John Johnston

Research Report

Prepared for
Leslie Pond

29 April 2021
Table of Contents
Objective....................................................................................................................................................... 3
Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................... 3
Summary & Brief Review of Client-provided Information.......................................................................... 3
Summary & Analysis of Research ................................................................................................................ 4
1905 Excerpt: Map of Henry County, Kentucky .................................................................................... 4
Census Record Clues................................................................................................................................. 5
1850 U.S. census excerpt, Elias Cook household .................................................................................. 5
1860 U.S. census excerpt, Douthit household ...................................................................................... 6
A Marriage Record Clue ........................................................................................................................... 7
1865 Marriage record excerpt, signatures of Lewis Johnston and John T. Clements .......................... 7
A Death Record Clue ................................................................................................................................ 8
1927 Death certificate excerpt, Louis Nicholas Johnston ..................................................................... 8
Clues from Probate Records .................................................................................................................... 9
The Last Will and Testament ................................................................................................................ 9
1857 Last Will & Testament excerpt, John Douthitt ........................................................................... 10
The Sale Bill......................................................................................................................................... 10
The Appraisal ...................................................................................................................................... 11
Executor’s Receipts ............................................................................................................................ 11
Clues from the Land ............................................................................................................................... 12
1882 map excerpt of Henry County, Kentucky. .................................................................................. 13
Detail topo map of Henry County, Kentucky ...................................................................................... 14
Clues in the Deeds .................................................................................................................................. 15
1857 Deed excerpt, Johnston to Long ................................................................................................ 15
1858 Deed excerpt, Johnston to Long ................................................................................................ 16
Clues in the Tax Lists ................................................................................................................................ 16
Dead Ends ................................................................................................................................................ 19
The Culmination of the Clues ................................................................................................................. 20

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 John Johnston Report
29 April 2021
Research Report

Objective
Discover whether or not John Johnston, who was born in Alabama but lived most of his
life in Henry County, Kentucky was the father of Lewis N. Johnston (1846-1927).
Discover Lewis’ mother’s name and the fates of Lewis’ parents along with as much
information as possible about his and their lives.

Conclusion
It is highly likely that the parents of Lewis N. Johnston (1846-1927) were John H.
Johnston (c. 1825-aft. 1857) and Jane (Douthitt) Johnston (c.1826-aft. 1857). Although
their fates are unknown, it is likely they died after 27 April 1858 when they both
appeared in court to execute and have recorded two property deeds, but before 1 June
1860 federal census because they were not discovered in the 1860 federal census or
other records thereafter.

Summary & Brief Review of Client-provided Information

The client provided the following information via links to his website:
www.pondfamily.weebly.com and access to his family tree at ancestry.com:
 John Johnston was born in Alabama.
 John moved to Kentucky at an early age.
 John was prosperous, an extensive slave owner.
 John lived in Kentucky until his death.
 Lewis N. Johnston was born in New Castle, Henry County, Kentucky in 1846.
 Lewis’ mother’s maiden name was Douthitt.
 Lewis married Martha “Mattie” Ward in Henry County on 18 February 1865.
 Lewis was a Confederate veteran of the Civil War.
 Lewis was a farmer.
 Lewis moved to Conway County, Arkansas in 1886.

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Summary & Analysis of Research
This research journey began in the 1840 tax lists for Henry County, Kentucky because
the client-provided information indicated that Lewis Johnston was born in Henry County
in 1846 and also that his father had lived there from an early age. All told, there were 11
Johnston males in those tax lists and six of them were young enough in 1840 to father a
son in 1846.
For efficiency purposes, the researcher made the decision to work backward, beginning
with known information about Lewis Johnston in the effort to discover the unknown: his
parentage and information about his life in Kentucky as well as particulars about the
lives of his parents.
Henry County, Kentucky, located northeast of Louisville, is bordered by Carroll, Owen,
Franklin, Shelby, Oldham and Trimble counties. Established in 1799, Henry was formed
entirely from Shelby; the county seat is New Castle.

