In her obituary it states - Mrs Johnston had traced her family history back to the original royal house of Ireland,which semi-historical tradition says, was founded by Scotla, granddaughter of King David and daughter of one of the Pharoses of Egypt.
Among her ancestors were Roderick the Great, Fergus, king of the Irish Scots, and Meave, queen of Connaught
This family of O'Connor's finally narrowed down to one family of three brothers. Mary O'Johnston was the daughter of one of these brothers. Honora and Helena O'Conner . Both now dead, were daughters of a second and Garrett O'Connor, resident at present of Bridgeport, Canada was the only child of the third.
Honora and Helena were honored guests of the Duke and Duchess of Connaught when the latter couple visited Victoria, BC.
Scotla,the founder of the family is supposed to have taken to Egypt a stone on which the patriarch Jacob was resting his head when he saw the vision of the ladder from heaven. The stone was taken to Ireland. Finally King Fergus borrowed it one day, and after the fashion of cavallers of the time and forgot to return it. Later was discovered and taken to England.
Mrs. Johnston was born in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland and came to America in the early 1850's, living in New York. She then moved to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and raised her family. After her husbands death she moved to Portland,Oregon, USA to enjoy the much milder climate.
First cousin, Garrett John O'Connor was born 29 June 1855 in Dublin, Dublin, Ireland and died 26 June 1930 Bridgeburg, Ontario, Canada.
This is part of a letter written by Garrett
It has been passed down by us O'Conners that our ancestor was O'Conner-Carrigofoyle, who was beheaded by Cromwell at Tralee, in 1652. He was also by inheritance, chief of the O'Conners-Kerry. After 1652, the family was badly scattered. I got a pedigree of the O'Conners from Dublin Castle - I paid a fee of $2.50 for it. Father said the O'Conner-Kerry who was beheaded was my great,great,great,great grandfather. My grandfather, John O'Conner, Milltown, was land-steward to the Herberts of Muckross. Milltown is half a mile from Killarney. He was born about 1770 and died about 1823. His father (My great grandfather) was born, probably about 1740; but I do not know when he died. His name was James O'Conner, and he married the daughter of Garrett Landers,
O'Hart's Pedigrees say:- "The fourth son of Roderick the Great??? Fergus(53), whose history is related in the Tain Bo Cooly of celebrated notoriety, born a.m. B.C.326. Then there is a long line of descents down to Corc O'Conner,(92) from when the principal families of O'Conners-Kerry are descended. Our direct ancestors are, Corc O'Conner and his wife, Maud, (nee O'Keefe), 1183. Ours is a very old family. Keep these sheets-They are authentic.
Garrett
