Joseph Johnston was born in Ireland in 1745, along with his brothers and sisters. Their names were John, William, Francis, Margaret, Nancy Agness, Jean and Jane. Joseph Johnston was a sergeant in Capt. Joseph Spencer's Company in the Revoluntionary War. He moved to S.C. in 1778 and married Margaret Graham at Graham Ford, S.C. in 1781. All of his children were born there in York District, S.C. Their children were; James, Josiah, Francis, Samuel, Joseph, Robert, Ebenezer, William, Margaret, Jean and Elijah. Most of his brothers and sisters moved to Tennessee and Joseph moved to Blount Co. Joseph Johnston and family lived on a farm 1 1/2 miles south of Blair's Ferry near Loudon, Blount Co.

This family is credited with being descendants of the Johnston's of Annandale, Scotland. Truth to this as the old farm in Monroe Co, what is now Loudon Co, Tenn. on which Joseph Johnston is said to have lived his last years and where his son, Ebenezer, lived was called "Annandale." Josiah Johnston, another son of Joseph Johnston, also named his estate in Bradley Co, Tenn, "Annandale."

Joseph Johnston died in 1825 and was buried on "old plantation" in Monroe Co, where they lived later moved him (I believe) to the old brick church cemetery, which was called Big Springs Cemetery. The D.A.R. placed a marker near his tombstone, to recognize his service in the Revoluntionary War. Margaret, his wife, died in 1824 and is buried in Big Springs Cemetery, along with several of their children.

The Johnston's, Orr's, Shaw's, Walker's, Rowan's and Henderson families were living adjoining each other and about Big Springs Church.

Josiah Johnston was the first Post Master at Unitia, 13 miles west of Maryville, Blount Co. After 1870, that part of Blount Co became Loudon, Co, Tenn.

21 January 1803 Book A pg 109

John Johnston Jr of Blount Co Tenn deeds to Samuel Johnston 123 acres includes "where said Samuel Johnston now lives" on Cloyds Creek-witness Andrew Lackey-Prov.-Feb. term 1803-Reg.-Aug. 1803,

J. Houston, C.B.C.

4 August 1812 Book C pg 139-141

Abraham Wallace to Samuel Rowan of Blount Co.

17 July 1812 Book D pg 302-304

Samuel Shaw deeds to Josiah Johnston of Blount Co Tenn 168 acres in Blount Co -$450.00, district South of French Broad River and Holston, joins Joseph Johnston, south.

13 February 1815 Book D pg 171-172

William Montgomery deeds to Josiah Rowan both of Blount Co 27 acres on Pistol Creek

9 March 1816 Book E pg 42-43

Jones, et. al. deeds to Joseph Johnston 104 acres on Bakens Creek. Witnessed by Samuel Johnston.

1813 Vol 1-340

Richard Jones was witness between Samuel Johnston and George Montgomery; joins William Orr; on Cloyds Creek, Blount Co.

13 Oct 1799 Book A pg 95-96

Between Stockly Donaldson of Knox Co: deeds to John Johnston, Amos Edwards of Knox Co & State of Tenn and Michael Montgomery of Sulivan Co and Josiah Danforth of Blount Co for $5,000 for 100,000 acres lying in the fork of the Holston & Tenn Rivers

14 Dec 1810 Vol 1-86

John Johnston deceased, by administrator and sheriff, Samuel Cowan to Josiah Danforth, bid in by agt. J B Cusick because of suit of said Danforth vs -adm- John Finley; advertised in Gazette of Knoxville & Western Centenel, published by John B Hood, as per legal notice, all the interest said Johnston had in the 100,000 acres Stockly Donaldson Tract Grant #204 wit J.Gardner, John Wilkinson, Andrew Cowan prv Dec Session 1810

Reg 3/6/1811 J. Houston, CBC.

20 Sept 1800 Vol 1-40

Alexander Henderson was witness, along with Samuel Shaw on deed: John Johnston Sr, to John Johnston Jr and William Johnston, for 750 acres on Cloyds Creek, Blount Co, Tenn.

