John Johnstone (mayor)

John Johnstone
32nd Mayor of New York City
In office
1714–1719
Preceded by Caleb Heathcote
Succeeded by Jacobus Van Cortlandt
New York General Assembly
In office
1709–1710
New York Provincial Council
In office
1720–1723
Preceded by Samuel Staats
Succeeded by William Provost
Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly
In office
1721–1722
Governor William Burnet
Preceded by John Kinsey
Succeeded by William Trent
Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly
In office
1725–1729
Governor William Burnet, John Montgomerie
Preceded by William Trent
Succeeded by John Kinsey, Jr.
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the City of Perth Amboy district
In office
1710–1714
Serving with John Reid
Preceded by Thomas Gordon
Succeeded by Thomas Farmar
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the City of Perth Amboy district
In office
1721–1732
Serving with Andrew Redford, Samuel Leonard, Andrew Johnston
Preceded by John Harrison
Succeeded by Andrew Johnston
Personal details
Born c1661
Ochiltree, Scotland
Died 3 September 1732
Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Nationality Scottish
Spouse(s) Euphame Scot
Children Euphemia Johnston, Isabel Johnstone, Katherine Johnstone, John Johnston, Jr., Margaret Johnston, Andrew Johnston, William Johnstone, Janet, James Johnstone, George Johnston, Lewis Johnston, Isabel Johnstone, Mary Johnston
Profession Druggist, Physician

Dr.[1] John Johnstone was the 32nd Mayor of New York City from 1714 to 1719.

Biography

An associate of George Scot of Pitlochie, he was a druggist from Edinburgh and emigrated to the United States in 1685 aboard the Henry and Francis.[2] Johnstone married Scot's daughter, Euphame in 1686. Scot himself died on board ship.

In New Jersey he was known as Dr. Johnstone.

In 1686 Johnstone was granted a tract of 500 acres by the East New Jersey Proprietors on account of his wife, and another 30,000 acres in 1701. In spite of his investment in East New Jersey land, John Johnstone eventually settled in New York, and was elected to the New York Assembly, serving in 1709 and 1710. Between 1710 and 1714 Johnstone represented Perth Amboy in the New Jersey General Assembly.[3] By 1714 he was mayor of New York City, in which office he served until 1716.

He was first recommended to the Crown for the New York Provincial Council by Governor Robert Hunter in 1715 to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Dr. Samuel Staats.[4] Johnstone was finally appointed in 1720, but by 1722 Hunter's successor, William Burnet, complained that Dr. Johnstone had "without any leave obtained under the Hand and seal of any Governor or president, now resided for above two years last past in New Jersey", and asked for his removal from the Council.[5] In July 1723 he was replaced by William Provost.[6]

Governor Burnet had first hand knowledge of Johnstone's New Jersey residency, as he served as governor of both New York and New Jersey simultaneously. John Johnstone had returned to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1721, again representing Perth Amboy.[7] He served as Speaker for most of that time, from 1721 through 1722, and again from 1725 through 1729, with the interim occupied by William Trent. He remained in the Assembly until his death on September 3, 1732.[8]

References

  1. An Old Frontier of France: The Niagara Region and Adjacent Lakes, Volume 21
  2. Hidden Heritage - the Story of the Reverend James Murphy: Cast of Characters
  3. Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, date: various (pre 1950)
  4. Documents relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York, Volume V; Edited by E. B. O'Callaghan, M. D.; Weed, Parsons and Company, Printers; Albany, New York, 1855; p. 437
  5. Documents relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York, Volume V; Edited by E. B. O'Callaghan, M. D.; Weed, Parsons and Company, Printers; Albany, New York, 1855; p. 649
  6. Documents relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York, Volume V; Edited by E. B. O'Callaghan, M. D.; Weed, Parsons and Company, Printers; Albany, New York, 1855; p. 697
  7. Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, date: various (pre 1950)
  8. New Jersey Colonial Documents, Archives of the State of New Jersey, First Series, Vol. II; Daily Advertiser Publishing House, Newark, New Jersey, 1882. p. 119
Preceded by
Caleb Heathcote
Mayor of New York City
1714–1719
Succeeded by
Jacobus Van Cortlandt
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