Master William Johnstone of Forresterhill

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Master William Johnstone of Forresterhill

Birthdate:
Birthplace: Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Not part of the United Kingdom until 1 May 1707)
Death: January 18, 1673
Immediate Family:

Son of Dr. Arthur Johnstone and Barbara Gordon
Husband of Helen Cullen
Father of Helen Johnstone; Arthur Johnstone; George Johnstone; William Johnstone and James Johnstone
Brother of Elizabeth Johnstone; Edward Johnstone and Barbara Johnstone

Occupation: Law professor
Managed by: Private User
Last Updated:

About Master William Johnstone of Forresterhill

MASTER WILLIAM JOHNSTONE OF FORRESTERHILL

William Jonstonne (1636) Mr. William Jonstoune, regent (1662) Mr. William Johnstoune (1662) William Johnstoun, regent of King's College, Old Aberdeen (1663) William Johnstoun. regent of King's College, Old Aberdeen (1664) Mr William Jonstoune of Froster hill (1669) Mr. William Johnston of Frosterhill (1670) Master Wm Johnston off Frosterhill (1672) Mr. William Johnston (1673)

The Question of Identity

William Johnstone of Forresterhill is not the same person as Rev. William Johnstone, of Laverocklaw There is no evidence to suggest that he was the father of Margaret Ker

William Johnstone of Forresterhill is the son of Dr. Arthur Johnstone and his wife Barbara Gordon He was born before 15 December 1636, the date upon which his baptism was registered at Aberdeen in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His baptismal record reads as follows: "Docr Arthor Jonstonne and [ blank space ] Gordonn ane sone his name Wn bap be Docr James Sibbald Docr Robert Barronne Docr Wm yuile Docr Alexander Ross Docr Patk Dunne prinll of the college Docr Wm Jonstonne Thomas Tolmsonne Mr Patk Chalmers Godfathers." [National Records of Scotland, Aberdeen Baptisms, reference OPR.168/A/3] Image of Baptismal Record

Regent of King's College in Aberdeen

1657. Mr. William Johnston. Entrants of 1657-58 (apparently succeeding Rule), 1661-62, 1665-66 ; graduates of 1668-69. Elected Civilist 8th June, 1669. "When Regent he marries Helen Cullen, daughter of Provost Cullen, 23rd March, 1662." Gordon. Son of Arthur Johnston. Davidson's Garioch, p. 366. Officers and Graduates: 57

Death

William Johnstone of Forresterhill is reported to have died on 18 January 1673. Officers and Graduates: 32

Marriage

William Johnstone of Forresterhill married Helen Cullen Officers and Graduates: 57 They were booked for proclamation on 23 March 1662, at Old Machar in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The marriage booking reads as follows: "1662. 23 March. Mr Wm Jonstoune regent gave evidence of his booking in Abn wt Helen Cullen daughter to provest Cullen they were thryse proclaimed here & married there." [National Records of Scotland, Old Machar Marriages, reference OPR.168/B/6] Image of Marriage Record They were married on 29 April 1662, at Aberdeen in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The marriage record reads as follows: "1662. Mr William Johnstoune and Helline Cullen mareid the 29 Apryll" [National Records of Scotland, Aberdeen Marriages, reference OPR.168/A/12] Image of Marriage Record

Children

  1. Helen Johnstone
  2. Arthur Johnstone
  3. George Johnstone
  4. William Johnstone
  5. James Johnstone

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

30 November 1663: William Johnstoun, regent of King's College, Old Aberdeen. Granter [Type of Deed] Bond [Office] Dur., volume 7, page 232] [National Records of Scotland, Index to the Register of Deeds for 1663]Image of Index

                   2

15 July 1664: William Johnstoun. regent of King's College, Old Aberdeen. Granter [Type of Deed] Discharge [Office] Dur., volume 8, page 508 [National Records of Scotland, Index to the Register of Deeds for 1664] Image of Index

                   3

29 June 1670: Extract registered heritable bond by Mr. William Johnston of Frosterhill [?Forresterhill] to Mr. Patrick Sandilandis, subprincipal of King's College. [Registered Commissary Court Books Aberdeen 7 November 1671] National Records of Scotland, Burnett of Powis, reference GD74/317

