Earls of Hartfell (1643)
1st Earl of Hartfell, James Johnstone, b.1602, a.1643, d.1653
The Johnstones were a powerful Border family, originally from West
Lothian, who settled in the Western Marches and helped defend Scotland against
English invasion many a time. Loyal to the Scottish Crown, they restricted
their border reiving to northern England, though they naturally had an
hereditary feud with the Maxwells of Nithsdale. They were rewarded for their
loyalty by various kings, building up estates in Annandale and Lanarkshire. In
1633, James Johnstone, the then current clan chief, son of Sir James Johnstone
of Johnstone, who had been Warden of the West Marches, and Sarah Maxwell,
daughter of Sir John Maxwell, 4th Lord Herries of Terregles, was
made 1st Lord Johnstone of Lochwood by King Charles I, and in 1643
he was made 1st Earl of Hartfell and 1st Lord Johnstone
of Lochwood, Moffatdale and Evandale. He was a staunch Royalist during the
Civil War, and fought at Kilsyth and Philiphaugh. He was taken prisoner at the
latter battle, but spared execution due to the intercession of Archibald
Campbell, Marquess of Argyll.
2nd Earl of Hartfell, James Johnstone,
b.b.1625, a.1653, d.1672
Son of the 1st Earl and Margaret Douglas, daughter of Sir
William Douglas, 1st Earl of Queensberry.
He was fined under Cromwell’s Act of Indemnity and thereafter served as MP for
the Dumfries Protectorate. At the Restoration he was rewarded for his loyalty
by being made Hereditary Steward of Annandale and Hereditary Constable of
Lochmaben Castle, and was also created 1st Earl of Annandale and
Hartfell, resurrecting the ancient dormant title of Annandale, and also 1st
Viscount of Annand and 1st Lord Johnstone of Lochwood, Lochmaben,
Moffatdale and Evandale. In 1662 he obtained a charter from Charles II to erect
his estates into a territorial earldom and lordship and obtained a distinct re-grant
of these titles (not including the viscountcy) with special remainder to his
heir-male, and failing that, the heir-male of his eldest female heir. This last
amendment went unnoticed until 1876 and was used successfully in 1985 by a
descendant of the female line to obtain recognition by the House of Lords to
the earldom of Annandale and Hartfell.
For a continuation of this line, please transfer to the Annandale page.
Last updated: 13/01/2011