Re: Amos Johnson, Sr. of Johnston County, NC
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In reply to:
Amos Johnson, Sr. of Johnston County, NC
James M. Valsame 11/04/04
Mark,
Among your searches of the Johnsons/Johnstons of North Carolina and Virginia, I noted that you had evidently encountered the name Allen Johnston, but I am looking for potentially as many as four brothers: Allen H. Johnson (born circa 1790-99, VA or NC), Alvey R. Johnson (born 1803, VA or NC), and Balda C. Johnson (born 1811, Lincoln County, TN). Their father's name was John R. Johnson (born circa 1778, VA), and his middle name may have been Ruffin as in COL John Ruffin of Surry County, VA? Balda C. Johnson (1811-1852) named his first born son, John Ruffin Johnson (1843-1889), who then named his son John Ruffin Johnson Jr. (1890-1977), who perpetuated the name with his son, John Ruffin Johnson (1923-2012), who also has a son by the same name still living. Although most later records spell their surname as "Johnson", many records appear to be confused between Johnson and Johnston. A fourth brother (10-15 years old in the 1830 Census), may have been named Martin Johnson? Alvey's name also appears as "Alva" as in the Johnstones of Alva though as I understand Lord Alva sold the estate to John Johnstone, Esq., son of Sir James Johnstone, Bart., of Westerhall, Dumfries-shire in 1775, so such a late date seems unlikely for any familial ties to that line in Dumfries-shire? But clansmen do such all the time even when there is no known family ties.