A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 23893
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia 800 East Broad Street Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000 USA Phone: (804) 692-3888 (Archives Reference) Fax: (804) 692-3556 (Archives Reference) Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives) URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/
Zachariah Johnston was born in 1742 in Augusta County,
Virginia, to William Johnston and Ann Johnston. He attended
Liberty Hall Academy and later was a trustee of Washington
College. Johnston was a prosperous farmer by the time the
American Revolution began. In 1776, he was appointed a captain
in the county militia. Johnston's company actively patrolled
against Indian uprisings, and, in 1781, participated in the
Virginia campaign which led to Lord Cornwallis' surrender.
Representing Augusta County in the House of Delegates from
1778 to 1791, Johnston was chair of the House committee on
religion and helped pass the "act for establishing religious
freedom" in 1786. After he moved to Rockbridge County,
Virginia, in 1792, he represented that county in the House of
Delegates in 1792 and 1797-1798. An opponent of paper money,
and a proponent of court reform and payment of British debts,
Johnston supported the federal Constitution in 1788. As
Augusta County's representative to the ratifying convention,
he was influential in having his section of the state
unanimously vote for ratification. In the 1790s, Johnston was
interested in connecting Virginia's western rivers to the
Potomac River. Johnston owned three plantations in Rockbridge
County, one in Augusta County, and lands in Kentucky. He
married Ann Robertson (d. 1818), and they had eleven children.
He died 7 January 1800 in Rockbridge County.
Papers, 1742-1856 (bulk 1772-1800), of Zachariah Johnston
(1742-1800) of Augusta and Rockbridge Counties, Virginia,
consisting of: accounts, affidavits, agreements, appraisals,
birth records, bonds, certificates, correspondence, deeds,
genealogies, inscriptions, land grants, lists, notebooks,
plats, poems, promissory notes, receipts, reports, and wills.
The bulk of the collection is correspondence between Johnston,
his sons, other family members, friends, and political
colleagues; and deals with family business and news, land
holdings in Virginia and Kentucky, and political matters. Also
includes a biography of Johnston by Matthew White Paxton, Jr.
(1898-1987).
AA: Cemetery inscription notes.
Elizabeth Johnston died 11 April 1742 and John Johnston
died 25 August 1756.
1 p. (1 print)
AB: Church letter. William Johnston
and wife, Ann, certified as having lived for two years
in the bounds of [Notingham?],
1 June 1747
1 p. (1 print)
AC: Promissory note. William Wright,
schoolmaster, to W[___] Johnston,
24 January 1749
1 p. (1 print)
AD: Promissory note. Robert McCutchon
to William Johnston,
27 March 1750
1 p. (1 print)
AE: Deed. James McDowell to Joseph
Lapesly, both parties of Augusta County, 400 acres in
Augusta County, recorded Augusta County,
18 June 1752
2 p. (2 prints), mutilated
AF: Receipt. Money received by Robert
Warnock from James Phillips on account of Patrick Burns,
5 March 1756
1 p. (1 print)
AG: Birth records of Johnston Family,
1763-1783
1 p. (1 print)
AH: Bond. Zachariah Johnston and
Thomas Calbreath to Robert and James Thompson, both
parties of Augusta County,
16 September 1772
1 p. (1 print)
AI: Letter. Alexander Robertson,
Castle [___], to Zachariah Johnston. Augusta [County],
9 August 1776
1 p. (2 prints)
AJ: Letter. Zachariah Johnston, Long
Meadow [Augusta County], to [___],
30 January 1779
1 p. (1 print)
AK: Receipt. Money received by James
Frazer from Zachariah Johnston,
28 April 1779
1 p. (1 print)
AL: Agreement. James Douglass,
Kentucky County, with Zachariah Johnston, Augusta
