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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Topic started by: Rodney53 on Friday 06 December 19 23:34 GMT (UK)
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I am hoping for some help in piecing together the details of the life of Captain Robert Gudgeon Johnston. An ancestor of mine married into the Johnston family and my cousins have found the trail has gone cold. We've had no joy trying to find the details of his parents.
Captain Robert Gudgeon Johnston, born 1794. His marriage certificate lists his birth in Wexford, Ireland, around the time of the New Ross rebellion. The town listed is New Towns, Wexford, Ireland. We have no firm idea of who his parents were. There is a record of a Martha Gudgeon, baptized 1771 in Suffolk, father Robert and mother Elizabeth. These names repeat across the generations, suggesting maybe Martha was Captain Johnston’s mother, however no link has yet been found.
Married Anna Maria Hartley in 1822 in the British Embassy, Paris.
3 children:
John Cockburn Johnston 1823-1856
Eliza Martha Johnston 1834-1924
Rawson Parke Johnston 1837-1899
All three children died in NSW/Victoria
Was living in Plymouth in 1838. (Baptism records of children confirm this).
Was in the British Army.
Arrived in the colonies in 1852.
Was in 1854 appointed magistrate for Port Macquarie NSW.
He died on the way back to England and was buried at sea near the Falkland Islands in 1859. His will was lodged in NSW, witness and executor was Edward Denny Day, the famous Police magistrate who locked up lots of bush rangers.
There are a number of unanswered questions about Captain Johnston’s story.
Any assistance will be much appreciated.
Rodney53
This inquiry is also listed in the Australia area.
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=822463
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The first inclination is to wonder where the middle name s of their children came from....
For fyi of lookers - this appears to be the source of son John Cockburn Johnston's middle name:
The two witness' of Robert Gudgeon Johnston & Anna Maria Hartley's 1822 Paris marriage were:
William James Cockburn and Caroline Hartley.
who themselves married right afterwards, same day, same place, with their witness' being:
RG Johnston & AM Johnston.
Hi Rodney,
Do you know what the connection to "Rawson Parke" is - the b 1837 third child's given names?
(I also note, an Army Birth for a Rawson P JOHNSTON registered in France 1826, 100th Regiment - so possibly this child died and RGJ and wife AM used the name again later)
Cheers,
AMBLY
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There is this found, Gazette - an earlier Rawson Parke Johnson?:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/20308/page/263/data.pdf
48th Foot, Rawson Parke-Johnston, Gent, to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Pitt, promoted in Dated 26th January 1844
48th Regiment of Foot - The Northamptonshire
Embarked for Service 19 Sep 1838
Serving at Jamaica. Depot at Dublin
3 Yrs Service: Ensign Rawson Parke Johnston, Ensign from 26 Jan 1844
Cheers
AMBLY
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Found this in the National Library Australia newspaper archive:
rchive-irishnewsarchive-com.rp.nla.gov.au/Olive/APA/INA.Edu/Default.aspx#panel=document
Deaths: Mrs Eliza Martha COCKBURN only dau of the late Robert Cockburn Johnston died Spa, Belgium
23 March 1880 age 55 ( so born 1825).
A couple of other entries from 1840's re his promotions. Interestingly he was Royal Canadian Rifles Regiment.
ADD From www.trovenla.gov.au "Rawson Park (sic) Johnston son of the late RG Johnston d March 1889 age 61 at Port Melbourne (so born 1828)
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Hi,
At the NSW Archives online index there is an entry giving the reference numbers for a Probate Packet for Robert Gudgeon JOHNSTON, date of death 13 April 1859, Probate granted 9 November 1859.
NRS-13660-1-[14/3316]-Series 1_4504
https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/
See the following thread : https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=703011.0
JM
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Rawson Parke - found the connection.........drats, not on the Johnston side!
Rawson PARKE, of Crowle House, Worcestorshire, then later of Southhampton Street, Bloomsbury. Middlesex. Died 1841. In his will he left bequests to his two nieces - Anna Maria Johnston the wife of Robert Gudgeon Johnston and to Caroline Cockburn, wife of William James Cockburn.
Also, double checking.... you had written above, the son Rawson born 1837 died 1899. Is the birth year a typo - and the death year? Online trees have him born 1827, marrying 1852 (which he did, in Liverpool, Lancashire) and died in 1889 (in NSW, by his own hand) - in which case, he himself is the ensign in 1844?
Cheers
AMBLY
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Capt R G JOHNSTON of the 68th Regiment.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/196997437 The Age, 29 March 1889
Deaths
JOHNSTON, On the 28th March at Port Melbourne, Rawson Park JOHNSTON, late Lieut 48th Regt, son of capt R G JOHNSTON of the 68th Regt, aged 61 years, father of Mrs Backhouse and Mrs T P Dowling, and Robert Johnston, fisherman, Esplanade, Port Melbourne, Deeply regretted.
