Alice (Aberdein) Johnstone (1896 - 1990)

Born 13 Feb 1896 in Quincy, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Wife of William Johnstone — married 15 Sep 1923 in Quincy, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States

Descendants

Died 8 Mar 1990 at age 94 in Milton, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States

Biography

Alice was born in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1896. After her biological mother died in 1900 and her father was unable to care for all the children, she was adopted by Agnes Love and Robert Beattie. Alice's legal adoption by Agnes, and her name change, did not actually take place until 1919, when she arranged for it herself. (Robert Beattie had died by the time the paperwork went through.)

Alice was devoted to her adoptive mother Agnes. Because of a promise to be her little girl, Alice did not maintain contact with her biological family. The Beatties did have a son, William Alexander Beattie, but he was sixteen years older than Alice.

Alice attended Chandler Business School in Boston around 1915. After graduating, she worked as a secretary at the Army Ordnance Department at the Watertown Arsenal.

Alice married William Johnstone in 1923 at the First Baptist Church in Milton, Massachusetts. They had three daughters: Ruth, Mary, and Dorothy.

Bill, Alice and the girls sent on several extensive trips. They visited the Gaspé Peninsula in Canada twice. In 1937, they traveled west across the United States, returning by ship through the Panama Canal and via Cuba. On the latter trip, Alice learned to ride a horse.

When her husband Bill had his first heart attack in 1940, Alice took on new responsibilities such as learning to drive a car. After Bill had a second and fatal heart attack in 1945, Alice carried on, living frugally, and making sure her daughters received an excellent education. Because of her business background and keen interest, she was able to manage family investments well, and she continued to advise her daughters about such even after two of them had married. Alice also took on jobs such as typing and telephone sales.

Alice always kept in close touch with her family, writing hundreds of letters to her daughters. She was also involved in the lives of her grandchildren. She hosted an annual Christmas dinner and celebration in the old family home. Her passing in 1990 marked the end of an era.

Sources

• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4GN-5Y5 : Wed Oct 25 18:48:13 UTC 2023), Entry for Alice/Aberdein and Alexander/Aberdein, 13 Feb 1896.

• Adoption by Agnes Beattie of Alice Aberdein. Commonwealth of Massachusetts Probate Court, Norfolk County, 12 Nov 1919.

• "Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1925", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q217-9K5G : 25 October 2022), William Johnstone and Alice Beattie, 1923.

• Alice Aberdeen in the 1900 United States Federal Census. Quincy Ward 3, Norfolk, Massachusetts; Roll: 671; Page: 18; Enumeration District: 1062. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9YZ-B35 : Fri Oct 06 03:27:21 UTC 2023.

• Alice Beatty in the 1920 United States Federal Census. Quincy Ward 4, Norfolk, Massachusetts; Roll: T625_724; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 243. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX1B-7ST.

• Alice B Johnstone in the 1940 United States Federal Census. Milton, Norfolk, Massachusetts; Roll: m-t0627-01628; Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 11-139. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4NC-T5M.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/214650065/alice-johnstone: accessed 30 October 2023), memorial page for Alice Beattie Johnstone (13 Feb 1896–8 Mar 1990), Find a Grave Memorial ID 214650065, citing Milton Cemetery, Milton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Kate Dunlay (contributor 48739651).

• "Alice Johnstone, 94, recalled Wright Brothers at Squantum, 5¢ trolley rides." The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, Massachusetts, Friday, 9 Mar 1990, page 25.