| Notes |
- Jinnet's surname is thought to be Johnston after the middle name one of her sons.
It never made sense to me by naming patterns or evidence that Jean was a daughter of a Francis Johnston of New Kent, Virginia. There was no evidence of his children. There was no evidence of her husband James ever being in New Kent, Virginia. Then one record unraveled her story that fit every single fact located. It turns out her husband James Calhoon, owned land in both Rowan and Guilford Counties in North Carolina. In fact, he owned a lot of land. Guilford was formed from parts of Rowan so it's possible his land crossed these two counties. We can currently verify he's there by 1771. However, they were having children in the 1760's, so where did he meet Jean? Jean's ancestry and location was key.
This began to unfold when I discovered that James Calhoon owned 1000 acres in Rowan Co., NC in Capt. Armstrong's District in 1781. Within 4 households of him lived a John Johnston. As you probably know, James and Jean named their youngest son John Johnstone Calhoon as verified by the 1730 census. When I researched John Johnston, I found him living within a tight family grouping in Capt. Armstrong's District in the 1778 census. John was wealthy by then, but a William Johnston was even wealthier. William appeared to be paying taxes on an unsettled estate for a deceased William Johnston also. Living in the grouping was a Robert and Robert Jr. Johnston. Then I learned that Johnstons in the area, particularly a different William Johnston, b. 1737, had been invited by Governor Gabriel Johnston of NC to move from his hometown region of Lochmaben, Annan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland to supply the backwoods of North Carolina with European goods and/or help fortify the and grow the frontier. Perhaps he suggested that land dealings would also be a wise investment. Several responded to his call participating in either capacity.
I theorized Jinnet's family could have been some of them. Sure enough, I found a wonderful fit that has matched these facts. Her father was William, baptized in 1710 in the Annan Parish Records for Dumfriesshire, Scotland. He had a daughter Jannet in 1732 and a son John in 1733 in that same location. William also had a brother Robert b. 1707 of Annan. Robert had a son Robert of Annan also in birth records listed on https://scotlandspeople.org. After checking for land dealings of William, her father, I discovered that he had likely come to Rowan Co., NC by 1757 when he purchased land. He probably brought at least 3 of his children with him, Jannet (spelled Jinnet in her husband's will), John and a son James. James received William's land when William passed in 1765. His brother Robert and nephew Robert Jr. obviously had arrived by 1778 also. Neither Robert was nearly as wealthy as William, though Robert Jr had done well for himself by that point in time.
Jinnet would have been there to meet her husband and start having children by at least the 1760's. There is no evidence that James Calhoon was of Annon, Scotland. He arrived in a different manner which is being studied and then will be refined in his biography also. Jinnet and James would have met in Rowan. Parts of Rowan were formed into Guilford Co., NC in 1771.
The following men were in the Guilford Co., NC in militia records dated 1779: William Johnston (Jinnet's father? or more likely a cousin, William Johnston b 1737, a very successful merchant and land dealer), John Johnston (her brother), an Alexander Johnston who is listed as the son of a John back in Annon, Scotland, Gideon Johnston (Gov. Gabriel's brother) and Mordecai Johnston (Not b. in Annan records).
We know that Jannet's husband called her Jinnet from his will. All Jinnet's in Scotland were spelled starting with Ja. In her will she goes by the nickname Jean.
Will of Jean Calhoun: File #082
State of North Carolina, Guilford County, In the name of God, Amen. Noing (?) the frailty of my body (2 words garbled) mind and memory and do by these presents, constitute and appoint this my last will and testament. First, after my lawful debts and funeral charges (?) be paid, I give to my loving daughter(s) Elizabeth Flemson (?), Mary Wheaty (?), Ann Holliday, Sarah Love, Alse Tharp and Nancy Reed (?) all my (1 word garbled) clothes and then to be equally divided among those above mentioned daughters. I give to my loving son James Calhoun five shillings to be paid out of my personal estate. Also I give to my loving son Samuel Calhoun one bed, bed sheet, and furniture and one stove (one word garbled) by the said Samuel Calhoun paying my burial charges. Also I give my loving son Robert Calhoon five shillings to be paid (?) out of my estate. Also I give to my loving son John Calhoon five shillings to be paid (?) out of my estate (one word garbled). I give to my loving granddaughter Ester Calhoon one bed, bed sheet (?) (two words garbled) five sheets (3 words garbled) bed quilts, fore head of cattle and the (1 word garbled) of them, fore head of sheap (2 words garbled) of them half dozen of (1 word garbled) plates (4 words garbled) . Dishes, half a dozen spoons, half a dozen knives and forks, two iron pots, one (1 word garbled) oven, (2 words garbled), one (2 word garbled), one (1 word garbled) wheel, one (1 word garbled) cotton chard's, one (1 word garbled) chest and stone pot. Also the remains of my estate, if any, I desire to be given to the above named Ester Calhoon Lastly, I do these presents, constitute, and appoint Benjamin Barnhams (?) executors of my last will and testament and I do by these presents disallows all other wills fome (?) testament and this above to be my last will and testament. Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Charles Barnham (?) (jur..). , 10 Jun 1804. Henry Calhoon Nathan Barnham (?) State of North Carolina, Guilford County, May tenn (?) 1805. The execution of the within will was proven in open court by the oath of Charles Barnham and on motion, ordered to be recorded. Then (1 word garbled) in Benjamin Barnham and qualified as executor of said will. John Hamilton, Clerk
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1732 - Bef 1804 (< 72 years)
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