1 James JOHNSTON b. c. 1753, d. c. 1784-5. He is in the tax books of 1781 and 1784 but not 1788, m. Rachel (PLUMMER) McMASTER, widow of Rev. War veteran William McMASTER. James died intestate and without children. His brother Samuel was his heir and in 1807 sold a tract of land he inherited from James.
James and Rachel had no children. One tract of land he owned was sold in 1807 by his brother Samuel, who is stated to be his heir, as he died intestate. His wife Rachel was not one of his heirs. She was not incompetent as she was able to sign a quit claim in 1798, and another in 1807, before she moved from NC. Did NC law at that time not let a widow inherit land?
Except for the references in CFR to Rachel, there are only two NC records I could find for her. First, on 4 Sep 1798, Rachael Johnson and her brothers Aaron and Jno. Plummer, and her sister Sarah Lansdell, signed a quit claim to give up all shares of the personal property which Joseph Plummer had received from his wife that was part of her father's estate. Their mother's and grandfather's names are not given. Second, Rachel Johnston quit claimed on 5 May 1807 all her right, title, and interest in her portion of the estate of her deceased brother, Zechoriah Plummer, "in consideration of divers causes me herewith into moving."
http://xaa.tripod.com/johnstn1.html