1905 Excerpt: Map of Henry County, Kentucky1

It is important to note that over time the spelling of the last name alternated between
Johnston and Johnson. Accordingly, the spellings in the report alternate to reflect the
name as it was found in the records. Our Johnston and Douthit families lived near the
Kentucky River in the area between Lockport and Gest in the mid-19th century.

1
Cram’s Ideal Reference Atlas, 1905; digital image, My Genealogy Hound
(https://www.mygenealogyhound.com : accessed 16 March 2021).

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Although no direct evidence was found, several clues were discovered over the course
of the research project. These clues, collectively, led to the final conclusion of the
parentage of Lewis N. Johnston and provided a glimpse into their lives.

Census Record Clues

A four-year-old named Lewis Johnson was discovered in an 1850 federal census record
for Henry County, Kentucky. Because the question of relationship was not asked until
the 1870 census, it can only be theorized that groups of individuals with the same
surname in the same household were in some way related to one another. Additional
research is always needed to either prove or disprove the theory. In this case, it is likely
that Lewis and the other children in the household, E., five and Martha, two, were the
offspring of the adults, John, 25 and Jane, 24 because all of them had the same
surname.2

1850 U.S. census excerpt, Elias Cook household3

The relationship of the Johnsons to the head-of-household, Elias Cook who was a 29-
year-old carpenter and his implied son, J.F. Cook who was nine years old at the time, is
unknown. No occupation was given for John Johnson. He was, however, in possession
of $200.00 worth of real estate.4
A search for this Johnson/Johnston family in the 1860 federal census returned no
results for John, Jane, Lewis or E, but did return one result for a Martha J. Johnson who
was 13. This Martha J. Johnson could have been the Martha Johnson who was only 2
when the 1850 census was taken. With her in 1860 were two implied siblings, Sarah L.,

2
1850 U.S. census, Henry County, Kentucky, population schedule, District No. 1, p. 413-A (stamped),
dwelling 716, family 720, Elias Cook household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org :
accessed 13 January 2021), citing NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 204, FHL microfilm 4,192,494.
3
Ibid.
4
Ibid.

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seven and John G. who was five. These children lived in the household of J. C. Douthit
in Henry County.5

1860 U.S. census excerpt, Douthit household6

One reason minor children of one surname may appear in the household of a different
surname is because they are the children from the wife’s previous marriage. It also can
occur when a family takes in orphaned children. Sometimes these orphans are the
children of a brother or sister of the husband or the wife. Because neither John nor Jane
were discovered in the 1860 or 1870 federal census, it is logical to theorize they
perished between 1850 and 1860. The Johnson children’s relationship to J.C. Douthit
and his wife was not known when Martha J. and her apparent siblings were discovered
in the Douthit household.
It is key to note that surroundings are important. Proximity on a census record was an
indication of neighbors within an area. Proximity also often indicated and dictated
relationship during this time frame. Within four consecutive census pages were the
names of several individuals who were involved in an official capacity of the lives of our
two families. The table below is a summary of the proximity in which they lived and the
documents in which each individual was discovered:

5
1860 U.S. census, Henry County, Kentucky, population schedule, Subdivision No. 1, p. 98 (penned),
dwelling 699, family 699, J.C. Douthit household; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 3
February 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication M653, no roll number given, FHL microfilm 803,373.
6
Ibid.

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 1860 U.S. Federal Census extract, Henry County, Kentucky7
Page Name Family No. Other Document
97 Thomas Smoot 693 marriage
98 J.C. Douthit 699 probate
98 S.P. Douthit 700 probate
98 Zachariah Clemens 701 probate
99-100 John Clements 710 probate & marriage
100 Martha Ward 710 marriage
100 J.H. Douthit 712 probate

In 1860, Martha Ward was a young girl who lived one farm over from J.H. Douthit in the
household of John Clements, her grandfather.8 Shortly, she would become Lewis
Johnston’s wife.

