People involved in the establishment of the new country of America are known as patriots of the American Revolution. As we prepare for the celebration of the 250th anniversary, the Oliver Morton Chapter of DAR and the Jones County News salute these patriots who located to our area or whose descendants have located in the area. This month we salute James Johnston/Johnson who has a large number of descendants living in Jones County, Georgia, including members of the local DAR chapter.
James Johnston / Johnson
James Johnston was born in Limerick, Ireland 16 January 1760. He came to America with his family in 1769 and settled in Rockbridge County, Virginia. His military service was extensive. He joined the Second Regiment, Southern Detachment (Virginia Line) under General Nathaniel Green. The regiment took part in the battles of Guilford, Camden and Eutaw Springs. He was severely wounded in his thigh at Guilford but did not quit his post. At Guilford C. H. he was taken prisoner by the British, taken to Charleston, N.C., and kept on board a prison ship. At the end of 13 months, he was exchanged. A eulogy, written a month after his death in 1852, described conditions on the ship: he “was fed on half rations, slept without bed or covering, and lived almost entirely without clothes.” According to D. R. McAnally, his eulogist, “Johnson and three other prisoners agreed to attempt escape, but recognized, floating beside the ship, the body of a fellow prisoner, who had tried several nights before, and so abandoned the attempt.”
After the revolution, James Johnston received a land grant in Henderson County, NC for his service in the Revolutionary War. He also received a war pension. In 1791, he moved to South Carolina, where he met and married Ann Cole. Together they had nine children. James died in Henderson County, N.C. on July 2, 1852.
