Johnstone of Moffat and Selcoth

[Heather H]

Our family is descended from Robert Johnstone, whose gravestone in Moffat reads:  "Merchant in Moffat, who died 2 Feb 1811, aged 43 yrs."  (thus born around 1768).  The Moffat Parish Register records that "Mr James Johnstone of Selcoth and his Lady had a son called Robert" on 22 Feb 1769.  But I don't know if these Robert Johnstones are the same person or not.   
We have the following info about RJ, Merchant: the IGI gives his wife as Mary Imrie [or Jonice].  They had two sons,  James (b 1792) and John (1803-1811).   Robert and Mary appear in various court documents around 1807, when they were summoned as witnesses in a paternity suit.   
Is there any way to find out whether there was one Robert Johnstone or two? 

[JoMC]

Hi Heather 

This is always difficult to decide. I see that his first son was a James, which is indicative of his father being a James but this was not always the case. Have you checked on his wife to see if her father was possibly a John. did they have any daughters? Are there any other Robert Johnston*s marrying and having children at around the same time. Are their any other MIs for a Robert Johnston*.

I've done a search on Scotlands People for a Rob Johnston* 1765-1775 in Moffat and there are only three showing - all as Johnston.

23 Feb 1869 son of James
9 Jan 1774 son of Gilbert and May Broun
26 August 1775 son of James and Isobel Mackdonald

A further point is to check if 'Mr James Johnston*'  had any other children.

Regards

Gadget 

[Heather H]

Thank you, Gadget -- my, that was quick!  I know of no other children from James Johnstone and Mary Imbrie or Jonice or Jarvie, and because I've never been able to work out what her name was, I haven't been able to find out more about her.

James Johnstone of Selcoth and his wife Anne Dalrymple (who were married 3 Dec 1765 in Edinburgh) had the following children:
Prinence, b 4 Sept 1766
Adam, b 17 Nov 1767
Robert, b 22 Feb 1769 (but is he "my" Robert?)
John, b 5 Feb 1771
Adam, b 17 May 1773

Presumably the first Adam died (since another son is named Adam), so Robert might have inherited the large farm of Selcoth (nr Moffat).  In that case, why was he a Merchant in Moffat?  That's one thing that makes me suspect we're dealing with two Robert Johnstones.   On the other hand, Selcoth was sold out of the Johnstone family in 1794, so that might explain a change of career or decline in family fortunes.

[JoMC]

Have you looked for James Johnstone's will?

There were lots of changes to agriculture and landholdings in the borders around then.

Gadget

[Heather H]

That is an excellent idea.  I have no idea how to go about doing this, however.   Can you advise me?   Can it be done by internet, as I don't live in the UK. 
Also no idea about a death date.  Presumably after 1773, date of birth for his last child.   
It would be interesting, too, to see the will of Robert Johnstone, Merchant of Moffat, and easier to find since I know he died 2 Feb 1811.

[JoMC]

Hi Heather

www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk allows a free search on its will index. To see an image of the original and download costs, I think, £5.

I'll take a wee look for you now 

Gadget

[JoMC]

Nothing showing for Robert but there are a few possibles for James. It's worth you taking a look with the link that I've given 


Gadget

[Heather H]

Thanks, Gadget, I just finished having a look at scotlandspeople, but none of the James Johnstones seems right.  The only one even remotely possible is the "writer in Edinburgh" but even then, what was a gentleman farmer of Moffat doing in Edinburgh?   However, it might be worth pursuing.  Writer could be Writer to the Signet, I suppose, which was his father-in-law's occupation. 

[JoMC]

I think that that was the usual full description, Heather 

Gadget