Johnston Moreton : Short Biography

Johnston Moreton, Esq., J.P. was born sometime in the first half of the eighteenth century and died in 1805 at his property of "Liscarbin" -- found in the Griffith's Evaluation as "Liscarban," not far from Aughacashel on the one hand and Drumshanbo on the other, in the post town of Cashcarregan. He likely owned Aughacashel (the house, which still stands) as well as Liscarbin, a place called Mullinasky that was 8 miles from Sligo, and other property in and around Drumshanbo. He also seems to have owned two hundred acres "Irish plantation measure" called "the lands of Clarenmore" based on some rather confusing court proceedings that followed his death. In 1802 McParlan records him as a "resident gentleman of property" in County Leitrim. He belonged to the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Ireland.

On 12 July 1776 the Lord Chancellor appointed him Justice of the Peace for the County of Leitrim. At that time his residence was listed as Lisbatulla or Lisbatulls (I cannot read the print).

A meeting of freeholders appointed five delegates to the 24 Oct 1784 National Convention: Johnston Moreton, James Johnston, Robert Johnston, G.N. Reynolds, John Payton Johnston. The p!revalence of the name "Johnston" makes me wonder what the relationship was of all these men to one another-!

Mr. Moreton had at least two illegitimate daughters: Anne, by a woman named "Mens," and Maria, by a woman named Biddy Barnes or Byrnes. He acknowledged these two daughters and may have reared them in his home and made gentlewomen of them. He certainly provided them with dowries (including land) substantial enough to attract husbands for them among the local gentry. Anne married Lewis Hawkes Morton, Esq. sometime around 1787. Maria married Andrew Todd, a druggist, in 1805. Mr. Todd and Mr. Morton were cousins, sons of sisters Susanna and Alicia Hawkes, respectively, daughters of John Hawkes, Esq. of Castlenode in County Roscommon. 

An interesting anecdote: In the summer of 1784 a wine-cooper in the city of Dublin seems to made off with either the person or the heart of Anne Moreton, who would have been only thirteen or fourteen at the time. This gentleman placed a notice in the paper of having married "Miss Moreton, only daughter of Johnston Moreton of the County of Leitrim, Esq." The notice was placed on 29 July, and on 31 July the notice was retracted! The Dublin Evening Post reported: "We are authorized to contradict the marriage of Mr. Peter Keon, of the City of Dublin, wine-cooper, to Miss Moreton of the County of Leitrim, the same being false and malicious." Miss Moreton would marry no wine-cooper. I do hope her heart was not irretrievably broken. She was my third great-grandmother.

Liscarbin was inherited by James Moreton, Esq., but whether James was son or nephew or brother I do not know.