Adding an 'e' to Johnston
Lar
My family name was spelt Johnston when my great, great grandfather emigrated from England to Victoria, Australia. Charles Johnston married Ellen Jones in 1858 in Castlemaine. Their second child and first son was named John Lawson; he is my great grandfather. Sometime in his life he added an "e" to his surname and died John Lawson Johnstone.
In his thirties John Lawson Johnstone played a part in the exciting race to invent a mechanised starting barrier to start horse and pony races. This came about in the early 1890's as a result of the financial bust following the boom times of the 1880's and the era of 'Marvellous Melbourne'. J L johnstone was one of a few successful inventors and his starting machines were in use into the 1950's.
I still wonder why he added an "e" to Johnston.
by Lar
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Lar , from Australia, has been a Family Tree Circles member since Aug 2009. is researching the following names: JONES, MELVILLE, JOHNSTONJOHNSTONE and 1 other(s).
Comments
TonkinFamily on 2012-04-03 22:11:58My husband is a Johnstone with an "e".His grandfather is Leonard Clarence Horatio Johnstone. He was one of eight children, and the only one who was registered with an "e". It was never corrected and he used it his whole life. We have been told that back then it was just easier to leave it than to try to correct the spelling mistake.