1851/2 Census Johnstons of Mountain Township, Dundas County, Canada West

Research Note by Wesley Johnston - begun 8 Jan 2021, last updated 18 Jan 2023

https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/34820597/person/172255435697/media/eb9902e9-113f-4ad9-8f65-d3a64357dc86

At this time, I have no known connection to this Johnston family.

Overview

The 1851 Census of Canada West (taken in 1852) found multiple JOHNSTON households. This research note presents the information in those households and attempts to find a tentative working hypothesis of how the members of those households are related or not.

Agricultural Census

On Ancestry the Agricultural Census begins at image 111 of the 127 images for Mountain Township: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1061/images/e094-e002345822

The enumerator, George L. Brosffle, began in lots 1 and 2 of Concessions 1, 2 and 3, starting with his own lot. (See the 1879 Illustrated historical atlas of the counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ont map of the township at https://digital.library.mcgill.ca/countyatlas/Images/Maps/TownshipMaps/sto-m-mountain.jpg) This is the northwest corner of Mountain Townships. The 12 Concessions are numbered west to east and the 24 lots numbered north to south.

The following entries appear on the Agricultural Census. Concessions are given with Roman numerals and lots with Arabic numerals. A single entry covers two images, so that the image numbers skip one image. In addition, the following includes only those images with JOHNSTON or related names. This does NOT mean anyone was omitted. I checked every name on all pages of the Agricultural Census.

Image 111

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1061/images/e094-e002345822

VI-15 - ?Simon? JOHNSTON - 100 acres (1879 map shows S. JOHNSTON 50 acres)

Image 115

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1061/images/e094-e002345826

III-20 (or 21) - James JOHNSTON - 100 acres (1879 map shows James N. JOHNSTON with 35 acres on III-19 and none on III-20)

Image 119

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1061/images/e094-e002345826

V-21 - Walter JOHNSTON - 150 acres (1879 map shows no Johnston on V-21)

V-24 - Thomas JOHNSTON - 200 acres (1879 map shows him on the south half of the lot, with John B. JOHNSTON on the north half)

VII-20 and 21 - James S. JOHNSTON - 700 acres (1879 map shows him with 150 acres on VII-20 and none on lot 21)

V-18 - George SUFFLE - 100 acres (1879 map shows him with 100 acres on V-18 as George SUFFLE Sr. and with a George SUFFLE with 100 acres on V-17 and VIII-20) - The wife of James N. JOHNSTON (1829-1804) Hannah SUFFEL was the daughter of George SUFFLE.

Personal Census

On Ancestry the Personal Census begins at image 1 of the 127 images for Mountain Township: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1061/images/e094-e002345712

The following JOHNSTON entries appear on the Personal Census. Each entry spans three images. The URL gives the first of the three images.

Images 3-5 (Lines 13-24)

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1061/images/e094-e002345714

Simon JOHNSTON - Farmer - born Ireland - Wesleyan Methodist - age 47 [thus born about 1805] - Married

Mary Johnston - born Ireland - Wesleyan Methodist - age 43 - Married

Elen Johnston - born Ireland - Wesleyan Methodist - age 20 - Single

Maryann Johnston - born Ireland - Wesleyan Methodist - age 19 - Single

John Johnston - born Ireland - Wesleyan Methodist - age 17 - Single

James Johnston - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 14 - Single [Thus the family arrived in Canada sometime from about 1835 to 1838.]

Margaret Johnston - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 11 - Single

Susan Johnston - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 10 - Single

Catharine Johnston - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 8 - Single

Simon Johnston - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 7 - Single

George Johnston - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 5 - Single

William Johnston - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 2 - Single

Attending School: 4 males, 5 females

Log house occupied by 1 family

The next household was John GRAHAM who owned a "sawmill $300 [= "cost"] drove by water" and employed 2 people. "The stream is small and [word partially lost due to missing paper] drive a mill mire than 3 months in a year."

