Aquilla Florence (Walker) Johnson (1887 - 1958)

Born 28 Jun 1887 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Wife of William Francis Radford — married 13 Apr 1905 (to 1918) in South Melbourne, Victoria

Wife of Herbert Norman Johnson — married 1928 in Victoria, Australia

Died 10 Feb 1958 at age 70 in Mentone, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Aquilla Florence Walker was born 28th June 1887, at Hobart, Tasmania. She is the daughter of Thomas Walker and Susan Smart. When Thomas, a carter, registered her birth on 2nd August, the family lived at Burnett Street, Hobart. ^[1]

In 1905, in Victoria, Aquilla married William Francis Radford. ^[2]

This would have been a difficult time for Frank and Aquilla. Though they had three children over the next four years - Jessie, Thomas, and Hazel - only the eldest saw out their year of birth.

In June 1918, their marriage ended in divorce.

The Age (Melbourne) Tuesday 11 June 1918 p 7
RADFORD V. RADFORD.
William Francis Radford, 35, of Alerton-crescent, Albert Park, painter, sought divorce from Aquilla Florence Radford, 34, of Hoddle-street, Richmond, on the ground of desertion. The parties were married at South Melbourne on 13th April, 1905, and there is one child of the marriage. Petitioner deposed that his wife tired of domestic duties, tired of a confectionery business which he bought for her to please her, and finally tired of him, and left him altogether. At Mildura, where they lived for a while, she was always at dancing and card parties.
A decree nisi was granted. Petitioner intimated that he did not wish to relieve respondent of the custody of the child. ^[3]

A sensationalized account was offered by the Truth (Melbourne ed.) Saturday 15 June 1918 p 7 ^[4]

While her ex-husband quickly remarried, Aquilla, with her maiden surname reinstated, probably relished her single status, for it was a decade before she became Mrs Herbert Norman Johnson. ^[5]

Herbert (Bert) farmed at Alexandra, and it was there that they lived until Aquilla was widowed in 1950. In Bert's obituary, it says he had been looking after his invalid wife for the last seven years.

Alexandra and Yea Standard and Yarck, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express (Vic Friday 29 September 1944 p
GRATEFUL THANKS
I would like to publicly thank Dr. Wilkin, the Matron and Nursing Staff of Alexandra District Hospital for their kindness to me whilst I was an inmate of above. The Nurses and Sisters were kindness itself, and I feel I cannot thank them enough for their attention, and especially thanking Dr. Wilkin for his kindness and the trouble he went to the morning I was admitted to Hospital; also thanking Mr. and Mrs. Reg Payne and Mrs. Ned Johnson for all they done for me the same morning.
I am very grateful to all.
AQUILLA F. JOHNSON.^[6]

Following her husband's death, Aquilla dropped out of the Electoral Rolls, no doubt cared for by family, hospitalised or placed in a nursing home. ^[7]

In 1953, her daughter, Jessie Pettitt (nee Radford) died, aged 47.

On 10th February 1958, at Mentone, Aquilla Florence passed away, aged 70. Her parents are recorded as Thomas William Walker and Susan Rebecca Smart. ^{[8] [9]}

Aquilla was cremated on the 11th February at the Springvale Crematorium. Her ashes were scattered in the Botanical Cemetery.^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ LINC Tasmania Tasmanian Name Index [1] : 1887 BIRTH: Aquilla Florence WALKER, Record ID:NAME_INDEXES:981729, Resource RGD33/1/15/ no 605, digital image 78
2. ↑ Dept of Justice Family history search [2]  : 1905 MARRIAGE REG; reg 3486; Wm Fran RADFORD, Aquilla Flor WALKER
3. ↑ TROVE Newspapers Online (National Library of Australia): The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) Tuesday 11 June 1918 p 7
4. ↑ TROVE Newspapers Online (National Library of Australia): Truth (Melbourne ed.) (Vic. : 1914 - 1918) Saturday 15 June 1918 p 7
5. ↑ Department of Justice, Victoria, Australia Family history search [3] : 1928 MARRIAGE REG, Aquilla Flor WALKER, Gerbt Norman JOHNSON; reg no 2050
6. ↑ TROVE Newspapers Online (National Library of Australia): Alexandra and Yea Standard and Yarck, Gobur, Thornton and Acheron Express (Vic. : 1908 - 1949) Friday 29 September 1944 p 3
7. ↑ Australian Electoral Commission Electoral rolls:
   Aquilla Florence JOHNSON, Herbert Norman JOHNSON
   1928, 1931, 1934, 1936 Victoria, Indi, Alexandra
   1937, 1943, Victoria, Deakin, Alexandra
   1949 Victoria, Indi, Alexandra
8. ↑ Department of Justice, Victoria, Australia Family history search [4] : 1958 DEATH REG, Aquilla Florence JOHNSON; reg no 1612
9. ↑ The Ryerson Index to death notices and obituaries in Australian newspapers [5]  : JOHNSON Aquilla Florance, published The Age (Melbourne) 13 Feb 1958 - JOHNSON Aquilla Florence, published The Age (Melbourne) 12 Feb 1958
10. ↑ Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust Deceased Search [6] Aquilla Florence JOHNSON, Springvale Botanical Cemetery