These anecdotes on Robert Johnston were written by Joyce Ashby, daughter of Robert's youngest daughter Agnes Anne Brownrigg, and from Robert Rockliff, younger son of Robert's eldest daughter Emily Ella Jane.

Robert Johnston was born on 21st November, year unknown (c.1850?) at Yell, Shetland Islands, His father's name was possibly Magnus, who according to Joyce: "I seem to remember being told, he was a violin maker. (Magnus though may have been a brother..). He had an old aunt who lived to 104 years. Her name was Jane."
Robert's birthname was probably Johnson. Per Joyce: "For those who are delving into family history etc. it may be as well to take this into consideration:- Grandpa Johnston, changed the name of Johnson and added the letter "T" himself. According to Mum (Agnes) he thought it looked better that way. .. Wouldn't mind betting I am the only one who knew that...! Joyce"

Joyce wrote: "Grandpa was going to go to Nova Scotia but changed his mind at the last moment and came to "The Land of Milk & Honey" - New Zealand. My understanding is that he met Grandma Johnston (Emily Maria Duke) on the boat coming out to New Zealand. The boat arrived in Dunedin in November 1872. My understanding is that grandma and grandpa were married in All Saints Church Dunedin on 22nd September 1874 and that Sir Robert Stout was grandpa's Best Man." The Johnston family later worshipped at the Congregational Church."

Bob (Robert) Rockliff related: "During the ship's journey out he was selected to be the ship's "policeman" due to his large size." He was a tailor by trade. He set up business in Dunedin and to again quote from the memories of Robert Rockliff, one of his sales catchphrases was "Johnston's Trousers Down".

Robert and Emily Maria Johnston (nee Duke) had a very large family: Their children were: (with thanks to Kathy Scott for this detail):

Harry Johnston (1874 -)
Emily Ella Jane Johnston (1875-1965) She married Alfred Rockliff, who was born in Tasmania
Kate Johnston (1878 - )
Frederick William Isaac Johnston (1877-1940)
Albert Edward Johnston (1879-1951)
Ernest James George Johnston (1881-1945)
Stanley Priscus Johnston (1883-1957)
Robert Augustus Victor Leopold Johnston (1885-1964)
William Evelyn Napier Johnston (1887-1966)
Victor Onslow Cranley Johnston (1889-1954)
Eva Priscilla Margaret Johnston (1891-1969)
Agnes Annie Brownrigg Johnston (1895-1967

Joyce wrote: "I was told that names, other than family names, were those of famous men and lords of note of the time. Mum's (Agnes) as far as I can make out, were after grandma's sisters plus the Doctor who brought her into the world, Dr. Brownrigg.

Houses: The Duke Family home was built by William Duke at Woodhaugh, Dunedin. It was a wooden two-storied building and later was plastered.
Grandma and Grandpa Johnston's homes:
Kaitangata: Agnes was born there, and Joyce undertands that the Johnstons left there when Agnes was 2 years old.
Ravensbourn: Two storied home, town end.
Hale Cottage: George Street, north end. Joyce says: "I remember seeing a photo of mum, standing by the gate at Hale Cottage. She looked a schoolgirl, not a tiny-tot.".
Larkworthy Street: St. Kilda No. 11. "This was the home mum (Agnes) must have been married from.