A Marriage Record Clue

The marriage record of Lewis N. Johnston to Martha S. Ward held several clues. They
were to be married on 21 February 1865 at Thomas Smoot’s residence.

1865 Marriage record excerpt, signatures of Lewis Johnston and John T. Clements9

Lewis’ surety for the bond, dated 18 February 1865, was John T. Clements, Martha’s
grandfather.
The information in the license application was most likely given by Lewis and John T.
because they were they were the ones who signed certifying it to be correct. The
personal details revealed important genealogical particulars regarding the groom and
the bride. This was the first marriage for both of them. Lewis was a 19 year old farmer
who lived in Henry County; his place of birth was given as Owen County, Kentucky. His
father and mother’s birthplaces were given to be Alabama and Henry County, Kentucky,

7
1860 U.S. census, Henry Co., Kentucky, pop. Sch., Subdivision No. 1, pp. 97-100 (penned), families 693,
699, 700, 701, 710, and 712, Smoot, Douthit, Clemens and Clements households, respectively.
8
1860 U.S. census, Henry County, Kentucky, population schedule, Subdivision No. 1, pp. 99-100 (penned),
dwelling 710, family 710, John Clements household; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed
3 February 2021); citing NARA microfilm publication M653, no roll number given, FHL microfilm 803,373
9
Ibid.

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respectively. Martha was 21 years of age; her father was born in Virginia while her
mother was born in Owen County, Kentucky.

A Death Record Clue

Because Lewis Johnston died in the 1920s, there was a chance a death record for him
existed. A search did return a death certificate for a Louis Nicholas Johnston who died
in Conway County, Arkansas on 27 April 1927. The informant on his death certificate
was J. W. Johnston of Morrilton, Arkansas, likely his son. Louis was 81 at the time of his
death and his father’s name was given to be “Jno. Johnston” born Alabama. While his
mother’s given name was apparently not known, “Douthitt” was provided as her maiden
name and that she was born in Kentucky.10

1927 Death certificate excerpt, Louis Nicholas Johnston11

The discovery of the maiden name of Louis Johnston’s mother in his death certificate
indicated that it was likely that she may have been related to J.C. Douthit in whose
household Martha J. Johnson and her siblings, Sarah and John G., resided in 1860.
The information in Lewis and Martha’s marriage record from 1865 substantiated several
items of information in his death certificate which was created 62 years later:
 year of birth for Lewis
 place of birth for Lewis—county AND state
 place of birth of his father
 place of birth of his mother—county AND state

10
“Arkansas, Death Certificates, 1914-1969,” citing 1927, certificate no. 195 for Louis Nicholas Johnston;
digital image Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 February 2021); citing Arkansas Department of
Vital Records, Death Certificates Volume Range 019-039, Little Rock, Arkansas.
11
Ibid.

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Clues from Probate Records
Probate records often hold answers and clues to relationship. Individuals and their
relationship to the deceased can be revealed in a last will and testament. However, a
probate record is more than a will. Sometimes the information in the sale bill of an
estate indicates a connection between the deceased, or at least his family, and the
individuals who made purchases. It is not unusual for the relatives of the deceased to
purchase several things at the estate sale—especially if they are of good quality or
highly sought-after items. The settlement of an estate may reveal the identities of
individuals and what they received from the estate.
An entry in the Biographical Cyclopedia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky for a man
named Stonewall Douthitt of Henry County, Kentucky helped connect the dots and led
to a very helpful set of probate records.
According to the biography, Stonewall’s grandfather came to Kentucky before 1800:
“John Douthitt…was born…in 1785 and died in 1868….married Theodosia Wilson….”12
John and Theodosia had nine children which were named in the biography:
James C., Thomas, Tapeley, Silas P., Harriet, Ann, Kate, Jane and Betsy.
This information added credibility to the theory that there was a Jane Douthitt born in
Henry County. It also established that a Jane Douthitt had a brother named J. C.
(James C.) Douthitt.13

