William Wilson Johnson (1868 - 1949)

Born 24 Oct 1868 in New Plymouth, Taranaki New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Christina (McNeil) Johnson — married 10 Feb 1896 in Inglewood, Taranaki, New Zealand

Died 11 Nov 1949 at age 81 in New Plymouth, Taranaki New Zealand

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Wilson Johnson has English ancestors.

Biography

William Wilson Johnson … known as Wilson … was born at New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand on 24th October 1868^[1] … the third child and third son born to Bill Johnson and his wife Jane Edwards Marshall but the first to survive infancy.

Wilson's unusual christian name may have originated as this was the maiden name of his father's grandmother … ie, Mary Wilson … who had married the first William Johnson of Wilson's Johnson ancestors on 6th April 1801 at South Cowton Anglican Church in Yorkshire's North Riding in England.

Wilson's descendants say he had extremely poor eyesight throughout his life. He must have found his schooldays very trying as his academic skills would have been severely impaired because of his vision. When he was a child, New Zealand government policy decreed that progression through the education system was strictly based on achievement. As a tall, well-built individual, Wilson would have found himself in the same class as much younger, and much smaller, children. Despite his visual problems and poor literacy skills, though, Wilson was apparently very astute with money.

As a young adult, Wilson started working as a farm- and roading contractor, driving horse-drawn carts and wagons around the district. He gradually began spending more time breaking and training horses, and it wasn't long before training and racing race-horses became his lifelong occupation. Like his younger brother Percy [Perce] Johnson-22861, Wilson became one of New Zealand's leading racehorse trainers.

It would seem that handling horses was a skill passed down through the generations, as both his father Bill Johnson-55732 and his grandfather John Johnson-55724 were nationally-recognised horsemen. All four men became very well-known jockeys and horse trainers throughout New Zealand and Australasia.

On 10th February 1896, at his home in Inglewood, Taranaki, Wilson married Christina McNeill, daughter of John McNeill and his wife Catharine nee McPhail.^[2]

Wilson and Christina had a family of eight children: - Margaret Catherine Christina, born 2 March 1897 at New Plymouth

- Willie Wilson Dougald [Bill], born 21 May 1898 at Inglewood

- James Percy, born 16 October 1899 at Inglewood

- Lelia Jane Bessie [Leila/ Millie], born 19 February 1901 at Stratford

- Mary Ella McNeil, born 15 January 1904 at Waitara

- Isaac, born 29 April 1906 at New Plymouth

- Norah Ethel Annie, born 29 September 1907 at New Plymouth

- Edith Marion [Doll], born 16 July 1913 at New Plymouth

Judging by the differing birth places of the children, it would seem that Wilson and Christina moved around quite a bit, especially when the family were younger. This may have been necessary as Wilson would have had to keep abreast of the public's need and demand for horse-drawn carriers and/ or carriages.

Wilson died at New Plymouth on 11th November 1949 just a fortnight after his 81st birthday. He was buried at Tongaporutu Cemetery just north of New Plymouth three days later. His death notice in the local newspaper reads … ^[3]

Johnson: on 11 November 1949 at New Plymouth, William Wilson, beloved husband of the late Christina Johnson and loved father of Mrs Bird and Mrs Glengarry [New Plymouth], Mrs Prentice [Ohakune], and Mr J Johnson [Okau]; aged 81 years. The funeral will leave our chapel on Monday 14 November at 11.30am, arriving at Tongaporutu Cemetery at 1.30pm. Friends please accept this intimation. W Abraham Ltd

Sources

1. ↑ "Births, Deaths & Marriages Online", [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz), Birth Registration of William Wilson Johnson, child of William and Jane Williams Johnson; citing Birth Certificate 1868/16601
2. ↑ New Plymouth Methodist Marriage Register #5, Book 15 [at New Plymouth Library]; on 10 February 1896 at the residence of the groom, Inglewood, by Rev Samuel Henderson; William Wilson Johnson, 27 years, bachelor, carrier, born New Plymouth; present and usual address Inglewood, son of William Johnson, farmer, and Jane nee Marshall; married Christina McNeill, 24 years, spinster, born Scotland, present and usual address Inglewood, daughter of John McNeill, coachman, and Catherine nee McFall [sic]. Witnesses William Johnson, farmer, Tarata and Elvina Clifford, Tarata.
3. ↑ 'Taranaki Herald' newspaper, 12 November 1949

• Birth Registration: "New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages Online", (digital index), New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs . ; Reg No. 1868/16601: Johnson William Wilson, Jane Williams & William

• Marriage Registration: "New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages Online", (digital index), New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs . ; Reg No. 1896/4127 Christina McNeil & William Wilson Johnson

• Death Registration: "New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages Online", (digital index), New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs .; Reg No. 1949/28638 Johnson William Wilson 81Y

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182659453/william-wilson_%5Bknown_as_wilson%5D-johnson: accessed 06 July 2023), memorial page for William Wilson [known as Wilson] Johnson (24 Oct 1868–11 Nov 1949), Find a Grave Memorial ID 182659453, citing Tongaporutu Cemetery, Tongaporutu, New Plymouth District, Taranaki, New Zealand;