JM
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Wow! The responses to this are extraordinary, to say the least.
I will be ringing my cousins tonight, to work our way through each contribution, then respond individually to all.
They will be extremely pleased and appreciative.
In the meantime ... thanks a million.
Rodney53
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Congratulations, you are today's big winner!
"New Towns" is clearly one of the townlands named Newtown. And there are 20 (or is it 21?) of them to choose from in Co. Wexford!
Several sites on the web giving details and locations for Irish townlands, you can trawl through them.
As for his British Army career, that should be traceable in the London Gazette, which is available online.
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Have you checked the Royal Hospital pension papers for Robert Johnston, born ca 1794? Unlikely to be yours, but....
Some indication of religion would be useful...
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Some more pieces to fill in the daughter's life - though not advancing the search for RGJ's parentage:
Found this in the National Library Australia newspaper archive:
rchive-irishnewsarchive-com.rp.nla.gov.au/Olive/APA/INA.Edu/Default.aspx#panel=document
Deaths: Mrs Eliza Martha COCKBURN only dau of the late Robert Cockburn Johnston died Spa, Belgium . 23 March 1880 age 55 ( so born 1825).
The father's middle name is incorrectly cited in the newspaper report…it is RGJ & AMH's daughter - she went on to marry her 1st cousin James Stuart COCKBURN:
As noted prior, Anna Maria's sister, Caroline HARTLEY married in France 1822 to William James COCKBURN. Amongst their children was James Stuart COCKBURN b 1822.
Here's James Stuart COCKBURN in 1841, in St Charles the Martyr, Devon, with mother & brother:
1841: John Street,
Caroline COCKBURN 39, Ind, b - N
James COCKBURN 16 - N
Henry COCKBURN 14 - N
Elizabeth BLIGHT 19, F.S. - Y
Here's his cousin Eliza Martha JOHNSON in 1841, Charles The Martyr, Devon
CENSUS 1841: James Street,
Robert JOHNSON, Army, 46, b I(reland)
Ann JOHNSON 41 - N
Eliza JOHNSON 16 - N
Rawson JOHNSON 14 - N
Ann TRENNER 18, F.S. - N
Their MARRIAGE: 1846
LICENSE: 11 Nov 1846 at St Andrews, Devon
James Stuart COCKBURN age 21
Eliza Martha JOHNSTON age 21
The Marriage license:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G94Y-9HNB?cc=1833719
MARRIAGE: on 24 Nov 1846 at St Andrews, Devon
James Stuart COCKBURN, full age, Bachelor, Gentleman, of Union Street,
Father: William James COCKBURN, late Leiut. of the 78th Regiment
Eliza Martha JOHNSON, full age, of Cobourg Street,
Father: Robert Gudgeon JOHNSON, Late Captain of the 68th Regiment
Witness: Thomas D………?, Anna Maria JOHNSTON.
Here's the couple in 1851:
CENSUS 1851: Nr 2 Villa Rosa, Clarendon Road, St Helier, Channel Islands
Head: James Stuart COCKBURN 26, Householder, b Avranches, France, British Subject
Wife: Eliza COCKBURN 26, b Avranches, France, British Subject
Son: James WS COCKBURN 3, b Charles, Plymouth
Daughter: C F COCKBURN 1, b St Peters, Guernsey
BIRTH/BAPTISM of the son:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MS-TG1K
Baptised 11 Oct 1847, Plymouth, Devon
James Whidbey Stuart COCKBURN
Son of James Stuart COCKBURN, Gentleman & wife Eliza Martha.
Abode: South Devon Place
BIRTH/BAPTISM of the daughter:
Baptised at St Luke Chelsea on 22 Oct 1854
Caroline Frances COCKBURN, born Dec 1849
Dau of James Stuart COCKBURN, Gentleman & wife Eliza Martha.
Abode: South Parade
DEATH/WILL 1863/64:
James Stuart COCKBURN, Storekeeper in the Anglo-Chinese Service, died 21 Aug 1863 Shanghai, China. Admin 15 Oct 1864 at the Principal Registry to Eliza Martha COCKBURN of 5 Rue Comte de'l Equerre in Bruges, Belgium, Widow the Relict of the Deceased
Cheers
AMBLY
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page 579 1831?
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01oph/
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Re:
Rawson PARKE, of Crowle House, Worcestorshire, then later of Southhampton Street, Bloomsbury. Middlesex. Died 1841. In his will he left bequests to his two nieces - Anna Maria Johnston the wife of Robert Gudgeon Johnston and to Caroline Cockburn, wife of William James Cockburn.
