Descendants of Brownlee Johnston (1812-1874)
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Descendants of Brownlee Johnston (1812-1874) In this record, persons are numbered consecutively. If they married and are known to have children, there is a plus sign (+) in front of their name, which indicates that additional information about them can be found in the next generation. I am solely responsible for all errors in this record. Corrections and additions are appreciated. Stephen W. Johnson 222 Parkman Ave. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213 [email protected] July 26, 2019 Descendants of Brownlee Johnston 26 July 2019 First Generation 1. Unknown JOHNSTON was born (date unknown). Elizabeth UNKNOWN was born in 1773 in Maryland. This according to the 1850 Census, which shows an an Elizabeth Johnston, age 77 and born in Maryland, to be living with Brownlee Johnston in the Third Ward of the City of Pittsburgh. Elizabeth is presumed to be Brownlee's mother. Unknown JOHNSTON and Elizabeth UNKNOWN had the following child: +2 i. Brownlee JOHNSTON, born December 16, 1812, Ohio; married Eliza Ann RAE OR REA OR RAY, March 24, 1840, Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania; died November 28, 1874, West Wheatfield Twp., Indiana County, Pennsylvania. Second Generation 2. Brownlee JOHNSTON was born on December 16, 1812 in Ohio. He died on November 28, 1874 at the age of 61 in West Wheatfield Twp., Indiana County, Pennsylvania. According to a handwritten "Family Record", probably from a family Bible, obtained from Emma Johnson Farmin: 1. Brownlee was born on December 16, 1812, 2. Brownlee died November 28, 1874, and and 3. Brownlee and Eliza Ann Ray were married on March 24, 1840. This source is believed to be generally accurate and will be relied upon unless other sources require a different conclusion. Brownlee's surname is shown as "Johnson" in this Family Record. According to the 1840 Census, which shows heads of households only, a "Brown L Johnson" , age 20-30, lived in the South Ward (3rd Wd) of the City of Pittsburgh. One female, age 20-30, presumably Brownlee's wife, lived in the same household. (An Edward Johnson, age 20-30, is next on the 1840 Census list.) The population of Pittsburgh and Allegheny City in 1840 was 21,515. On April 10, 1845, the City of Pittsburgh, including the South Ward, burned to the ground. The fire destroyed over 1500 structures in just five hours. According to the 1850 Census, Brownlee Johnston, age 38 (born abt. 1812), a carpenter born in in Ohio, lived in the Third Ward of the City of Pittsburgh with his wife, Eliza W. (30) (born abt. 1820), and children: Elizabeth (10), Henry (8), John (6), and Winifred (1) and Elizabeth Johnson (77), presumably Brownlee's mother, who is shown to have been born in Maryland. According to Fahnestock's Pittsburgh Directory for 1850, Brownlee was a carpenter who lived/worked on Fleming Street in Allegheny. The 1852 Pittsburgh City Directory shows the same information. Fleming Street was also known as Clay Alley. According to the 1860 Census, "Brown L. Johnston", age 48 (born abt. 1812) and born in Ohio, lived in the 3rd Wd. of the City of Pittsburgh with Eliza A. (39) (born abt. 1821), presumably his wife, and Henry H. (18), John (15), Robert M. (6) and Frank (4) (presumably his children). Brownlee and Robert are said to be carpenters. A Gilman W.(23) and Elizabeth (19) Davis, presumably Brownlee's son-in-law and daughter, were living with Brownlee and his family in 1860. Gilman was born in Ohio. According to the 1870 Census, Brownlee, age 58 (born abt. 1812), lived with Eliza, age 50 (born abt. 1820), 2 Descendants of Brownlee Johnston 26 July 2019 and Harry, age 28, and Frank, age 14. They lived in the 2nd Ward of Allegheny City. Brownlee and Harry were house carpenters, Frank worked in a tin shop and Eliza kept house. According to the Pittsburgh City Directory in 1870, Brownlee Johnson was a carpenter living at 106 Fremont Avenue in Allegheny City in 1870. The 1871 and 1872 Pittsburgh City Directories shows the same thing, and Henry Johnson, also a carpenter was also living at 106 Freemont Ave. in Allegheny City. In 1870, the population of Pittsburgh and Allegheny City was 139,500. Given the remarkable growth of the City in the 30 years since 1840, Brownlee must have enjoyed steady work as a carpenter. The 1873 Pittsburgh City Directory shows that Louise Johnston, Henry's wife was a widow living at 20 Clay Alley. Likewise the 1875 Pittsburgh City Directory. Clay Alley was located in Allegheny City. The 1876 PIttsburgh City Directory also shows Eliza Johnston, a widow, also living at 20 Clay Alley in Allegheny City. Thus, it appears that Brownlee died between November 20, 1872 and 1876. By deed dated November 20, 1872, and recorded in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, on December 11, 1872 (Deed No. 3043, Deed