The Last Will and Testament

The will of John H. Dowthit was written 14 September 1857 and was proven in the
Henry County Court during the August Term in 1868. Dowthit named his wife and
children along with his bequests for each:
 Doshey, beloved wife
 James Douthit, son
 Ann Clarkson, daughter
 Nancy Mefford, daughter
 Jane Johnson, daughter
 Sarah Catherine Russell, daughter,
 Silas, son
 Thomas, son
 Tapley, son
 Harriett Ward, daughter

12
John M. Gresham, compiler, Biographical Cyclopedia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky (Chicago: John
M. Gresham Co. Pub., 1896) p. 540; digital image, HathiTrust (https://www.hathitrust.org : accessed 2 February
2021).
13
Ibid.

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Also named and given bequests were two grandchildren, James Criswell and Liddy
Raizor and “…each of Betsey’s Morris children….” were to divide $400.00 between
them. Additionally, upon his death, his town lot in Lockport and the land he did not
bequeath were to be sold and the proceeds divided between his daughters who were
living at the time of his death.14
John Douthit’s will revealed that he had a daughter named Jane who married a man
with the surname Johnson and that she was alive at the time he penned his last will and
testament on 14 September 1857. Therefore, Jane Johnson died after that date.

1857 Last Will & Testament excerpt, John Douthitt15

It also revealed a daughter not listed in the aforementioned biography: Nancy Mefford.16
John Douthitt’s Named Children17
Biographical Cyclopedia Last Will & Testament
James C. James
Thomas Thomas
Tapeley Tapley
Silas P. Silas
Harriet Harriet Ward
Ann Ann Clarkson
Kate Sarah Catherine Russell
Jane Jane Johnson
Betsy Betsy Morris’ children
Nancy Mefford
The Sale Bill
The estate sale for the personal property of John H. Dowthit took place on 22
September 1868. The record shows several purchases were made by his children and
at least one of his known grandchildren. Harriet (Wilson at that time), Anna, Sarah, J.C.,
Silas and Thomas all purchased items as did James Criswell who was named in John’s

14
Henry County, Kentucky, “Will Book 14, 1859-1870,” pp. 35-36 last will and testament of John H.
Dowthit; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 26 February 2021); FHL microfilm
4,818,714.
15
Ibid.
16
Ibid.
17
Gresham, Biographical Cyclopedia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, p. 540 and Henry County,
Kentucky, “Will Book 14, 1859-1870,” pp. 35-36.

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will.18 Lewis Johnson, who was not named in the will, also purchased several items from
the estate sale:
 cutting box, sled & mattock $2.40
 man’s saddle & blanket $2.00
 wood saw & square $1.40
 fishing line & hooks 50¢
 four 2 gallon jugs, two six gallon jars $1.35
 lot of old iron 85¢
 one pot soap & jug 10¢
 1 set cups & saucers $1.25
 big wheel $4.50
 little wheel & reel $3.7019
All told, John H. Dowthit’s children and his grandson, James Criswell, purchased 28 of
the 59 items sold. While Lewis Johnson did not buy the highest priced items, his
purchase of ten sets of items was the largest number of sets bought by a single
individual.20 His purchases indicate he was more than just a stranger or even a
neighbor. It is unlikely he was purchasing items to “get started” in life—he was around
23 years old—he and Martha had been married for three and a half years when the sale
took place. Therefore, his purchases indicate a relationship to the deceased.

