Thank you so much for this information. You have answered so many questions for me
Alot of these questions have stumped me for quite a few years. Unfortunately family memories and stories have become mixed up over the years and I could not make sense of it all.
I have been slowly chipping away at the Johnston story. It appears that once William Johnston's Will went through probate the children of William and Hessy (as she was known), started to emigrate. Arthur Church Johnston, William Crawford Johnston and Sarah Isabella Johnston all went to New Zealand. Richard James Johnston and Thomas Courtnay Johnston went to Queensland Australia, with Thomas ending up in New Zealand. I am still tracking Richard as I am unsure if he also went to New Zealand or stayed in Australia. Joseph Clarke Johnston married his Church cousin in Iowa, after arriving in America about a year apart. Catharine is proving elusive although rumours in the family suggest she may have also gone to America.
John Kennedy Johnston stayed with his mother Hessy Church. Thank you for providing her details as well. There was talk that the family in New Zealand went back to Ireland for her funeral but I was unsure of when she died.
Again thanks for your information. I am still digesting this news.
Cheryl