John JOHNSTON

John Johnston was a wealthy planter who lived in the Walnut Hill area of Tallapoosa County, Alabama, from about 1840 until his death on 2 June 1881. He is buried in a private cemetery located in T20N, R22E, Section 28, Tallapoosa County, AL, once a part of John's plantation.

John was born 10 February (10 April on tombstone) 1803, in Georgia. We know nothing of his parents or his exact place of birth. He married Martha Lyons c. 1827 in Georgia. Their first child, William, was born 12 June 1828, in Georgia. By 1832, or earlier they were in Harris County, Georgia. Sometime between 1836 and 1844, John and his family, now numbering five children, moved to Tallapoosa County, AL and established his plantation at Walnut Hill. Martha was born  in January 1809 and died 02 July (5 June on tombstone) 1844 and is buried in the Johnston Cemetery. On 20 August 1844 John married Mary Ann Celebia Hainey. John and Mary Ann had five children. At least four of John's sons and his son-in-law served in the CSA. John died 27 February 1881. His tombstone records his death as 27 February 1882. He is buried in the John Johnston Cemetery His widow married Roberson Willingham of Rockford, AL. Mary Ann died in the Rockford, Coosa County, AL c. 1888 and is buried in the Sears Chapel (McEwen) Cemetery.

Information desired on one Sarah Ann Johnston, born 5 May 1826 in Georgia, who married James Carroll on 19 January 1849 in Tallapoosa County. Could she be a daughter of John and Martha? In the 1850 census, John and Martha are found (household 813) living next door to William Carroll (James's father)(household 814) and Sarah and James are living close as well (household 838). A daughter of James and Sarah Ann, Mary Ann, married Isaac Jackson Burson.

The children of John and Martha were:

• William JOHNSTON, born 12 June 1828, married Rebecca Smith

• Joseph JOHNSTON, born abt 1830, married Elizabeth Sands

• John Y. JOHNSTON, born 18 July 1832, married (1)Rutha Meadows (2)Elizabeth Sands Johnston

• Mary Jane JOHNSTON, born 21 March 1834, married James D. Meadows

• Samuel Y. JOHNSTON, born abt 1836, married Lucinda J. Gray

The children of John and Mary Ann were:

• James Pierce JOHNSTON, born 18 April 1847, married Josephine P. Tomme

• Benjamin Franklin JOHNSTON, born 24 April 1850, married Martha Caroline McDaniel 14 Oct 1869; Caroline born about 1847

• Burton Jack JOHNSTON, born 25 November 1852, married Alice Idonia (Sanford) Boone

• Rebecca JOHNSTON, born abt 1853 (not listed as child on censuses prior to 1880, this possibly could be wife of William with error in her birthdate - 1835 instead of 1853???)

• Stillborn daughter JOHNSTON, born 1861, buried Johnston Cemetery, Tallapoosa County, Alabama

Possible child of John and Martha:

• Sarah Ann JOHNSTON, born 5 May 1826, married James Carroll on 19 January 1849 in Tallapoosa County: had daughter Mary Ann, who married Isaac Jackson Burson

• Rebecca JOHNSTON, born about 1829, married David E. Evans

Siblings of John Johnston

• Joseph JOHNSTON
• Lavinia JOHNSTON, married (1) Stephen Hudgins, (2)Seaborn Golden

Information on this family comes mostly from Linda Purvis.

Page updated April 12, 2002