The Appraisal
The appraisers of John H. Dowthit’s estate were John Clements, Thos. Eddings and
Zachariah Clements. In 1860, John Clements lived one farm over (or across the road)
from John H. Douthit. Zachariah Clemens lived next to S.P. Douthit and J.C. Douthit
lived beside S.P. Two of the three appraisers of John H. Douthit’s estate were close
neighbors to either him or his sons.21

Executor’s Receipts
On 29 October 1870, L.N. Johnson was the witness on a receipt for $94.02 which
Harriett (Dowthit) Aigner received from J.C. Dowthit as her part of the surplus of John
Douthit’s estate settlement. These proceeds were likely from the sale of John Dowthit’s
“leftover” property which his will directed was to be sold and divided between his
daughters who were living at the time of his death. The other two daughters who were
still living were Anna Clarkson and Sarah Dees. In all, nine receipts were recorded with

18
Henry County, Kentucky, “Will Book 14, 1859-1870,” pp. 24-26, sale bill for the estate of John H.
Dowthit.
19
Ibid.
20
Ibid.
21
Henry County, Kentucky, “Will Book 14, 1859-1870,” pp. 26-27, appraisal of the estate of John H.
Dowthit.

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nine different witnesses. Counting L.N., seven of the nine were members of the Dowthit
family in some way.22

Clues from the Land

The tract of land which John Dowthit bequeathed to his daughters Jane and Sarah was
to be divided equally between the two in such a way so that their respective homes
would lie on their respective portions of land. While the acreage of the tract was not
mentioned in the document, a landmark, Aaron’s Branch, was specifically mentioned as
a point of reference and as a boundary to the tract.23
D.J. Lake and Company’s Atlas of Henry & Shelby Co’s Kentucky not only reveals
where Aaron’s Branch lay in Henry County, but also where a man named Owen
Johnson lived in 1882.24
This is important because Owen Johnson lived along Aaron’s branch and was a
neighbor to Lewis Johnston in the 1870 federal census. Which helps to understand how
Lewis Johnston may have acquired the $135.00 in real estate listed on the 1870 federal
census which he subsequently deeded to John G. Johnson in 1878.
Because the description of the location of the land Lewis sold is obviously in the vicinity
of the land John Douthit bequeathed to his daughters to divide in 1857, is likely Lewis
inherited it from his mother, Jane Douthit Johnston who received it as a bequest from
her father, John Douthit.

22
Henry County, Kentucky, “Will Book 14, 1859-1870,” pp. 569-570, executor’s receipts for the estate of
John H. Dowthit.
23
Ibid.
24
Atlas of Henry & Shelby Co.’s Kentucky (Philadelphia: D.J. Lake & Company, 1882); digital image, KY Gen
Web (http://www.kykinfolk.com/henry/index.htm : accessed 16 March 2021).

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 1882 map excerpt of Henry County, Kentucky.25

25
Ibid.

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Some of the details of the land bequeathed by John Douthitt in his last will and
testament include the following landmarks: May’s Spring Branch, Long Branch, the
Kentucky River and Aaron’s Branch.26 Although May’s Spring Branch is not found on
previous maps seen in this report, Long’s Branch and Aaron’s Branch are clearly
depicted in the modern-day topographical map below. The Kentucky River forms the
eastern boundary of Henry County, separating it from Owen County.27 This is the
general area where both the lands bequeathed by John Douthitt in his will written in
1857 and the land sold by Lewis Johnston in 1879 lay in Henry County.

Detail topo map of Henry County, Kentucky28

26
Henry County, Kentucky, “Will Book 14, 1859-1870,” pp. 35-36 last will and testament of John H.
Dowthit.
27
Map Detail, Henry County, Kentucky, area south of Lockport, Kentucky; digital image, USGS The National
Map (https://apps.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ : accessed 12 April 2021).
28
Ibid.