County,
9 September 1779
1 p. (2 prints), copy
AM: Letter. Zachariah Johnston, Long
Meadow, Augusta County, to [___],
3 and 6 January
1780
2 p. (2 prints)
AN: Letter. Samuel Wright to [___],
10 January 1780
1 p., (1 print)
AO: Letter. Samuel Wright to Zachariah
Johnston,
12 January 1780
1 p. (1 print)
AP: Letter. [Zachariah Johnston], Long
Meadow, [Augusta County], to [Samuel? Wright],
14 January 1780
1 p. (2 prints)
AQ: Letter. Samuel Wright to Zachariah
Johnston,
21 January 1780
1 p. (1 print)
AR: Letter. James Douglas,
Harrodsburg, to [___],
21 January 1780
1 p. (1 print)
AS: Letter. James Douglas,
Harrodsburg, to [___],
18 February 1780
1 p. (1 print)
AT: Letter. Zachariah Johnston,
Richmond, to [Edmund Randolph],
22 March 1781. Included on reverse
is Randolph's reply,
23 March 1781
2 p. (2 prints)
AU: Letter. James Douglas,
Williamsburg, to [___],
1 January 1782
1 p. (1 print)
AV: Receipt. Money received by James
Waddell from Capt. Johnston,
4 November 1782
1 p. (1 print)
AW: Letter. Zachariah Johnston, Long
Meadow, Augusta County, to [___] Dugles, Williamsburg,
9 January 1783
1 p. (2 prints)
AX: Letter. Zachariah Johnston, Falls
of Ohio, to Mrs. Ann Johnston, Augusta County,
11 May 1784
2 p. (3 prints)
AY: Letter. [Zachariah Johnston], Long
Meadow, [Augusta County], to [___],
21 September 1784
1 p. (1 print)
AZ: Letter. Alexander Robertson,
[Harl?]ins
Spring, to [Zachariah Johnston],
8 December 1784
1 p. (1 print)
BA: Receipt. Money received by W.
Fitzhugh from Z. Johnston on account of Col. Alex.
McClennehan for use of John Carter,
23 November 1785
1 p. (2 prints)
BB: Letter. George Clendinen,
Greenbrier County to [___],
20 April 1786
1 p. (1 print)
BC: Letter. [___], Harlings Springs,
to Capt. Zachariah Johnston, Augusta County,
10 June 1786
1 p. (1 print), incomplete
BD: Letter. Alexander Robertson,
Mercer County, to Capt. Zachariah Johnston, Augusta
County,
23 September 1787
3 p. (4 prints)
BE: Letter, Zachariah Johnston,
Richmond, to Mrs. Ann Johnston, Augusta County,
26 October 1787
2 p. (3 prints)
BF: Letter. George Clendinen,
Richmond, to [___],
7 December 1787
2 p. (2 prints)
BG: Wills. Joseph Lapsley, Sr.,
recorded Rockbridge County,
4 April 1792, [2 p. (2 prints),
copy]; and Joseph Lapsley, Jr., recorded Rockbridge
County,
3 April 1792, [2 p. (2 prints),
copy]
BH: Letter. John Harvie to Capt.
Zachariah
Johns[t]on, Augusta [County],
7 July 1788
3 p. (4 prints)
BI: Bond. William Galloway, Botetourt
County, to Zachariah Johnston,
18 September 1788
1 p. (2 prints)
BJ: Letter. George Clendinen,
Staunton, to [___],
10 January 1789
2 p. (3 prints)
BK: Certification of election of
Zachariah Johnston as elector to vote in the
presidential election, Botetourt County and surrounding
counties,
14 January 1789
2 p. (2 prints), copy
BL: Letter. W. Crogham, Louisville, to
[___],
24 August 1789
2 p. (2 prints)
BM: Letter. George Clendinen,
Staunton, to [___],
23 August 1789
1 p. (1 print)
BN: Letter. John Johnston, Botetourt,
to father, [Zachariah Johnston],
20 October 1789
3 p. (3 prints)
BO: Letter.
G[eorge]
Mason, Gunston Hall, to Zachariah Johnston,
Richmond,
29 October 1789
3 p. (4 prints)
BP: Letter.
Ed[ward]
Carrington, Charlottesville, to Zachariah
Johnston, Augusta County,
22 April 1790
1 p. (2 prints)
BQ: Letter.
Ed[ward]
Carrington, Richmond, to Zachariah Johnston,
Augusta [County],
30 April 1790
1 p. (2 prints)
BR: Letter. John Johnston,
Philadelphia, to father, Zachariah Johnston, Augusta
[County],
4 May 1790
1 p. (2 prints)
BS: Letter. John Johnston,
Philadelphia, to father, Zachariah Johnston, Augusta
County,
6 July 1790
1 p. (2 prints)
BT: Letter. Zachariah Johnston to son,
James Johnston,
2 August 1790
4 p. (4 prints)
BU: Letter. John Johnston,
Philadelphia, to father, Zachariah Johnston, Augusta
County,
20 September 1790
1 p. (2 prints)
BV: Letter.