Images 21-23 (Lines 17-25)

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1061/images/e094-e002345732

Thomas N. JOHNSON - Farmer - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 40 [thus born about 1812] - Married

Nancy JOHNSON - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 40 - Married

John JOHNSON - Laberer - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 18 - Not married

Harvy JOHNSON - Laorer - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 15 - Not married

Mary Ann JOHNSON - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 13 - Not married

Emeline JOHNSON - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 12 - Not married

William A. JOHNSON - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 8 - Not married

Nancy JOHNSON - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 6 - Not married

Nicholas JOHNSON - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 1 - Not married

Attending School: 2 males, 2 females

Frame house of 1 1/2 stories with 1 family

Images 27-29 (Lines 48-49)

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1061/images/e094-e002345738

Edward BROWER - Merchant - born Canada - Church of England - age 38 [thus born about 1814] - Married

Rebea JOHNSTON - born Ireland - Wesleyan Methodist - age 48 [thus born about 1804] - Widow

Frame house of 1 story with 1 family that is a shop, store, inn or tavern

Images 43-45 (Lines 40-48)

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1061/images/e094-e002345754

Charles DEZEL - Farmer - born United States - Presbyterian - age 32 [thus born about 1820] - Married

Nancy DEZEL - born Canada - Presbyterian - age 25 [thus born about 1827] - Married [Maiden name apparently HOLMES per possible 1855 dau Alice 1922 death https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/60872/images/44471_355115-01621]

Tilda DEZEL - born Canada - Presbyterian - age 7 [thus born about 1845] - Not Married

John A DEZEL - born Canada - Presbyterian - age 1 [thus born about 1851] - Not Married - Birth during 1851

Archibald DEZEL - Labourer - born United State - Presbyterian - age 22 [thus born about 1830] - Not Married

James JOHNSTON - Farmer - born Canada - Church of England - age 23 [thus born about 1829] - Married

Hanah JOHNSTON - born Canada - Church of England - age 18 [thus born about 1834] - Married

Nickolas JOHNSTON - Farmer - born Ireland - Church of England - age 75 [thus born about 1777] - Married

Margaret JOHNSTON - born Ireland - Church of England - age 71 [thus born about 1781] - Married

Frame house of 1 1/2 stories with 1 family

Images 63-65 (Lines 13-21)

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1061/images/e094-e002345774

Walter JOHNSTON - Farmer - born Ireland - Church of England - age 47? [thus born about 1805] - Married

Fidelia JOHNSTON - born United States - Church of England - age 37 [thus born about 1815] - Married

Clarisa JOHNSTON - born Canada - Church of England - age 15 [thus born about 1837] - Not Married

Maryam JOHNSTON - born Canada - Church of England - age 13 [thus born about 1839] - Not Married

Nancy JOHNSTON - born Canada - Church of England - age 10 [thus born about 1842] - Not Married

Lester JOHNSTON - born Canada - Church of England - age 8 [thus born about 1844] - Not Married

Milon JOHNSTON - born Canada - Church of England - age 6 [thus born about 1846] - Not Married

Thomas JOHNSTON - born Canada - Church of England - age 4 [thus born about 1848] - Not Married

Eliza JOHNSTON - born Canada - Church of England - age 1 [thus born about 1851] - Not Married

Log house with 1 family

Images 63-65 (Lines 40-50) and Images 65-67 (Lines 1-5)

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1061/images/e094-e002345774

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1061/images/e094-e002345776

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1061/images/e094-e002345778

Andrew DUNLOP- Farmer - born Ireland - Episcopal Methodist - age 36 [thus born about 1816] - Married

Mary DUNLOP - born Ireland - Episcopal Methodist - age 33 [thus born about 1819] - Married

Samuel DUNLOP - Laborer (possibly crossed out) - born Canada - Episcopal Methodist - age 14 [thus born about 1838] - Not Married

Elen DUNLOP - born Canada - Episcopal Methodist - age 10 [thus born about 1842] - Not Married

Maryann DUNLOP - born Canada - Episcopal Methodist - age 8 [thus born about 1844] - Not Married

