Joseph Marjoribanks in the trade of
merchandise." He left his own brother, John, as well as John " callit of
Elphinstone, to be overseers and helpers to his said spouse and bairns, his
only executors." From several of the Home family, including the Chief, being
among his creditors, with a Douglas, Lady Airlic, Sir Michael Balfour of Burlie
and others, the testator appears to come off the House of Elphinstone, and
possibly from one of the two younger sons of Andrew Johnstoun of Elphin-
stone. 1
George Johnstoun, his wife, Isobel Leslie, and their son, John, appear in
161 3, and in 1617-19, with regard to the ownership of the Abbey Mill of
Haddington.
John Johnston of Polton was a baillie of Edinburgh in 1672, when the
Earl of Annandale appointed him one of the guardians of his children. From
this he would appear to have been a relative, and probably from the Elphinstone
branch. He recorded arms in the Lyon Office, 1676, which are cut on the
stone dial still at Polton House, and left an only daughter, Magdalen, who
married Sir James Murray, fifth Baronet of Hilhead
1 The conjectural descendants of Elphinstone appear in Chapter XXVII.