Mary Elizabeth (Dobbins) Johnston (1878 - 1969)

Born Aug 1878 in Camden, New Jersey, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Clarence Maitland Johnston — married 20 Apr 1904 in Asbury Park, NJ

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Scott Johnston [send private message]

Biography

Mary Elizabeth, who went by "Mae", is her parents' third child according to her birth record and according to the 1880 census where Mae appears at age 1 with her parents and two older siblings. Mae may have been named after her father's sister Elizabeth. Mae's mother and paternal grandmother were both named Mary.

Mae's father died in 1885 and her mother died in 1886, both from consumption, leaving Mae an orphan at age eight. After her parents died Mae was adopted by a person named Annie Johnson according to notes taken by Kathleen Ernst, Mae's great grand-daughter and cousin of Scott Johnston, creator of this profile. Mae is linked to a likely candidate for this person, Anna M Dobbins by an 1899 Asbury Park NJ directory entry where they are resident at the same address (1102 Heck St, Asbury Park NJ):

1899 Asbury Park NJ directory

Mae's presumed adoptive mother "Annie" Anna M Dobbins born Anna Mary Sooy, was married first to George Whitfield Dobbins in 1867 and married second to Joseph Edward Johnson in 1905. Possibly/probably Mae's birth father Lemuel was related to Annie's first husband George who died in 1886 about the same time Mae's parents died.

The Clarence and Mae wedding clipping (see below) refers to several others who have Wikitree profiles. The headline REV CLARENCE M. JOHNSTON TAKES A WIFE refers of course to Mae's husband. "Miss Mae E. Dobbins, only daughter of Mrs. Anna M. Dobbins, of Asbury Park, was married at three o'clock this afternoon to Rev. Clarence Maitland Johnston, son of Mrs. L. L. Johnston of Herbert street, Red Bank, and the late Rev. S. H. Johnston of the New Jersey conference." refers to Mae's adoptive mother and to Clarence's birth parents. "The ceremony took place at the summer home of Mrs. Dobbins" may refer to refer to 1102 Heck St, Asbury Park NJ mentioned above.

The clipping also mentions "Rev. H. J. Zelley of Long Branch, a relative of the bride". Reverend Zelley's wife Clara Dobbins would appear to be the person related to Mae. Clara's father Wesley is the brother of Annie's first husband George who as mentioned above is possibly related to Mae's birth father Lemuel.

Clarence and Mae wedding clipping

The clipping mentions a wedding marched "played by the bride's aunt, Mrs. Clara Sooy of Asbury Park." Clara would appear to be the wife of Anna's brother Franklin William Sooy. This mention of Clara helps confirm that Mae's adoptive mother Anna has been correctly identified.

According to the WW2 draft card of Mae's son Clarence Haines "Haines" Johnston, in 1940 Mae lived at 220 Pitney Road, Absecon NJ.

Mae's grandson Lewis Johnston Jr states that, in her later years, Mae lived at the Methodist Episcopal Home for Aged Women in Collingswood, NJ. In 2018 Lew stated "I have vivid memories of my dad taking me with him there to visit Mae. I remember her room was always full of easels, paints and brushes. And dad sent cards and letters to her so often I still remember the exact address: Zane & Haddon Avenues, Collingswood, NJ. Funny, but my other persistent memory from the place is a very strong aroma of things cooking in the kitchen. Can’t remember if I liked the smells or not. I believe the building was demolished years ago."

Sources

• Scott's records, as recorded by Kathleen Ernst after interviewing Lewis and Clara Johnston.
• "New Jersey Births and Christenings, 1660-1980", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5N3-358 : 26 August 2020), Mary E. Dobbins, 1878.
• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNZR-M19 : 12 August 2017), Mary E Dobbins in household of Lemuel D Dobbins, Haddonfield, Camden, New Jersey, United States; citing enumeration district ED 63, sheet 570D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0774; FHL microfilm 1,254,774.