Sidny DUNLOP - born Canada - Episcopal Methodist - age 6 [thus born about 1846] - Not Married

William DUNLOP - born Canada - Episcopal Methodist - age 4 [thus born about 1848] - Not Married

Eliza DUNLOP - born Canada - Episcopal Methodist - age 1 [thus born about 1851] - Not Married

Thomas JOHNSTON - Farmer - born Scotland - Baptist - age 49 [thus born about 1803] - Single

James JOHNSTON - Laborer - born Canada - Baptist - age 26 [thus born about 1826] - Married

Dinah JOHNSTON - born Canada - Baptist - age 27 [thus born about 1825] - Married

Robert JOHNSTON - born Canada - Baptist - age 6 [thus born about 1846] - Not Married

Susanah JOHNSTON - born Canada - Baptist - age 5 [thus born about 1847] - Not Married

John JOHNSTON - born Canada - Baptist - age 4 [thus born about 1848] - Not Married

James JOHNSTON - born Canada - Baptist - age 2 [thus born about 1850] - Not Married

Hanah JOHNSTON - inmate - born Scotland - Baptist - age 51 [thus born about 1801] - Widow

Attending School: 1 males, 1 females

Shanty house occupied by 1 family

Images 65-67 (Lines 45-50) and Images 67-69 (Lines 1-6)

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1061/images/e094-e002345776

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1061/images/e094-e002345778

James JOHNSTON - Farmer - born Scotland - Episcopal Methodist - age 47 [thus born about 1805] - Married

Mary JOHNSTON - born Ireland - Wesleyan Methodist - age 41 [thus born about 1811] - Married

John MALOY - inmate - born Ireland- Wesleyan Methodist - age 77 [thus born about 1775] - Married

Ann MALOY - inmate - born Ireland - Wesleyan Methodist - age 80 [thus born about 1772] - Married

William JOHNSTON - Laborer (crossed out) - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 14 [thus born about 1838] - Not Married

Sarah JOHNSTON - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 12 [thus born about 1840] - Not Married

Susanah JOHNSTON - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 9 [thus born about 1843] - Not Married

Diana L JOHNSTON - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 4 [thus born about 1848] - Not Married

Ann M JOHNSTON - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 2 [thus born about 1850] - Not Married

John ROE - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 11 [thus born about 1841] - Not Married

William S ROE - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 10 [thus born about 1842] - Not Married

George M ROE - born Canada - Wesleyan Methodist - age 8 [thus born about 1844] - Not Married

Attending School: 4 males, 3 females

Log house occupied by 2 families

Images 71-73 (Lines 1-18)

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1061/images/e094-e002345782

John SLACK - Farmer - born Ireland - Church of England - age 54 [thus born about 1798] - Married

Mary Ann SLACK - born Ireland - Church of England - age 45 [thus born about 1807] - Married

Delila JOHNSTON - born Ireland - Church of England - age 25 [thus born about 1827] - Widow

Jane FAREL - born Ireland - Church of England - age 24 [thus born about 1828] - Widow

Maryan SLACK - born Canada - Church of England - age 20 [thus born about 1832] - Not married

Samuel SLACK - born Canada - Church of England - age 15 [thus born about 1837] - Not married

Catherine E SLACK - born Canada - Church of England - age 13 [thus born about 1839] - Not married

William SLACK - born Canada - Church of England - age 11 [thus born about 1841] - Not married

Harriet SLACK - born Canada - Church of England - age 10 [thus born about 1842] - Not married

John SLACK - born Canada - Church of England - age 8 [thus born about 1844] - Not married

Elysabeth JOHNSTON - born Canada - Church of England - age 9 [thus born about 1843] - Not married

Rosann JOHNSTON - born Canada - Church of England - age 7 [thus born about 1845] - Not married

Ann JOHNSTON - born Canada - Church of England - age 6 [thus born about 1846] - Not married

Elen JOHNSTON - born Canada - Church of England - age 4 [thus born about 1848] - Not married