Book A37, Page 353), Brownlee Johnson, of the second ward in the City of Pittsburgh acquired two parcels of property containing 90 and 180 acres of property in West Wheatfield Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania from Edward PIpstill (sp.?) for $7,500.00. According to the description of the property in the deed (and confirmed by a map from Beers Atlas dated 1871), the property bordered property owned by J. Johnson (or Johnston). According to a record in the Recorder's Office of Indiana County (No. 3034), on December 14, 1874, Letters of Administration were granted to Eliza A. Johnson for the estate of her late husband Brown Lee Johnson, who died on November 28, 1874 at 4:00 p.m. He had died intestate. The December 24, 1874 edition of the Indiana Progress, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, has a legal notice to the effect that Eliza A. Johnston had been granted letters of administration for the estate of Brownlee Johnston, who had died in Wheatfield Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. According to an inventory filed with the Indiana County Orphan's Court by Eliza A. Johnson (Orphan's Court No. 10-260), Brownlee died with the following issue: (i) Elizabeth, married to G. W. Davis, but lately deceased, leaving one child, Estella May Davis, a minor having for her guardian Israel Doty, Esq., (ii) Henry Harrison Johnson, (iii) John Johnson, lately deceased, leaving surviving a widow named Hannah C. Johnson and four children: Lillie Mary, Henry Ray, Brownlee and Robert, all of whom are minors, having for their guardian Franklin Johnston, and (iv) Franklin Johnston. This record confirms that John Johnson was married to Hannah C. and the names of their children, including Brownlee. The October 3, 1878 edition of the Indiana Progress contains a legal notice of an order of the Orphan's Court, ordering the sale of the property of Brownlee Johnston, deceased, containing 175 acres, 140 of which are cleared and including a frame house. Thus, Brownlee and his wife had moved to West Wheatfield Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania in the early 1870's, and Brownlee died in 1874. According to the 1880 Census, E. A Johnston, age 60 (born abt. 1820) and born in Pennsylvania, was keeping house. She lived with Hannah Johnston (age 35), her daughter-in-law (it is not clear who Hannah's husband was) and her grandchildren: Lilly (13), Harry R. (13), Brownlee (10) and Robert (8). Also living in the house were her son Frank (24) and Estella Davis (17), who is listed as her grand-daughter. Four borders also lived in the house. Brownlee JOHNSTON and Eliza Ann RAE OR REA OR RAY were married on March 24, 1840 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania. Eliza Ann RAE OR REA OR RAY was born on October 16, 1820 in 3 Descendants of Brownlee Johnston 26 July 2019 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She died on March 22, 1896 at the age of 75. According to a handwritten "Family Record", probably from a family Bible, obtained from Emma Johnson Farmin: 1. Eliza was born October 16, 1820, and 2. Eliza died on March 22, 1896. This source is believed to be generally accurate and will be relied upon unless other sources require a different conclusion. According to the 1880 Census, E. A Johnston, age 60 and born in Pennsylvania, was keeping house. She lived with Hannah Johnston (age 35), her daughter-in-law (it is not clear who Hannah's husband was) and her grandchildren: Lilly (13), Harry R. (13), Brownlee (10) and Robert (8). Also living in the house were her son Frank (24) and Estella Davis (17), who is listed as her grand-daughter. Four borders also lived in the house. Brownlee JOHNSTON and Eliza Ann RAE OR REA OR RAY had the following children: +3 i. Elizabeth Ray "Lizzie" JOHNSON, born December 22, 1840, Pennsylvania; married Gilman Warren DAVIS, July 4, 1860; died February 21, 1877, Centerville, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania. +4 ii. Henry Harrison "Harry" JOHNSON, born October 19, 1842, Pennsylvania; married Tryphena Elizabeth ARBUTHNOT, May 18, 1876, Allegheny City, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania; died April 2, 1906, Leavenworth, Kansas. +5 iii. John F. JOHNSON, born January 29, 1845; married Hannah Catherine DAVIS, September 11, 1866; died September 22, 1873. 6 iv. Winifred JOHNSTON was born on April 18, 1849. She died on December 31, 1851 at the age of 2. According to a handwritten "Family Record", probably from a family Bible, obtained from Emma Johnson Farmin, and a related handwritten "Family Tree" obtained from Corrine Farmin, daughter of Emma Johnson Farmin, Winnefred (possible Winfield in the Family Record) was born on April 18, 1849 and died on December 31, 1851. These sourcesa are generally believed to be accurate and will be relied upon unless other sources require a different conclusion.