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Throughout November we have been celebrating all things Clan Johnstone. We have met some famous faces, visited many sites, and gained great insight into the history of this ancient clan. Finally, we called upon the valued Clan members to share their stories and we had a lovely response; read the blog to find out more!
Read the Johnstone Stories
Debra's Johnstone Family Clan Tartan
Debra Whitall sent a couple of lovely photos for our Johnstone's celebrations! Debra says:
“My husband, Rich, and I ringing in last New Year’s Eve in Johnstone Ancient plaid. We were also celebrating retirement!”
Don't they look great! We hope you're enjoying retirement.
Derek's Great Great Granduncle
Derek Scott got in touch to share fascinating stories about his great-great-granduncle, George Hope Johnstone!
"George Hope Johnstone was born 1 Feb. 1841 (Frederick Place, Handsworth), died 13 Feb. 1909. He was baptized at St Philips, 24 Jan. 1848. Married Emily Wilkinson (born in Nov. 1843, Bradford). She was the sister of Colonel J.H. Wilkinson and Colonel Howard Wilkinson. Emily died in Mar. 1897.
On 25 Apr 1899 in St George, Hanover Square, London, George Hope married Catherine Maas (b. in Garforth, 1848, d. Handsworth, 2 Jan. 1918; she had known Charles Dickens well, and she was previously the wife of a famous Victorian tenor, Joseph Maas. George compiled the Wretham Road [the location of the Swedenborgian New Church, Handsworth] supplemental Tune Book, published in 1886. He was the leader of the choir at this church for around 40 years.
He entered the jewellery business in 1869 and, before long, established the firm of G.H. Johnstone & Co., jewellers and silversmiths (Northampton Street). He was a Liberal in politics and joined the City Council in 1892. He was the representative of St Paul’s Ward, home of the jewellery industry. He sat on the Health Museum and Art Gallery purchase committees.
In 1895 he became City Governor of the Midland Institute. He became Chair of the Board of Management of the General Hospital in 1901, and in the census of that year is recorded as living at his house Headingley, 6 Hamstead Hill, Handsworth. As Chairman of the Midlands Institute and President of the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival, he dealt with Edward Elgar on the commission of The Dream of Gerontius (1900) and The Apostles (1903). During the Triennial Festival of 1888, Edvard Grieg was his house guest.
From an unknown time in the 1870s until 30 Jun. 1885, George Hope Johnstone, William Faraday Johnstone, and Samuel Frederick Johnstone were in partnership, trading as G.H. Johnstone and Co., 38 Northampton St, Birmingham, as Manufacturing Jewellers. (London Gazette, 13 Oct. 1885, p. 4756). After his death, a memorial service was held at Wretham Road New Church, and the funeral then took place at Perry Barr Crematorium."
Thanks so much for sharing, Derek!
Liz's Johnstone Ancestry
Liz Simpson, née Johnstone, emailed us about her Johnstone family ancestry including discovering a French wine with a Johnstone connection - read on to find out more!
"My Johnstone family comes from the Scottish Borders, a bit further east than your email; from Selkirk, Hawick and Galashiels.
Our family legend was that we were originally 'Johnston' but changed our name to 'Johnstone' to distance ourselves from a family of 'scaffies' (scavengers and dustmen basically) but a contemporary family historian could find no evidence of a change of name and therefore we have been Johnstones for several centuries.
We were also reivers in the grand tradition of Borderers. My grandfather told me that when times were tough the wife would put a dish of spurs down on the dinner table to indicate that there was no food in the house and the husband needed to saddle up the men and bring some cattle - or sheep - home.
Another Johnstone I've come across is the Chevalier de Johnstone, Bonnie Prince Charlie's ADC, who wrote a history of the Bonnie Prince's doomed campaign in 1745 but was rather partial in his reporting, casting himself in the best and most heroic light.
I also discovered Johnston Claret with the winged spur on the label and on the cork in the 1980s from Bordeaux in France, the company founded by a Scotsman in the 1730s - Nathanael Johnston et fils. I used to buy a couple of cases every Christmas, but last time I tried I had no joy in finding a wine merchant in the UK who imported the claret, and the firm now seems to be an exporter of French wines to the trade."
Thanks, Liz! We hope you manage to find the wine again!
Unfortunately November has come to an end, that certainly doesn't mean our love for Clan Johnstone is over, so be sure to get in touch with us if you fancy chatting all things Johnstone!