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Clues in the Deeds
Three deeds which provided helpful information were discovered.
The Henry County court recorded two deeds during the April Term of 1858 for John H.
Johnston and his wife, Jane.
The first was dated 28 December 1857 and transferred Lot No. 27 in the town of
Lockport to E.T. Long for $50.00 cash and “…the amt of Medical Bills rendered….”29

1857 Deed excerpt, Johnston to Long30

E.T. Long’s occupation on the 1850 and 1860 federal censuses was given as
“physician,” however the ailment(s) or condition(s) which generated the medical bills, as
well as their amounts, are unknown.31
The second deed dated 23 December 1857, conveyed to E. T. Long about 30 acres of
hill land lying between Flat and Pot Ripple Creeks for $94.25. Both deeds were
presented to be recorded at the Henry County court on 27 April 1858 by Johnston and
his wife, Jane.
Because these deeds were the last documents discovered for the couple, it is likely they
died on or after 27 April 1858.32

29
“Deeds, 1799-1901; deed index, 1799-1970,” Henry County, Kentucky, citing Deeds, v. 27, 1878-1880, p.
268, Johnston to Long; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 27 February 2021),
FHL microfilm number 8,188,170.
30
Ibid.
31
1850 U.S. census, population schedule, Henry County, Kentucky, District No. 1, p. 413-B (stamped),
dwelling 725, family 729, Wm Bridgeman household; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed
23 April 2021), citing NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 204 and 1860 U.S. census, population schedule, Henry
County, Kentucky, Subdivision No. 1, p. 65 (penned), dwelling 470, family 470, W.H. Brisben household; digital
images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 April 2021), citing NARA microfilm publication M653,
no roll given, FHL microfilm number 803,373.
32
“Deeds, 1799-1901; deed index, 1799-1970,” Henry County, Kentucky, citing Deeds, v. 27, 1878-1880, p.
268, Johnston to Long

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 1858 Deed excerpt, Johnston to Long33

In a deed dated 11 November 1878, Lewis N. Johnston and his wife, Martha Susan,
transferred ownership of about 50 acres of land to John G. Johnston. This land was
described as lying on Arron’s Branch, and sharing boundary lines with property of Silas
P. Douthit, John Douthit’s old line, Owen Johnston, and Sarah C. Dees. The deed was
filed with the Henry County Court for recording on 10 January 1879.34 It is possible that
this John G. Johnston is the same John G. Johnson in household with J.C. Douthit in
the 1860 federal census, which would make him Lewis’ younger brother. This was the
only deed discovered for Lewis N. Johnston in available Henry County, Kentucky
records.

Clues in the Tax Lists

County tax lists can be very helpful documents. Because taxes were collected yearly,
they can help track an individual’s movements over time—especially between the
federal census years. The value of the tax list is that it places an individual in a fairly
specific place at a fairly specific time. The glimpses into the life of the individual a tax list
may provide are extras which can be of additional genealogical value.
Tax lists provided quite a bit of information regarding Lewis Johnston and his father,
John H. Johnston. The first year that John H. Johnston appeared in Henry County tax
lists was 1849; he was not on the lists for the years 1846 through 1848. If his inferred
birth year of 1825 from the 1850 federal census was correct, it means he was about 24
years of age when he began paying tax in Henry County.35 In the state of Kentucky, all
males over the age of 21 were to pay the poll tax. This indicates that either John did not
live in Henry County before 1849 or that he simply did not pay his tax for a few years.
Either scenario could be the case. It is important to note that in some years his middle
initial “H” was used and some years it was not. Clues such as land, livestock and

33
Ibid.
34
“Deeds, 1799-1901; deed index, 1799-1970,” Henry County, Kentucky, citing Deeds, v. 38, 1878-1880, p.
77, Johnston & wife to Johnston; digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 April
2021), FHL microfilm numbers 8,519,888.
35
“Tax books, 1800-1875,” Henry County, Kentucky, citing Tax books 1846-1848 and Tax books 1849-
1858, digital images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 2 March 2021), FHL microfilm
numbers 7,834,457 and 8,188,370 respectively. The 1857 tax information for John Johnston is on p. 26.