Th[omas]
Jefferson, Monticello, to
Zachariah
Johnson, (sic)
7 October 1790
1 p. (2 prints)
BW: Letter.
G[eorge]
Mason, Gunston Hall, to Zachariah Johnston,
Richmond,
3 November 1790
3 p. (4 prints)
BX: Letter. George Clendinen,
Richmond, to [___],
7 December 1790
3 p. (3 prints)
BY: Letter. John Johnston,
Philadelphia, to father, Zachariah Johnston, Augusta
County,
8 January [17]91
3 p. (4 prints)
BZ: Letter. Zachariah Johnston, [Long]
Meadow, [Augusta County], to Major Croghan,
2 February 1791
3 p. (3 prints)
CA: Letter. John Johnston,
Philadelphia, to father, Zachariah Johnston, Augusta
County,
1 March 1791
3 p. (4 prints)
CB: Letter. Alexander Martin, Bourbon
County, to [___],
1 April 1791
1 p. (1 print), incomplete?
CC: Letter. George Craig to
Zachariah
Jonston (sic),
18 June [17]91
2 p. (2 prints)
CD: Letter. John Johnston,
Philadelphia, to mother, Mrs. Ann Johnston,
7 July [17]91
3 p. (4 prints)
CE: Letter.
J[ohn]
Johnston, Philadelphia, to father, Zachariah
Johnston, Augusta County,
14 September 1791
3 p. (4 prints)
CF: Letter. William Shannon, Jefferson
County, to Zachariah Johnston, Richmond,
20 September 1791
3 p. (4 prints)
CG: Letter. James Coursey to [___],
12 November 1791
1 p. (1 print)
CH: Letter. James Monroe,
Philadelphia, to
Zachariah
Johnson (sic) Richmond,
14 November 1791
2 p. (3 prints)
CI: Letter.
G[eorge]
Mason, Gunston Hall, to Zachariah Johnston,
Richmond,
18 November 1791
2 p. (4 prints)
CJ: Letter. Arthur Campbell, Richmond,
to
Zachariah
Johnstone (sic), Richmond,
21 November 1791
2 p. (4 prints)
CK: Letter.
A[ndre]w
Moore, Philadelphia, to Zachariah Johnston,
Richmond,
22 November 1791
2 p. (4 prints)
CL: Receipt. Money received by John
Logan from
Zachariah
Johnson (sic), to be delivered to James Davies
of Lincoln County,
20 December 1791
1 p. (1 print)
CM: Account. Zachariah Johnston with
George Kirker,
1792
1 p. (2 prints)
CN: Letter. Arthur Campbell,
Washington, to [___],
5 January 1792
2 p. (2 prints)
CO: Letter.
Ed[ward]
Carrington, Richmond, to Zachariah Johnston,
29 January 1792
4 p. (4 prints)
CP: Letter.
Ed[ward]
Carrington, Richmond, to Zachariah Johnston,
Providence Hill [Rockbridge? County],
27 March 1792
2 p. (4 prints)
CQ: Letter. Henry Lee, Richmond, to
Zachariah Johnston, Rockbridge [County],
27 March 1792
1 p. (2 prints)
CR: Letter. Henry Lee, Richmond, to
Zachariah Johnston, Providence Hill, Rockbridge
[County],
5 May [17]92
2 p. (4 prints)
CS: Church letter. Capt.
Z[achariah]
Johnston and wife, Ann, and children,
certified in good standing,
21 May 1792
1 p. (1 print)
CT: Letter. Henry Lee, Richmond, to
[___],
26 June [17]92
2 p. (2 prints)
CU: Letter.
