1790. William Johnston lives in Sampson County with 2 young males and 4 females. Neighbors are Joel and Jesse Johnston.

1810. William Johnston lives in Sampson County. He is 45+ and lives with 6 younger males, 3 young females and his wife age 26-45. Neighbors include (I believe) his cousin Soasby and son Nathan Johnston, . Nathan would be about 27 and no one of the age bracket lives with William.

William Johnson was born about 1757 in the area later to be known as Sampson County. He was the son of Joab who had been born about 1725. The name of his mother is unknown. On 2 Oct 1782 he married Jannie Register (about whom I know nothing more although Register is a not uncommon Sampson County name). Their only child was Nathan as Jannie died soon thereafter. William then married second Betsy (possibly Bizzell) and had ten more children with he. William“s will, which appears to have been undated and was not actually probated, leaves the bulk of his estate to wife Betsy and several sons. Sons Nathan and Joel got only sixpence each — but it may be, as sometimes is the case, that a father gives a son land while the father is still alive and then does not make further provision for him in his will, though often in such cases some reference is made in the will to that effect.

William died about 1831.

He was a Revolutionary War soldier, enlisting in 1777 (4th Regiment, NC Line), 1779 (10th Continental NC Line) and 1781 (10th regiment).