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

30
THE JOHNSTOUNS OF ELSIESHIELDS
to the Charter are John Williamson, parson of Dornock, Mungo Hereis, James
Johnstoun, Sir Matthew Simpson, chaplain, Thomas Hamilton, etc.
William, second son of the elder Gavin, inherited Marjoribanks, near Moffat,
and was ancestor of the Johnstouns of Dryfesdale and Lockerbie. From Gavin,
the younger, living in 1498, came, among others, the line of Esbie, Elsieshields,
Kirkton, Middlegill, Reidhall, Beirholme, Hilton, Sheens, Warriston, and Kello-
bank. Gavin Johnstoun of Kirkton, with his brother Herbert, appear in 1526.
The Laird of Elsieshields was one of the five Johnstoun Lairds in Dumfriesshire
in 1597, the other four being Johnstoun, Newbie, Graitney, and Corhead.
Archibald, younger son of the younger Gavin, gave up Greskin and Malinshaw
to his Chief.
William, the eldest son of the younger Gavin, married, first, Katherine
Douglas (1521), by dispensation from Pope Clement VII.; secondly, Katherine,
daughter of Sir Alexander Kirkpatrick, in 1528. He was sent to the Castle of
Edinburgh in 1533 for hindering the Warden of the Marches in arresting rebels.
He was dead in 1536, when Katherine Kirkpatrick and her son, John John-
stoun, had a gift of the ward and marriage of John Johnstoun of Elsieshields,
and the mails and duties of the lands of Chapelton and Esbie, held by the said
John of the Crown, and also of the marriage of any other heir, male or female,
of the late Johnstoun who died in Elsieshields. She was remarried to Jardine
of Apilgirth. Probably Gavin Johnstoun of Kirkton was younger brother to
William, whose second son seems to have been William Johnstoun of Reidhall.
Among those outlawed by Act of Parliament in 1548 for a surrender to
the English were Gavin Johnstoun of Kirkton and Cuthbert Johnstoun of
Lockerbie.
Gavin of Elsieshields and Kirkton was dead in 1555 ; his son was James
of Kirkton. His nephew, John of Elsieshields, was given the escheat of the
Laird of Johnstoun's goods when he was imprisoned in 1 563, having been one
of his curators three years before.
John Johnstoun of Elsieshields died Dec. 1574, and left a Will (Dec. io),
witnessed by James Johnstoun in Brumhill, Archibald Johnstoun in Kirk,
William Johnstoun in Toddelmuir, and others. He owed £289, 16s. 8d.,
including rent, to Lord Maxwell, Lord Herries, and James Johnstoun, burgess
of Dumfries. This was more than the value of his estate, but Herbert Jardine
owed him .£133, is. 2d., being a legacy from Katherine Kirkpatrick, his father's
spouse. He desired to be buried in Lochmaben Kirk, and leaves his wife,
Elizabeth McMath, and William, his eldest son, generally called Wilkin, his
executors.
Among those respited in 1594 after the battle of Dryfe Sands were William,
Adam, and James, brothers to William Johnstoun of Elsieshields, and about
twenty more related to the same house. A resignation by Archibald Johnstoun,
lawful son to Gavin Johnstoun of Elsieshields, in 1577 is signed by Sir Stephen
Jardine, parson of Apilgarth, William Johnstoun of Foulderis, Sir Edward
Johnstoun (a priest), and Adam Johnstoun of Moffat.
In 1554 Queen Mary charged all of the name of Johnstoun to assist their