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

THE JOHNSTOUNS OF BEIRHOLME 37
William Johnstoun, the son of Archibald Johnstoun, and great-grandson of
James of Beirholme, was a Commissioner of Supply in 1685 and Collector of
the Customs in Dumfries in 1699.
A letter to Lord Annandale from Kennedy of Halleaths in 1702 reminds
him that Archibald Johnston of Beirholmc's second son is idle, "which is illbreeding
for a young man, and is not his choice. Your lordship posted his
brother in Dumfries, and I hope he shall do very well in it." The writer
suggests that there is a vacancy among the macers of the King's Guard at
Edinburgh. " If your lordship would get that for Archie it would be a means
of subsistence, and put him in a better capacity to be a servant to your lord-
ship and your family." 1
In 1723 William Johnston of Beirholm appears in a suit against Gavin
Johnstoun of Elsieshields, and the next year, when he renews the suit, he is a
citizen and innkeeper in London. In 1726 he was still in London, and a
merchant, and in 1729 he is in Annan. He married Sara Douglas, and was
dead in 1750, when a sasine is granted in favour of " Marie Johnston, wife of
the Rev. John Nimmo, minister at Johnston, Grizel Johnston, relict of William
Hamilton of Eldershaw, Charlotte Johnston, daughter of the deceased William
Johnston of Beirholm, and Sara Douglas, only daughter of the deceased Janet
Johnston, also daughter of the said deceased William Johnston, and Captain
Alexander Douglas, husband of the said Sara Douglas, all as heirs of the said
William, father of the said Mary, Grizel, and Charlotte Johnston, and grand-
father of the said Sara Douglas, in the lands of Newton and Pashgillfoot."
William had a brother, Archibald, living in 1723.
Robert Johnstoun of Gotterby, who acted as witness for the Laird in
Edinburgh about 1624, was probably a member of a Mid-Annandale branch,
and followed his Chief when he settled at Newbie. Johnston of Gotterbraes
appears in 1625, and later as a baillie of Annan, and John Johnston of Gutter-
braes was Provost in 1745. He married the daughter of Mr Howie, minister at
Annan (1703-54), and their youngest son, Dr Bryce Johnston, was born there
March 2, 1747. After studying at Edinburgh, he was licensed as a preacher
Oct. 4, 1769, and ordained two years later as assistant to Mr Hamilton,
minister of the Church at Holywood, whom he succeeded, and he remained there
till he died, 1805. He supplied the article on Holywood Parish in Sinclair's
Statistical Account of Scotland (1794), a volume of sermons, and one or two
essays.
The local belief is that the name came from a Gutter running down the
hill close to the house of this family in the town of Annan, but Gotterby is a
well-known place in Dryfesdale. Mr John Johnstone of Beech Hill, Annan,
and Dr Thomas Johnstone of Annandale, Harrogate, are the modern repre-
sentatives.
Dr John Johnston of Sunnybrae, Bolton, is also an Annan man of Mid-
Annandale descent. His grandparents, John Johnston and Elizabeth Beattie,
came from Stobohill, in Corrie, and from Kirkpatrick to Annan, where they
1 Annandale Book.