[3] They originally settled in Annandale and for more than six hundred years they held extensive possessions in the west of the Scottish Marches, where they kept watch against the English.

[3] Adam's son fought for James II of Scotland in the desperate struggle against the Clan Douglas and was instrumental in suppressing that rebellion against the Crown.

[3] The king rewarded him with the lands of Buittle and Sannoch near Threave Castle that had previously belonged to the Douglases of Galloway.

[5] The Johnstones then went on to burn the local church with the most important members of the Moffat family inside, slaughtering anyone who tried to escape.

[3] Later in 1608, in a meeting to reconcile their differences, Lord Maxwell treacherously killed Johnstone.

[3] He was succeeded by George, 3rd Marquess of Annandale, who was found in 1747 to be incapable of managing his affairs and a curator was appointed.

[3] Upon his death in 1792 the family titles became dormant and the estates fell upon his grand-nephew, James Hope-Johnstone, 3rd Earl of Hopetoun.