[Aug]ustine
Davis, Richmond, to Zachariah Johnston,
11 December 1792
1 p. (2 prints)
CV: Letter. John Baird, Greencroft, to
Zachariah Johnston, Richmond,
14 December 1792
2 p. (3 prints)
CW: Letter. W. Croghan, Louisville, to
Zachariah Johnston, Augusta [County],
7 January 1793
1 p. (2 prints), partly illegible
CX: Letter. Jacob Peck, Staunton, to
[___],
21 February 1793
2 p. (2 prints)
CY: Letter. Micheal (sic) Coger,
Fayette County, Kentucky, to [___],
7 April 1793
2 p. (2 prints)
CZ: Letter. Robert Porterfield,
So[uth]
River, to Capt. [Zachariah] Johnston,
24 June 1793
1 p. (1 print)
DA: Letter. Adam Craig, Richmond, to
[___],
12 December 1793
2 p. (2 prints)
DB: Composition book of George
Johnston,
1794
14 p. (8 prints)
DC: Letter. John H. Reynolds to "Mr.
Johnstone,"
19 March 1794
3 p. (4 prints)
DD: Letter. Adam Craig, Richmond, to
[___],
21 March 1794
2 p. (2 prints)
DE: Letter. George Nicolson, Richmond,
to [___],
10 June 1794
2 p. (2 prints)
DF: Letter. John Johnston, Staunton,
to father Zachariah Johnston, Rockbridge,
5 March [17]95
1 p. (2 prints)
DG: Letter. Adam Craig, Richmond, to
[___],
21 April 1795
2 p. (2 prints)
DH: Notice. John Brown to Zachariah
Johnston,
29 August 1795. Enclosed is oath
form.
2 p. (2 prints)
DI: Letter. Alexander Martin, Bourbon
County, Kentucky, to [___],
1 December 1795
2 p. (2 prints)
DJ: Letter. J. McCue, Long Meadow,
[Augusta County], to Capt.
Z[achariah]
Johnston, 5 January 1796
1 p. (1 print)
DK: Letter. William McKee, Lincoln
County, to Capt. Zachariah Johnston, Rockbridge,
6 August 1796
2 p. (2 prints)
DL: Letter. John Johnston, Staunton,
to father, Zachariah Johnston, Rockbridge,
8 August [17]96
1 p. (2 prints)
DM: Letter.
Daniel
Tr[abue?], Woodford County, to Col.
Zachariah
Johnson (sic),
24 September 1796
1 p. (1 print)
DN: Letter. Daniel Trabue, Woodford
County, to Col.
Zachariah
Johnson (sic), Rockbridge County,
24 September 1796
1 p. (2 prints)
DO: Affidavits. Hugh Fitzpatrick,
James Frazer, Isaac McClure, and John McClure testify as
to the Revolutionary War service of Hugh Fitzpatrick,
Augusta County,
3 November 1796
3 p.
DP: Letter.
Edm[und]
Randolph, Richmond, to Zachariah Johnston,
Rockbridge,
11 January 1797
DR: Letter. Michael Coger, Fayette
County, Kentucky, to [___],
5 July 1797
1 p. (1 print)
DS: Letter.
A[dam]
Craig, Richmond, to [___],
14 July 1797
3 p. (3 prints)
DT: Letter. James Robertson, to [___],
26 August 1797
1 p. (1 print)
DU: Letter. Robert Porterfield to
Capt. [Zachariah] Johnston,
25 October 1797
2 p. (2 prints)
DV: Letter. Alexander Henderson,
Dumfries, to Zachariah Johnston, Richmond,
1 December 1797
3 p. (4 prints)
DW: Letter.
[Zach]ariah
Johnston, Richmond, to [___],
14 December 1797
1 p. (1 print)
DX: Letter. George Johnston,
Rockbridge [County], to father, Capt. Zachariah
Johnston,
20 December 1797
1 p. (1 print)