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children were used to determine whether or not a John “no H” Johnston/Johnson was
our John H. Johnston.
Ten tax lists for John H. Johnston, spanning the years 1849 to 1858 revealed property
ownership, livestock and crops raised and a bit of information about his children. Five of
the years, he paid tax on either a town lot, acreage or both. In 1857 he paid tax on 28
acres of land on Pot Ripple Creek. Pot Ripple is a tributary of Aaron’s Branch located
just south of the confluence of Aaron’s branch and the Kentucky River. This is likely the
“hill land” he sold to E.T. Long in 1857-58. His absence from the tax lists for the years
1859 through 1861 indicate it is likely he died in late 1858 or early 1859.36

Tax List Summary: John H. Johnston, Henry County, Kentucky

Horses Value of
Town & metallic
Year Land Watercourse Lots Mares Cattle Children Hogs watches
1858 1 2 3 between 6 & 18
1857 28 acres Pot Ripple 1
1856 1 3 between 6 & 18
1855 30 acres B K 1 3 between 6 & 18 10
1854 1 4 2 between 6 & 18 7 5
1853 1 1 10 2 between 6 & 18 8 5
1852 1 1 6 2 between 5 & 16 9
1851 1
1850 2
1849 4 37

Nine tax lists for Lewis Johnston, spanning the years 1866 to 1878, revealed the same
type of information and more about him. There were four years during that span of time
in which Lewis was not found on the tax lists: 1867 and 1875-1877. The tax lists reveal
that Lewis raised tobacco and corn and the amounts in pounds and bushels of each,
respectively.

36
Ibid.
37
Ibid.

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 Tax List Summary: Lewis N. Johnston, Henry County, Kentucky
Tobacco Corn
Nearest Horses in in
Year Land Resident & Mares Children Hogs pounds bushels
1878 25 acres J Johnson 2 3 between 6 & 20
1874 68 acres William Hoskins 2 between 6 & 20 2000 200
1873 17 acres Watercourse 2 1 between 6 & 20 1000 200
1872 17 acres 1 1 between 6 & 20 5 1800 250
1871 17 acres 1 500 200
1870 17 acres Ky River 1 1800 150
1869 16 acres 1 1000 300
1868 This tax list only shows Lewis is over 21 and is enrolled in the militia.
1866 1 He was NOT 21 but was enrolled in the militia. 38

When reviewing the tax list pages and the summaries for John H. and Lewis N.
Johnston it becomes apparent that in some years some items were taxed and in other
years they were not. This is occurs with no rhyme or reason but is not unusual. Perhaps
one year he had no hogs—that is realistic. The “acreage/no acreage/acreage” years
imply he may have sold the land, however, an absence of deed records do not support
this theory. Perhaps he simply didn’t turn it in. Perhaps the tax commissioner failed to
list it. Either of those scenarios could have taken place.
Additionally, the items taxed and the questions asked on the tax lists varied over time.
During John H.’s era, the watercourse the acreage lay upon was important. During
Lewis N.’s era, the nearest neighbor became important. That information can help
visualize a “neighborhood.” Likewise, the age range for the children in the taxpayer’s
household changed over time. Those age ranges can help sort out tax payers with the
same or similar names.
Apparently neither man was a slave holder. Each of the tax lists revealed no numbers
for either man under the heading “Total Slaves.”
The bottom line is that the tax lists provided a glimpse into the lives of these two men
which was not found elsewhere.

38
Ibid.

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Dead Ends
There were quite a few “traditional” record sets investigated which returned no
information about John & Jane Johnston.
A search of available death records for John and Jane returned negative results.
Neither the Henry County death registers nor the 1860 mortality schedules from the
federal census for that year listed them. The notes at the end of the mortality schedule
stated there had been no prevailing diseases in the subdivision. Most of the individuals
on the schedule, who were around the age of our couple, perished from consumption,
typhoid fever or pneumonia.
A search for a probate record for John only yielded an 1854 court ordered appraisal of
personal property for a John Johnston in Henry County. However, his widow was not
named and neither were children; no slaves were appraised. Additional research would
show this was not the correct John Johnston.
A search for guardianship records for the children of John Johnston proved
unsuccessful.
A search of marriage records, in an effort to learn Jane’s maiden name, returned a
negative result. No marriage record was discovered for John and Jane Johnston who
may have married around 1843 or 1844, a year or two before the birth of the five-year-
old child enumerated with them in the 1850 census. At that time, in the state of
Kentucky, a marriage was recorded by the clerk of the county court in the county
Marriage Register. The clerks relied upon the officiants who performed the wedding
ceremonies to make the “minister’s returns” which entailed going to the courthouse with
the information about the wedding and giving it to the clerk to record in the register. Just
because the marriage of John and Jane was not recorded in the register does not mean
that it did not occur. It is possible their marriage return was one of several in a packet of
loose papers a minister returned and instead of writing each one down, the clerk merely
recorded the receipt of the packet of papers. The following notation was found
throughout the register books:

“This is to certify that I solemnized the rites of matrimony for

the within mentioned the [insert date here] [insert name of officiant
here]”39

39
Henry County, Kentucky “Marriage records, 1800-1962;” digital images, FamilySearch
(https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 25 February 2021); FHL microfilm 7,723,317; this statement was seen
several times with different officiant’s names in the marriage records dated between 1841 and 1845.

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An archivist at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives in Frankfort told the
researcher that while they have the registers, they do not have the loose papers.
Court order books provided no help. The only entry discovered regarding John H. was
an 1850 notation in which he and six other jurors were dismissed from service.

The Culmination of the Clues

The death record details, combined with clues from the census records, last will and
testament of John Douthitt and the deeds, allow the conclusion that John Johnston and
Jane Douthitt of Henry County, Kentucky were likely the parents of N. Lewis Johnston
who was born in Owen County, Kentucky in 1846 and died in Conway County,
Arkansas in 1927.
1927 Death Record:
 father: John Johnston, birthplace: Ala.
 mother: [unknown] Douthitt, birthplace: Kentucky
1850 Census Record:
Lewis Johnson, four years old:
 implied father: John Johnson
 implied mother: Jane
 implied sisters: E. 5, Martha 2.
1860 Census Record:
Johnson children in household with J.C. Douthitt:
 Martha J. age 12
 Sarah L. age 7
 John G. age 5
1868-1870 Probate Records:
 John Douthitt’s will dated 14 September 1857 includes a bequest of a tract of
land for his daughter, Jane Johnson, which was to go to her heirs upon her
death. As the eldest male, Lewis would have received the property.
 Lewis Johnson purchases several items from John Douthitt’s estate sale which
occurred on 22 September 1868: cutting box, sled & mattock $2.40; man’s
saddle & blanket $2.00; wood saw & square $1.40; fishing line & hooks 50¢; four
2 gallon jugs two six gallon jars $1.35; lot of old iron 85¢; one pot soap & jug 10¢;
1 set cups & saucers $1.25; big wheel $4.50, little wheel & reel $3.70

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  On 29 October 1870, L.N. Johnston was the witness on a receipt for $94.02
which Harriett Douthitt Aigner received from J.C. Douthitt as her part of the
surplus of John Douthitt’s estate settlement.
1858 Deed Records:
 John H. Johnston and his wife, Jane sold Lot No. 27 in the town of Lockport to
E.T. Long for $50 and medical bills rendered on 28 December 1857. On
December 23, they also sold E. T. Long about 30 acres of hill land lying between
Flat and Pot Ripple Creeks for $94.25. Both deeds were presented to be
recorded at the Henry County court on 27 April 1858 by Johnston and his wife.
 Lewis N. Johnston and his wife, Martha Susan sold 50 acres of land to John G.
Johnston for $150.00. The land lay on Arron’s Branch and shared property lines
with Silas P. Douthit, John Douthit, Owen Johnston and Sarah C. Dees.

The tax lists and marriage record provided additional glimpses into the lives of Lewis N.
Johnston and his wife, Martha Susan Clements Johnston, and the lives of his parents,
John H. Johnston and his wife, Jane Douthit Johnston.

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