The Family Tree

Eight generations at a glance

Here is the whole family laid out as a tree. Start at the top — that's you, Jerry — and open each name to climb back through the generations. Tap the small arrows to expand or collapse a branch.

Jerry's Ancestors

Jerry Blackett Johnston — you
- Father John Paul Johnston 1916–1987
  - His father Clarence Earl Johnston 1885–1956
    
    His father James Johnston 1836–1903 · Graemsay, Orkney → Salt Lake City
    
    His father Hugh Johnston ~1800–1854 · died on the Wyoming trail
    
    His mother Cecelia Yorston ~1799–1886
    
    His mother Bianca Jane Gibson m. 1862, Philadelphia-born
  - His mother Tessie Sims Smith 1887–1954
    
    Her father John Gibson Smith 1855–1895, Tooele, Utah
    
    Her mother Hester Sims Smith 1857–1940, Salt Lake City
- Mother Fern Blackett 1918–2007
  - Her father Robert Earl Blackett 1886–1937
    
    His father John William Blackett 1848–1927 · the leap-year baby
    
    His father Robert Collingwood Blackett 1807–1878 · London → Nephi, Utah
    
    His mother Eleanor Mitchell 1808–1884 · Whitby, Yorkshire
    
    His mother Elizabeth Jane Averett 1854–1931
    
    Her father Jeduthan Hardy Averett 1816–1902 · Mormon Battalion
    
    His father Hardy Averett North Carolina
    
    His father Jeduthan Averett Sr. ~1758–1798, Nash Co., NC
    
    His mother Rebecca Stephens maiden name confirmed link to the General awaiting proof
    
    Probable father Brig. Gen. William Stephens 1711–1781 · Revolutionary War general
    
    Probable mother Mary Sampson Huguenot heritage
    
    His mother Drucilla Meador
    
    Her mother Holly Jane Tingle m. 1836, Alabama
  - Her mother Edna Mary Knudson 1890–? · m. 1913

Janet's Ancestors

Jerry's wife, Janet Kathern Scott, brings a second family into the story — a Colorado cowboy and an Italian immigrant's daughter. (See Chapter Nine: Scotty and Ada.)

Janet Kathern Scott b. 1951 · Jerry's wife
- Father Hugh “Scotty” Scott 1923–2004 · Deer Trail, Colorado
  - His father Jesse William Clarence Scott 1885–1932, Bennet, NE
    
    His father Cyrus S. Scott 1847–1919
    
    His mother Virtue Rachel Porter 1854–1923
  - His mother Della D. Bennett 1881–1980, Woodburn, IA
    
    Her father Benjamin Franklin Bennett 1851–1918
    
    Her mother Rachel Percilla Kelley 1853–1932
- Mother Ada Chiaretta 1924–2018 · Price, Utah · Rosie the Riveter
  - Her father Henry S. Chiaretta
  - Her mother Catherine Allotto 1900–1980 · Bruzolo, Susa Valley, Italy

Eight Generations — The Chart

The same family, laid out as a table from the earliest known ancestors down to you.

Generation	Name(s)	Location	Notes
8th Gen.	William Stephens Sr. & Penelope Stephens	Virginia, ~1680s	William the General's parents
7th Gen.	Brig. Gen. William Stephens (1711–1781) & Mary Sampson	York Co., Virginia	Revolutionary War hero. Probable ancestor through Rebecca Stephens. connection not yet fully documented
6th Gen.	Jeduthan Averett Sr. (~1758–1798) & Rebecca Stephens	Nash Co., North Carolina	Rebecca's maiden name confirmed as Stephens. Nash Co. carved from Edgecombe Co. — same territory as William's family.
5th Gen.	Hardy Averett (~1790s) & Drucilla Meador	North Carolina	Parents of Jeduthan Hardy Averett
5th Gen.	Hugh Johnston & Cecelia Yorston	Scotland	Parents of James Johnston the pioneer. Scottish LDS converts.
4th Gen.	Jeduthan Hardy Averett (1816–1902) & Holly Jane Tingle	NC → Alabama → Utah	Mormon Battalion soldier, 1846–47. Utah Pioneer, 1852. Daughter Elizabeth Jane married John William Blackett.
4th Gen.	James Johnston (1836–1903) & Bianca Jane Gibson	Scotland → Salt Lake City, UT	LDS pioneer; William Empey Company, 1854. Crossed the plains at age 17. LDS Mission to Britain, 1890.
3rd Gen.	John William Blackett (1848–1927) & Elizabeth Jane Averett (1854–1931)	Springville, Utah	Daughter of Jeduthan Hardy Averett. Married into the Blackett family.
3rd Gen.	Clarence Earl Johnston (1885–1956) & Tessie Sims Smith (1887–1954)	Salt Lake City, Utah	Son of James Johnston the pioneer.
2nd Gen.	Robert Earl Blackett (1886–1937) & Edna Mary Knudson (1890–?)	Springville, Utah	Seven children. Daughter Fern married John Paul Johnston.
Parents	John Paul Johnston (1916–1987) & Fern Blackett (1918–2007)	Salt Lake City / Provo, Utah	Jerry's father and mother. Both buried Salt Lake City Cemetery.
You	Jerry Blackett Johnston	Utah	The ‘Blackett’ middle name honors his mother Fern's family heritage.

research lead = connection strongly supported but awaiting documentary confirmation.

Next: Chapter Eight — What We Still Don't Know →