DY: Will. Zachariah Johnston dated
9 January 179[8?]
2 p. (2 prints)
DZ: Letter. John Johnston to [___],
26 February [17]98
1 p. (1 print), incomplete
EA: Letter. George Johnston,
Montgomery, to father, [Zachariah Johnston],
4 June 1798
3 p. (3 prints)
EB: Letter. George Johnston,
Montgomery, to brother, [___],
9 June [17]98
3 p. (3 prints)
EC: Letter. George Johnston,
Montgomery, to father, [Zachariah Johnston],
4 September [17]98
2 p. (2 prints)
ED: Letter. William McKee, Lincoln
County, to Capt. Zachariah Johnston,
24 October 1798
2 p. (2 prints)
EE: Letter. William McKee, Lincoln
County, to Capt. Zachariah Johnston,
27 November 1798
1 p. (1 print)
EF: Letter. John Mines, Charlestown,
Berkeley County, to Zachariah Johnston, Lexington,
Rockbridge County,
22 December 1798
2 p. (3 prints)
EG: Letter. Thomas Johnston to
brother, [A. Johnston?],
6 [___] 1799
1 p. (1 print)
EH: Letter. George Johnston, Botetourt
County, to father, Zachariah Johnston,
16 January 1799
2 p. (2 prints)
EI: Letter. William McKee, Lincoln
County, to Capt. Zachariah Johnston, Rockbridge County,
25 January 1799
1 p. (2 prints)
EJ: Letter. William Renick, Lexington,
to [___],
13 February 1799
2 p. (2 prints)
EK: Letter. Samuel KcKee, With [Wythe]
Courthouse, to Zachriah (sic) Johnston, Rockbridge
County,
1 April 1799
1 p. (2 prints)
EL: Letter. Joseph Reid, Timber Ridge,
to George Johnston,
8 April 1799
3 p. (3 prints)
EM: Letter. George Johnston, Botetourt
County, to brother, [___],
23 April [17]99
2 p. (2 prints)
EN: Account.
Zachariah
Johnson (sic), with James Gold,
25 April 1799
1 p. (1 print)
EO: Letter. John Johnston, Staunton,
to brother,
G[eorge]
Johnston, 24 May 1799
2 p. (2 prints)
EP: Letter. John Johnston to father,
Zachariah Johnston,
5 June [17]99
1 p. (1 print)
EQ: Account. Estate of Zachariah
Johnston, deceased, to the estate of George Johnston,
1800
2 p. (2 prints)
ER: Letter. George Johnston, Flat
Country, to brother, Thomas Johnston,
19 March 1800
3 p. (3 prints)
ES: Letter. George Johnston,
Lexington, to brother, Thomas Johnston,
10 May 1800
3 p. (3 prints)
ET: Letter. George Johnston,
Lexington, to brother, [___],
25 June 1800
3 p. (3 prints)
EU: Letter. George Johnston,
Lexington, to brother, [___],
24 July 1800
2 p.(2 prints)
EV: Letter. George Johnston,
Lexington, to brother, Thomas Johnston,
27 July 1800
3 p. (3 prints)
EW: Letter. Rebeckah Dunlap, [Shelby]
County, Kentucky, to sister, Mrs.
Ann
Jonson (sic),
11 September 1800
1 p. (2 prints)
EX: Letter. Samuel McKee, Staunton, to
George Johnston, near Lexington,
31 September 1800
2 p. (3 prints)
EY: Land Grant. 51 acres in Rockbridge
County to Isaac Anderson, by James Monroe, Governor of
Virginia, recorded
20 March 1801
1 p. (2 prints)
EZ: Letter. John Johnston, Staunton,
to mother and sisters,
21 August 1801
1 p. (1 print)
FA: Letter. John Johnston, Brownsburg,
to Thomas [___],
29 August 1801
1 p. (1 print)
FB: Letter. John Johnston, Staunton,
to brother, [___],
[1]2 September 1801
1 p. (1 print)
FC: Letter. Elisabeth Shanklin to
sister, Ann Johnston, near Lexington,
1[?] February 1802
2 p. (2 prints)
FD: Letter. John Johnston, Bell [___],
to brother,
24[?] February 1802[?]
2 p. (2 prints)
FE: Letter. John Johnston, Staunton,
to Thomas Johnston,
13 April 1804
1 p. (1 print)
FF: Letter. John Johnston, Staunton,
to Thomas Johnston,
10 October 1804
2 p. (2 prints)
