William Mackay Johnston (abt. 1820 - 1887)

Born about 1820 in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland

Descendants

Died 6 Apr 1887 at about age 67 in Bromley, Poplar, Middlesex, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jessie Gregor [send private message]

Biography

(Beware, this is definitely a work in progress, especially his earlier life! His given age in the census records and his death age would suit a birth in 1821 but I haven't been able to find that. As the name William Johnston is so common, there are endless possibilities. Some people think that he was the son of James Johnston and Elizabeth McDonald but that was based on his baptism being in Farr/Sutherland which is at the top of Scotland and contradicts his given birthplace of Greenock? I am currently testing out a theory that his was born 12 Feb 1820 and baptised on 27 Feb 1820 at Greenock, with parents Jacob Johnston, mariner, and Agnes Clark who married on 20 June 1810 in Greenock. William had at least nine children, including Jacob in 1841 and Agnes in c.1852 so the theory would fit with the naming patterns. Many of my family have taken DNA tests so our Scottish matches will help to confirm or refute any theories.)

Written from perspective of Jessie Gregor.

My great-great-grandfather, William Mackay Johnston was born in about 1820 in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland.

As far as I can see, his first and only marriage was on the 29th August 1841 in Glasgow. The record I purchased from Scotland's People is quite brief and just states: William Johnston Clerk in Glasgow and Joan Clark residing there.

(Research note: the only question mark I have over this is that, on their daughters Alexandrina and Christina's birth records, their marriage date was given as 21st September 1841 but I haven't been able to find that? There is also a very puzzling record of a possible daughter named Christina Davie Johnston. She married Alexander Monteith on the 2nd May 1865 and died as a result of childbirth and TB on 25th July 1865. When she married she named her father as William Mackay Johnston, brewer's book keeper and her mother as Christina Davie. She was living at the same address at Patriot Hall Buildings, Edinburgh so it's definitely the right father ... but I can't find her birth (around 1841 when WMJ was marrying Joan Clark ... nor any earlier marriage between WMJ and Christina Davie!)

In the Greenock Advertiser on the 8th August 1848, under the Cessio Bororum bankruptcy session, it lists: William Mackay Johnston, clerk, 30, South Wellington Street, Glasgow.

In the 1851 Census, the family are living at Neather Place Field, Mearns, Renfrewshire. They are listed as: William M Johnston, clerk for Bleachfield, 31; Joanna Johnston, wife, 29, born in Glasgow; Margrat Johnston, daughter, 2, born in Glasgow; and William Johnston, son, 6 months, born in Mearns. Also living in this household were four lodgers and a house servant.^[1]

The family had moved again by the 1861 Census and were now living at 10 Madeira Place, North Leith, Midlothian. They are recorded as: William Johnston, head, 38, clerk, born in Greenock; Johan Johnston, wife, 37, born in Glasgow; and children Margt, 12, and George, 2, both born in Glasgow. (In reality, Joan was actually 39 not 37 but she started to shave a few years off her age from now on!)^[2]

The next census in 1871 records the family as living at 5 Arthur Street, South Leith, Midlothian: Wm M Johnston, 47, clerk (commercial), born in Renfrewshire; J. P. Johnston, 46, born in Glasgow; M.W. Johnston, 22, born in Glasgow; W. J. Johnston, 9, scholar, born in Leith; A. M. Johnston, 6, scholar, born in Edinburgh; and C. C. Johnston, 3, born in Edinburgh.^[3]

A momentous change happened in the next ten years because the family moved down to England. In the 1881 Census they were living at 29 Wellington Road, Bromley, Poplar, London. They were all recorded as being born in Scotland and sharing the household with the Payne family: William M. Johnston, 60, clerk and bookkeeper; Johanne B. Johnston, 58; and three of their daughters, 'Wilhemina' J. Johnston, 19, s machinist, 'Alexandria' M. Johnston, 15, collar maker, and Christina E. Johnston, 13, nursemaid (my great-grandmother).^[4]

Sadly, just six years later when they were living at 30 Merchant Street, Bromley, William passed away at home on the 6th April 1887.^[5] He was recorded as William Mackay Johnston, aged 66 years, a book keeper. The death was registered by his daughter but her initial is difficult to read. (It looks like M which could have been Margaret and she was living at the same address.) William had been suffering great pain as the certified cause of death was 'Gouty inflammation and sloughing of toes' on his left foot, then collapse.

William was buried with his daughter and wife in the City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery with a beautiful family headstone (see photo attached) stating that it was: "In loving memory of William the beloved husband of the above who fell asleep on 6th April 1887 aged 66 years. He was so long with pain oppressed It wore his life away It made him long for endless rest Which never can decay. Also Wilhelmina Joanna the beloved daughter of the above who fell asleep 2nd January 1891 aged 29 years. Weep not for her for one so blest, Has gone to her eternal rest, Free from all sorrow grief and pain, Our loss is her eternal gain. Beloved and lamented by all who knew her."

Sources

1. ↑ "Scotland Census, 1851," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VYYS-LLH : 4 November 2019), Joanna Johnston in household of William M Johnston, Upper Ward, Renfrewshire, Scotland; from "1851 England, Scotland & Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing p. 6, PRO HO 107, The National Archives UK, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 1,042,364.
2. ↑ "Scotland Census, 1861," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB4T-VP4 : 4 November 2019), Johan Johnston in household of William Johnston, North Leith, Midlothian, Scotland; from "1861 England, Scotland & Wales census," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012.); citing p. 11, PRO RG 9, The National Archives UK, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 103,881.
3. ↑ "Scotland Census, 1871," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB5Z-CRN : 17 July 2019), J P Johnston in household of Wm M Johnston, South Leith, Midlothian, Scotland; from "1871 England, Scotland & Wales census," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing p. 45, PRO T 1, The National Archives UK, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 104,060.
4. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27S-T4JQ : 8 December 2017), Johanne B Johnston in household of William M Johnston, Bromley, London,Middlesex, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 37, Piece/Folio 497/22, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,279.
5. ↑ UK death registration: Poplar, Vol 1c, Page 359, June quarter 1887 (age given 66).

• Marriage and death certificates held by Jessie Gregor, great-great-granddaughter.