James (Johnstone) Johnstone of Johnston (1567 - 1608)

Born 1567 in Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah (Maxwell) Maxwell Countess of Wigton — married 25 Dec 1587 in Terregles, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Descendants

Died 6 Apr 1608 at about age 41 in Dumfriesshire, Scotland

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James (Johnstone) Johnstone of Johnston was a historically significant person of Scotland. Join: Scotland Project Discuss: Scotland

Biography

James (Johnstone) Johnstone of Johnston is a member of Clan Johnstone.

James Johnstone the only legitimate son of John Johnstone and Margaret Scott was born in 1567 in Dumfries-shire, Scotland.^[1] He is noted as receiving his majority in 1591. As a young man, James provided for his then unmarried sisters, Margaret and Grizel and helped his mother Margaret with his father's debts.

He received in 1580 a grant of the abbacy of Holyrood, which he retained until 1600.

His first experience of public life was during the time of the Spanish Armarda, when the Castle of Lechmaben was given to his care by King James, who had visited the Border to counteract the Roman Catholic influence of Lord Maxwell, to be held for the crown. This resulted in a feud between James and Maxwell, who influenced the removal of James' royal commission during the King's absence in Denmark. The commission was eventually returned by the King on his return.

James was present at Holyrood to honour Queen Anne's coronation on 17 May 1590, at which time he received his knighthood.

The feud between James and Maxwell continued, although their friends tried to effect a reconciliation without success, except for occasional truces. In March 1593 he failed, for various causes, to attend a meeting of the Privy Council and was warded in Edinburgh Castle. He escaped the following June. Following his escape, the feud escalated when a portion of his Clan made an attack on the Crichtons of Sanquhar. Lord Maxwell, as Warden, was given a special commission against the Johnstones, although it did not appear that James Johnstone had any part in the attack. Maxwell raised 1500 men, Johnstone mustered friends, Clan members and 500 of his mother's kin to a total of 800 men. A preliminary skirmish resulted in Maxwell's defeat, after which the forces met at Dryfe Sands, when Johnstone's strategy was superior and Maxwell was defeated. Maxwell was slain on 6 December 1593.

Eventually Johnstone tried to initiate a friendship with the Maxwells, without success. He was more successful in making peace with the Government, although his career continued to be marked by commissions in his favor, followed by various broken pledges and consequent wardings.

The feud between himself and the Maxwells continued and he was killed on 6 April 1608 during an attempt at reconciliation with the Lord Maxwell of the day. ^[2]

James married Sarah Maxwell, daughter of John Maxwell, Lord Herries, by a contract dated at Terregles 25 December 1587.^[3]

James Johnstone was killed on April 6, 1608.^[3]

James and Sarah had three children:^[3]

1. James Johnstone (b 1602)
2. Agnes Johnstone (bef 1609-bef 1628)
3. Elizabeth Johnstone (m. Sir William Hamilton of Manor-Elleston, Ireland)

Sources

1. ↑ Balfour Paul, James, Sir, The Scots Peerage founded on Wood's edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland, containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, published in Edinburgh by David Douglas, 1904-1914, Vol 1; page 252
2. ↑ Balfour Paul, James, Sir, "The Scots Peerage" founded on Wood's edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland, containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, published in Edinburgh by David Douglas, 1904-1914, Vol 1, page 270 (https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun01pauluoft/page/207/mode/1up)
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Balfour Paul, James, Sir, "The Scots Peerage founded on Wood's edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland, containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, published in Edinburgh by David Douglas, 1904-1914, Vol 1; page 254

See also:

• http://www.thepeerage.com/p46281.htm#i462810

• Wikipedia:Lochmaben Castle