Evidence from the Old Parochial Registers of Old Machar

                   1

7 April 1662: The baptismal record of James Johnstone reads as follows: "Master Wm Johnston off Frosterhill ane son calld James Sr Jon Keith of Keithall Ja: Gordon of Seaton Gorton Ja: Lesly Ja: Sutherland mr off Duffus witnesses." [National Records of Scotland, Old Machar Baptisms, reference OPR.168/B/1] Image of Baptismal Record

                   2

14 July 1664: The baptismal record of Arthur Johnstone. reads as follows: "1664. i4 July. Mr Wm Johnstoune Regent in K colledge ane sone calld Arthur. Mr Arthur Gordon, [ ? ] Arthur fides. Mr Thomas Sandilands, Commsr Doctr Andru Muir Docr Ludovick Gordon. Mr Alexr Patton. Mr John forbes witness." [National Records of Scotland, Old Machar Baptisms, reference OPR.168/B/1] Image of Baptismal Record

                   3

13 April 1669: The baptismal record of William Johnstone reads as follows: "1669. 13 Apryll. Mr William Jonstoune of Froster hill [ ane ] sone calld Wm [ ? ] Earle Marshall Pat : Lord Bp of Abn Mr Robert [ ? ] and Wm forbes bailye witness." [National Records of Scotland, Old Machar Baptisms, reference OPR.168/B/1] Image of Baptismal Record

Printed Evidence

Officers and Graduates of University & King's College, Aberdeen, MVD-MDCCCLX. Edited by Peter John Anderson, MA., LL.B. (New Spalding Club, Aberdeen, MDCCCXCIII), 399 pp. including index

Biographical Summary

William Johnston (eldest lawful son in 1659) . . . . . This son William is the only one of Dr. Arthur's descendants, in a direct line, of whom we have been enabled to procure any certain account. He was designed "of Forrester-hill," from the circumstance of his having been proprietor of a small property so called (and still known by the same name), in the neighborhood of Aberdeen. He was, in the year 1657, when he could scarcely have attained majority, appointed one of the regents of King's College, Aberdeen. This office he held until 1669, when he was promoted to the Chair of Civil Law in the same University. He is believed to have died about 1673, as in that year he was succeeded, as Civilist, by Sir George Nicolson of Kemnay, also a native of Aberdeen.

In December 1659, Mr. William Johnston, "one of the Regents of King's College, eldest lawful son of the deceased Mr. Arthur Johnston, Doctor of Medicine," was, as appears form the Burgess Register of the City of Aberdeen, admitted a burgess of guild "jure paternitatis." He married, in April 1662, Helen Cullen, third and youngest daughter of George Cullen, Provost of Aberdeen, by his first wife Marjorie Forbes. It does not appear that there was any surviving issue of this marriage; and about 1673 the lands of Forrester-hill were adjudged for debt; the widow of the Professor having, however, within a year or two of the last mentioned date, made good her claim to a part of the rents of the appraised lands.

[ Arthur ] Johnston's son William (b.1636) became a professor of civil law at Marischal College. In 1670, William Johnston was among the leaders of an insurrection at the College in which almost all the faculty and student body declared themselves Quakers as a way to defeat unbearable political pressures on the College from Episcopalian and Covenant (Presbyterian) forces then battling for religious supremacy in Scotland. Johnstone of Caskieben: 10-11

Genealogy

  1. The Funeral Sermons, Orations, Epitaphs, and other pieces on the death of the Right Rev. Patrick Forbes, Bishop of Aberdeen. With Biographical Memoir and Notes, by Charles Farqcuar Shand, Advocate (Spotiswode Society, Edinburgh, M.DCCC.XLV), 477 pp. including index, additions and corrections
  2. Johnstone of Caskieben
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Master William Johnstone of Forresterhill's Timeline

1636
December 15, 1636
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Not part of the United Kingdom until 1 May 1707)
December 15, 1636
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Scotland (Not part of the United Kingdom until 1 May 1707)
1663
March 12, 1663
probably at Old Machar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Not part of the United Kingdom until 1 May 1707)
1664
July 14, 1664
probably at Old Machar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Not part of the United Kingdom until 1 May 1707)
1665
December 6, 1665
probably at Old Machar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Not part of the United Kingdom until 1 May 1707)
1669
April 13, 1669
probably at Old Machar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Not part of the United Kingdom until 1 May 1707)
1672
April 7, 1672
probably at Old Machar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (Not part of the United Kingdom until 1 May 1707)
1673
January 18, 1673
Age 36
????