19 Mar 1819 Vol 1-581

Samuel Johnston Sr, to John H Johnston for $500 pd - 97 1/4 ac- joins Samuel Johnston - witt- Josiah Borren, Samuel M Johnston- ack-March 1819, Jac F Foute, clk, reg 4-30-1819. (area above is about Unitia)

13 June 1818 Vol 2-196

Samuel Johnston to Eli Raohe (?) for $500 pd 125 ac- on TN River- joins Hugh Kelso, James J Green- wit Wm Montgomery, David Carson, Don Carlos, John McCroskey-ack -Dec 1821

Jac F Foute, clerk- reg 1-15-1822 (area above is above Morgantown near 2 miles)

18 Nov 1822 Vol 2-307

Samuel Johnston to Wm Dieneviddaee(?) of Greene Co TN 89 ac on Crocked Creek-granted George Snider in 1810 #1841, joins William Walker -wit James McGinley, Joseph R (area above is somewhere S of Maryville nr 7 miles)

21 Feb 1820 Vol 2-149

Samuel M Johnston to David Walker for $500.00 pd -84 ac joins Samuel Johnston Sr, John Johnston: wit- Mary Mathews, Simon Cavett ack

March 1821-Jac F Foute, clk reg 15 May 1821

21 Nov 1801 Vol 1-52

John Johnston Sr, to Francis and Samuel Shaw-761 acres on Holston River, including Cloids Creek-wit-Alexander Osborn (or Asburn) , Samuel Johnston-prov-Feb term 1804, ordered Registered, James Houston Clerk of Courts of Please & Sessions, Reg.-August 9 1804

26 Jan 1838 Vol 1 N-49

Samuel Shaw lives on south side of Holston River and on north side of Unitia and west side of Cloyds Creek.

1813 Vol 1-340

Samuel Johnston to George Montgomery for $400.00 pd 172 acres, on waters of Cloyds Creek, joins Jas Logan, Joseph Wilson, William Our (Ore), Samuel Johnston, Geo Montgomery-wit-Richard Jones-ack. Dec term 1813- J. Houston, clerk, Reg. 4-17 1816

9 April 1818 Deed Book E p.298

James Henry to Samuel Johnston of Blount Co Tenn. 230 acres on Cloyds Creek . Bounded in part by John Johnston's land.

23 Feb 1818 Deed Book F p.10

Samuel Johnston, Senior deeds to Samuel Johnston Jr. both of Blount Co. $500.00 pd 84 acres joins Samuel Johnston Sr and John Johnston. Witnessed by Josiah Rowan and Joseph Edwards. Ack-March 1819

Jac. F. Foute, Clk - Reg. 5-1-1819

13 Feb 1815 Deed Book D p.171-172

William Montgomery deeds to Josiah Rowan both of Blount Co. 27 acres on Pistol Creek.

16 March 1839 Deed

John Walker owned 180 acres, in Blount Co, which includes the Big Springs.

10 August 1822 Vol 2-393

Samuel Shaw sells land to John Taylor. On waters of Bakers Creek-part of grant to Montgomery on

14 May 1810 by Willie Blount, (Gov)

18 Nov 1833 Vol T-182

Samuel Johnston of Monroe County, Tenn

1857-1864 Will

David Walker, the heirs of my daughter Margaret Henderson.dec'd, David W, Alexander, Mary Jane,

William Erskine Henderson. He names his eight children, and another grandchild, Alice Walker, of son Joseph, dec'd.

1874-1875 Will

Elijah Walker, Sr., names nephews, neices, brothers and sisters,"heirs of sister Hettie Johnson; heirs of my niece Hettie Henderson, dec'd.