Margaret JOHNSTON - born Canada - Church of England - age 2 [thus born about 1850] - Not married

Maryann FAREL - born Canada - Church of England - age 7 [thus born about 1845] - Not married

Catherine E FAREL - born Canada - Church of England - age 6 [thus born about 1846] - Not married

Jane FAREL - born Canada - Church of England - age 4 [thus born about 1848] - Not married

Shanty house occupied by 3 families

Evaluation

Family Origins: Ireland and Scotland

The most obvious revelation from examination of the detailed enumerations is that two families (images 63-69) originated from births in Scotland while the rest originated from births in Ireland. The question then is whether the Irish-birth families are related to each other or are distinct families.

The oldest JOHNSTON members of each household are as follows, for each place of origin.

Oldest Persons Born in Scotland

Thomas JOHNSTON (49, Single, Baptist) and Hanah JOHNSTON (51, Widow, Baptist) [images 63-67]

James JOHNSTON (47, Married, Episcopal Methodist) [Image 65] - wife Mary (41, Wesleyan Methodist, born Ireland) possibly with her parents John and Ann MALOY in house

Oldest Persons Born in Ireland

Simon and Mary Johnston (47, 43, Wesleyan Methodist) [image 3] - Concession VI, Lot 15

Thomas N. and Mary JOHNSON (40,40, Wesleyan Methodist) [image 21]

Widow Rebeca JOHNSTON (38, Widow, Wesleyan Methodist) [image 27] in hom of Edward BROWER

Nickolas and Margaert JOHNSTON (75, 71, Church of England [image 43] in same house as Charles and Nancy DEZEL and James and Hanah JOHNSTON (23, 18, Canada, Church of England)

Walter JOHNSTON (47?, Church of England) [image63] - Concession V, Lot 21

Widow Delila JOHNSTON (25, Church of England [image 71]

Matching the Families to the Lots

The uniquely named people in the Population Census can be assigned to the same-named people in the Agricultural Census, so that their Concession and Lot number is easily identified.

But some people with the same given name can not be easily assigned to a lot. And some people in the Population Census may not have owned land. So, the assignment of the remaining people to the lots is a challenge.

Specifically, there are lots for James JOHNSTON (III-20) and James S. JOHNSTON (VII-20 & 21). And there is one lot for Thomas JOHNSTON (V-24) while two families (one from Ireland and one from Scotland) have Thomas JOHNSTON as the immigrant.

Ancestors of James N. JOHNSTON

This research originated from the search for the ancestors of James N JOHNSTON (1829-1894). And we know his wife was Hannah, so that the married couple in image 43 are most likley him and his wife. And in this same house, immediatly after them are the married couple Nickolas and Margaret JOHNSTON. From the ages of James and Nickolas and Margaret it seems likely that Nickolas and Margaret JOHNSTON were the grandparents of James JOHNSTON.

Unless there was an error in the enumerator's recording of information, they were all living in the house headed by Charles DEZEL. I suspect that the enumerator failed to record the separate house that was the home of the four JOHNSTONs, so that they actually did not share a house with the DEZEL family. From other research, it appears that Charles DEZEL's wife's maiden name was Nancy HOLMES so that there was no connection between the DEZEL and JOHNSTON families.

Thus, it seems likely that Nicholas and Margaret JOHNSTON were the parents of some or all of the Ireland-born JOHNSTONs in the census and that one of those couples may have been the parents of James N. JOHNSTON.

However, I cannot account for any of the children of Nicholas and Margaret being his father so that I am carrying (as of 19 Jan 2023) James N. JOHNSTON as the son of Nicholas and Margaret JOHNSTON until other evidence supports a different conclusion.

We need Y-DNA tests for a known Y-DNA descendant of James and Margaret JOHNSTON and for a known Y-DNA descendant of Nicholas and Margaret JOHNSTON in order to clarify the other families in this research note. We do have a James and Hannah JOHNSTON verified Y-DNA descendant tester who is R-FTT72.