John Campbell Johnstone was the Scottish born son of David Johnstone and Lindsay Campbell. He was born in about 1817, and was well connected on his mother's side to the Campbell family.
Captain J C Johnstone emigrated to New Zealand in November 1853 having retired from military service in India. He had visited the colony twice before during his army furloughs. He settled in Raglan on 1900 acres and built a house there. He would have been about 37 years old when he settled on his isolated property with views of the sea and bush.At the age of 43 he married[1] the daughter of another retired officer, Major Speedy of Mauku. Emelia Speedy had arrived in New Zealand in 1856. A report of their marriage was published in the New Zealander on 2 April 1859.
From family accounts, diaries and letters that have been reviewed by the combined Johnstone family in writing a book about him and his descendants, John was quite a memorable character. He has been described as "patriotic, impetuous, probably imperious and headstrong and was convinced of the correctness of his ideas and actions", and his passion for his own way resulted in local arguments and court cases. He also embarked on several money-making enterprises, but upon his death left his wife and children in straitened circumstances.
An educated man, J C Johnstone wrote a book, published in 1874 titled "Maoria: A Sketch of the Manners and Customs of the Aboriginal Inhabitants of New Zealand" which can be read online in the New Zealand Electronic Text Collection. The book dedication reads: "To Mrs. Graham Johnstone. Time and distance have not with you, my dear sister, effected their usual work, and caused you to forget the absent. Let me, therefore, as a slight mark of my appreciation of your many acts of affectionate kindness, dedicate to you this little "Maori sketch," written at your suggestion. Your Affectionate Brother, J. C. Johnstone." [1] The story interweaves Johnstone's knowledge and observation of Maori domestic life and manners with a romantic tale of three lovely Maori maidens.
Johnstone was also the author "The Maories & the causes of the present anarchy in New Zealand" (1861).
Captain Johnstone is reported to have suffered from depression, which arose after the death of their daughter Lila in 1882. After an altercation (which seems to have been not a singular occurrence), and being threatened by a possible charge of assault, he took his own life at the age of 66, in 1882. [2]The circumstances of Captain John Campbell Johnstone's death can be read in the Auckland Star, 24 July 1882 [2]
John's occupation at the time of death was described as "Gentleman". His will (copy in the probate record) appeared to have been completed at the end of 1881, and certainly was before the death of his daughter Lila, as she is mentioned. Johnstone advises in his will that his widow is provided for in her marriage settlement, but this he has not been able to increase. He advised he wished to be cremated, and that his family not take up mourning. He also used his will as an occasion to criticise the government of New Zealand.
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Categories: British Military Officers | Suicides | New Zealand, Authors | New Zealand Colonists | Raglan, Waikato