30 Oct 1841 Will

Francis Shaw, dec'd by his widow, Elizabeth Shaw sells, 13 Nov 1846. Francis Shaw dec'd by his heirs , namely, Mary A (Shaw) Duncan and husband and Francis A Duncan of Louisa Co, Iowa to Andrew Ferguson. Power of Atty. to get for us all that we should have of the estate of Francis Shaw

Joseph Johnston's Will Blount Co, TN Will Book 1 pg. 81

In the name of God, Amen, I Joseph Johnston, being weak in body but of sound mind and memory, for which I thank God, and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life, and being desirous to dispose of all such worldly substancas it hath pleased God to bless me with, I give and bequeath the same in manner following, Vis, I bequeath to my son, James, a negro boy named Jack, to be his until he arrives to the age of thirty years, and then he is to be set free, within said thirty years, he is to be taught to read. I bequeath to my son Josiah, a negro boy named Moses, to be his until he arrives at the age of thirty year, and then he is to be set free, in which time he is to be taught to read. I bequeath to my son Samuel, a negro girl named Aremy, to be his until she arrives at the age of thirty year, in which time she is to be taught to read then set free. I bequeath to my son Joseph, a negro boy named Jerry, to be his until he shall arrive at the age of thirty years, then to be set free, in which time he is to be taught to read. I bequeath to my sons , Robert and Ebeneazer, a negro boy named Arnie and a negro twin girl, named Winny to belong to the two, to be theirs until they arrive at the age of thirty years and then they are to be set free, in which time they are to be taught to read. Also to said Robert and Ebeneazer, I bequeath the one fourth of the plantation I now live on and two stills and a wagon,and all the personl property I now possess, at my death. I bequeath to my son William, the three-fourths of the plantation I now live on, also a negro girl named Esther, she is to be his until she arrives at the age of thirty, then she is to be set free and within said time she is to be taught to read. I bequeath to my daughter Jean, a negro girl named Susan, to be hers until she arrives at the age of thirty, then she is to be set free and within said time she is to be taught to read. I bequeath to my daughter Margaret, a negro girl named Milly, to be hers until she arrives at the age of thirty, within said time she is to be taught to read. I bequeath to my son Francis's daughters Sally and Margaret, a negro girl named Mary Ann. Same conditions. I also allow my books of history to be divided amongst my boys. I also allow and it is fully understood that should any or all of the within Negro girls have any children before they arrive at the age of thirty, they are to be set free by their owners when they arrive at the age of thirty, and to taught to read and so continue from generation to generation. I do hereby constitute and appoint my sons Josiah and Robert, executors of this my last will and testament. Hereby revoking all other wills and former wills and testaments by me hereto made. In witness thereof I have set my hand and seal this 27th day of April, 1824.

Joseph Johnston

Signed, sealed and Declared to be the last will and testament of the above Joseph Johnston, in presence of us who at his request and in his presence have hereunto subscribed our names to same. R. McCully Joseph Henderson

( Jerry L. Johnston )

( Swanton, OH )

HISTORY OF BIG SPRINGS CHURCH

Big Springs Cemetery and Church are located nine miles west of Maryville, TN, on the Friendsville Road. The Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in Blount Co.and the oldest grave with the oldest legible tombstone.

Among the graves there, one is of Joseph Johnston and his wife Margaret. Another is John

The Church is thought to be the oldest Church organization in Blount County. Records of the beginning of the word here were lost but records elsewhere establish the fact that as early as 1782 a petition was signed and presented to the Synod of the Associate Presbyterian Church requesting the services of a minister.

No settled pastor was secured at this time but the call was answered by traveling ministers who came long distances on horseback traditionally from Middle Tennessee, where there was the head-quarters of the Church.

Churches such as this one and Fork Creek, in Monroe County, were commonly known as "Seceders". The Associate Presbyterian Church being a descendent of the first secession from the Established Church of Scotland--therefor "Seceder".

The land that the church and cemetery lies on was deeded to John Walker from James and Francis

( Jerry L. Johnston)

( Swanton, OH )

The Host for the Blount County Genealogical Page is Kay Snow

Page was last updated June 7, 2002.

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