FG: Letter. John Johnston, Staunton,
to brother, Thomas Johnston,
1 March 1805?
3 p. (3 prints)
FH: Letter. Sally Winant, Lincoln
County, to Thomas Johnston, Lexington,
8 August 1808
2 p. (3 prints)
FI: Account. Rosanah Ervine with
[___],
16 September 1812
1 p. (2 prints)
FJ: Letter. Jean Sharp,
Seveir (sic) County,
to mother, Mrs. Ann Johnston,
21 July 1816 [1 p. (1 print)];
Enclosure is letter from Jean Sharp to Mrs. Ann Johnston
[2 p. (2 prints)]
FK: Letter. John and Jean Sharp,
Sevier County, to Mrs. Ann Johnston,
23 February 1817
2 p. (2 prints)
FL: Letter. John Sharp to Thomas
Johnston,
27 July 1817
2 p. (2 prints)
FM: Letter. Jean Sharp, Sevier County,
to mother, Mrs. Ann Johnston,
1 March 1818
2 p. (2 prints)
FN: Will. Ann Johnston, dated
12 June 1818
1 p. (1 print), copy
FO: Account. Sale of property of Ann
Johnston deceased, at public sale,
30 September 1818
2 p. (2 prints)
FP: Letter. John and Jean Sharp,
Seveer (sic) County,
to Thomas Johnston,
22 November 1819
2 p. (2 prints)
FQ: Promissory note. Alexander Johnson
to Caruthers & Cummings,
4 February 1822
1 p. (2 prints)
FR: Letter. John Sharp, Sevier County,
Tennessee, to
Thomas
Jonston (sic),
21 December 1828
2 p. (2 prints)
FS: Notice. Mr. Johnston to pay Mr. T.
Perry the money due Elizabeth Wallace,
[___] December 1836
1 p. (2 prints)
FT: Letter. John P. Caruthers, Holly
Springs, to Thomas Johnston, near Lexington,
4? September 1837
2 p. (3 prints)
FU: Letter. [___], Cumberland County,
Kentucky, to cousin, Mrs. [___] Johnston, Rockbridge
County,
27 September 1839?
1 p. (2 prints)
FV: Bond. William Johnston to James
Johnson, both parties of Rockbridge County,
30 April 1840
2 p. (4 prints)
FW: Promissory note. William G.
Johnston and Zach Johnston to James Johnston,
31 January 1846
1 p. (2 prints)
FX: Promissory note. James Johnston to
William G. Johnston,
12 June 1848
1 p. (2 prints)
FY: Promissory note. James Johnston to
William G. Johnston,
12 June 1848
1 p. (1 print)
FZ: Promissory note. James Johnston to
William G. Johnston,
12 June 1848
1 p. (2 prints)
GA: Letter. Mary A. M. Robinson,
Randolph County, Missouri, to sister, Barbara [___],
29 January 1856
4 p. (4 prints)
GB: Letter. John Johnston to Thomas
[Johnston?],
n.d.
1 p. (1 print)
GC: Letter. John Johnston to Thomas
[Johnston?],
n.d.
1 p. (1 print)
GD: Letter. Esther Johnston to father
and mother,
n.d.
1 p. (1 print)
GE: Letter. A. Johnston to brother,
Thomas
John[ston], n.d.
3 p. (3 prints)
GF: Letter.
J[ohn]
Marshall to Zachariah Johnston, Rockbridge
County,
n.d.
1 p. (2 prints), incomplete
GG: Letter.
J[ohn]
Marshall to Zachariah Johnston,
n.d.
1 p. (2 prints)
GH: Letter. Zachariah Johnston to
[___],
n.d.
1 p. (1 print), incomplete
GI: Notes. John Shaw to [___],
n.d.
2 p. (2 prints)
GJ: Plat. Land included in "the fork
Survey & old patent of Galloway",
n.d.
1 p. (2 prints)
GK: Plat. Land included in the "fork
survey",
n.d.
1 p. (2 prints)
GL: Arbitrators' report. Settlement of
differences between Rosanah Irvin and Joseph Allen,
n.d.
1 p. (1 prints)
GM: Appraisal. List of property of
Mrs.
Ann
Johnson (sic), deceased,
n.d.
1 p. (1 print)
GN: Poem by unidentified author,
n.d.
2 p. (2 prints)
GO: "A List of Expences to Richmond",
n.d.
1 p. (1 print)
GP: Notice. Zachariah Johnston to
[___],
n.d.
2 p. (2 prints)
GQ: Letter. John Culbreath to [___],
n.d.
1 p. (1 print)
GR: Biography. "Zachariah Johnston of
Augusta and Rockbridge and His Times",
n.d.
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