Also, double checking.... you had written above, the son Rawson born 1837 died 1899. Is the birth year a typo - and the death year? Online trees have him born 1827, marrying 1852 (which he did, in Liverpool, Lancashire) and died in 1889 (in NSW, by his own hand) - in which case, he himself is the ensign in 1844?
**** Thanks Ambly.
1. The Rawson Parke will sheds light on the naming of Rawson Parke Johnston so this is helpful.
2. Yes, the dates for his birth and death are typos ... born 1827, died 1889. Mu blunder. Apologies, and thanks for picking it up.
Do you know what the connection to "Rawson Parke" is-the b 1837 third child's givennames?(I also note, an Army Birth for aRawson P JOHNSTON registered in France 1826, 100thRegiment-so possibly this child died and RGJ and wife AM used the name again later
***** Rawson Parke was the uncle of his mother. Your post about Rawson Parke’s will makes that clear. Again, my thanks.
48th Regiment of Foot-The NorthamptonshireEmbarked for Service 19 Sep 1838
*This one bothers me a bit… born 1827, so 11 y.o. in 1838?
Re:
Found this in the National Library Australia newspaper archive:
rchive-irishnewsarchive-com.rp.nla.gov.au/Olive/APA/INA.Edu/Default.aspx#panel=document
Deaths: Mrs Eliza Martha COCKBURN only dau of the late Robert Cockburn Johnston died Spa, Belgium
23 March 1880 age 55 ( so born 1825).
A couple of other entries from 1840's re his promotions. Interestingly he was Royal Canadian Rifles Regiment.
ADD From www.trovenla.gov.au "Rawson Park (sic) Johnston son of the late RG Johnston d March 1889 age 61 at Port Melbourne (so born 1828)
*** Thanks shume.
The Canadian connection has come as a bit of a surprise.
Re:
Deaths
JOHNSTON, On the 28th March at Port Melbourne, Rawson Park JOHNSTON, late Lieut 48th Regt, son of capt R G JOHNSTON of the 68th Regt, aged 61 years, father of Mrs Backhouse and Mrs T P Dowling, and Robert Johnston, fisherman, Esplanade, Port Melbourne, Deeply regretted.
***Thanks JM
The Robert Johnston, fisherman is where I connect with this family. His wife was the sister of my2 x great-grandmother.
Re:
As for his British Army career, that should be traceable in the London Gazette, which is available online.
Have you checked the Royal Hospital pension papers for Robert Johnston, born ca 1794? Unlikely to be yours, but....
Some indication of religion would be useful...
***Thanks, Wexflier. The London Gazette should prove a fruitful line of pursuit.The other Robert Johnston is worth a look also, not so promising, I suspect.
As for religion, two of his children look to have been baptised in the Church of England in Plymouth, and his son Rawson P. Johnston, with several family members, are buried in the Church of England section of the Melbourne cemetery.
My cousins and I are very grateful for all help. We are still working through the other contributions.
Rodney53.
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If the family was CofI, you should get a researcher to check the Wexford (town) parish records for Robert's birth in the 1790s. Unfortunately for you, there are 20+ Wexford townlands by the name of Newtown, but the most likely is the one just outside Wexford itself. The registers are extant, but not online (to my knowledge).
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If the family was CofI, you should get a researcher to check the Wexford (town) parish records for Robert's birth in the 1790s. Unfortunately for you, there are 20+ Wexford townlands by the name of Newtown, but the most likely is the one just outside Wexford itself. The registers are extant, but not online (to my knowledge).
The Wexford parish registers are held by the RCB Library
https://www.ireland.anglican.org/cmsfiles/pdf/AboutUs/library/registers/ParishRegisters/PARISHREGISTERS.pdf (https://www.ireland.anglican.org/cmsfiles/pdf/AboutUs/library/registers/ParishRegisters/PARISHREGISTERS.pdf)
Also, the Royal Hospital I mentioned is the one in Dublin.
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Thanks again, Wexflyer.
We'll try those suggestions.
Rodney53.
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His army record is downloadable from TNA and viewable on Ancestry:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/3253/40940_2000729174-00391/455309
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C13311005
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Shaun nailed it!
Born Wexford, 12/9/1794. He fought in the Peninsula and Afghanistan, and served on St. Helena! Amazing record. And to think they are still fighting in Afghanistan almost 200 years later!
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Many thanks, ShaunJ and Wexflyer.
This is a very creditable record indeed, and its surfacing is a great thrill for the Johnston family, one for which we are extremely grateful.
Rodney53.