Johnston of Ballykilbeg

THE JOHNSTONS OWNED 866 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY DOWN

WILLIAM JOHNSTON, of Killough, County Down, married, in 1760, Ann, daughter of Matthew Brett, of Killough, son of the Rev Jasper Brett, Prebendary of Rasharkin and Chancellor of Connor, by Lucretia his wife, daughter of the Most Rev Francis Marsh, Lord Archbishop of Dublin, cousin of Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, and grandfather of Queens MARY and ANNE.

The son and heir of the marriage of William Johnston and Ann Brett his wife was

WILLIAM JOHNSTON JP, of Ballykilbeg, who wedded, in 1787, Mary Anne Humphreys.

Mr Johnston died in 1796, having had issue by her (who died in 1848), besides other children, a son,

JOHN BRETT JOHNSTON, of Ballykilbeg, County Down, who espoused, in 1828, Thomasina Anne Brunette, daughter of Thomas Scott, and had issue,

WILLIAM, his heir;
Robert Barclay Macpherson;
Charles Crochley;
John Brett;
Elizabeth; Mary Anne Brunette; Thomasina Isabella.

Mr Johnston died in 1853, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

WILLIAM JOHNSTON (1829-1902), of Ballykilbeg, MP for Belfast, 1868-78, Belfast South, 1885-1902, who married firstly, in 1853, Harriet, daughter of Robert Allen, of Kilkenny, and had issue,

John Brett McNeal (1854-57);
William Henry Colclough (1855-64);
Mary Louisa; Thomasina Elizabeth Macpherson.

He wedded secondly, in 1861, Arminella Frances, daughter of the Rev Dr Thomas Drew; and thirdly, in 1863, Georgiana Barbara, youngest daughter of Sir John Hay, 7th Baronet, of Park, and had further issue,

LEWIS AUDLEY MARSH, his heir;
Charles;
WILLIAM, of whom presently;
Georgiana Audley Hay; Harriet Ann Brunette; Ada Catherine; Ina.

Mr Johnston was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,

LEWIS AUDLEY MARSH JOHNSTON JP (1865-1908), of Ballykilbeg, Acting Treasurer, MEC and MLC  of Hong Kong, 1903-5, and Postmaster-General there, 1903-8, who espoused, in 1903, Emily Sophia, youngest daughter of the Rev Thomas Josiah Jones (1820-89), Rector of Tullanisken, County Tyrone.

MEC and MLC may refer to Member of the Executive Council and Member of the Legislative Council.

Mr Johnston dsp 1908, and was succeeded by his brother,

WILLIAM JOHNSTON (1876-), who married, in 1904, Wilhelmina Galway, and had with other issue,

WILLIAM JOHNSTON, born in 1904.

BALLYKILBEG HOUSE, near Downpatrick, County Down, was constructed ca 1791 by William Johnston.

Johnston arms in Down Cathedral

It is believed that most of the original Georgian glazing bars were removed about 1880, and that the porch may have been added in the early 1900s.

Click to Enlarge

The doorway to the west façade and the modern windows to the rear seem to have been altered or inserted between 1950-60.

In 1993-94 the front porch was removed and a new flat-roofed porch was built.

First published in June, 2021.