SWEDEN: Charles Johnson (British Subject)

[johnna j]

Hi Everyone,
I am looking for any info about Charles Johnson and his Father John Johnson,
Charles was born about 1841, Sweden. I am interested to find out about his Family up to his Marriage to progress further down this line
My details to date are:      Married aged 26 in 1868 to Ann Cooper, Lawford, Essex, his Marriage Cert states that he was a Sailor and his Father a Carpenter.
The 1871 Census only his wife and child is present, Charles may be at sea.
In the 1881 Census the Family had moved to Sundeland, Durham and he is stated as a British Subject, Sweden.
Any help would be appreciated
Derek

[Ecneps]

Hi Derek,

Just a thought, my Grandfather was known as Jack Johnson, Swedish, but his real surname was Jonsson, have you tried looking under that too?  Also a very good sites for Swedish ancestry are http://www.cyndislist.com/sweden.htm#Records and another one I found, DDSS (for short) at  www.ddss.nu - (click on the flag top left to change language) found my gt.gt.grandfather's baptism, it gives lots of info including parents' names, their ages, and witnesses (godparents perhaps)
It also has ship lists.
If he became a British Subject you might find his application at the National Archives http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/familyhistory/naturalisation/

Barbara

[johnna j]

Hi Barbara,
Thanks for those Websites, although I always find it difficult finding what you require via the National Archives and a bit hard to navigate around there Website, (I'm a bit thick) but lets have a go!!....Hope you do not mind me asking, because I don't understand the true meaning of British Subject,could it mean Charles Johnson was born in Sweden and he retained his surname (Johnson) because his Father was working/Living in Sweden at that time, or, on the other hand, like your Grandfather there names changed from Jonsson to Johnson when they came to England....And lastly, we are not related, are we?........Thanks Again Barbara and you have given me lots to go on.
Derek

[Ecneps]

Hi Derek,

On National archives site just enter his name in the search box, then click on 'family papers' at the left side which should narrow it down.

I found a Jack Johnson application for naturalisation that way (and ordered it) unfortunately turned out not to be mine!  He was called Manne August Jonsson, but I suppose people found it easier to call him Jack.  It may be that Charles was born in Sweden and took out British papers, something my grandfather started but never finished before he died. 

Don't think we're related, no Charles in the family that I know of, Jonsson a bit like Smith really, but he was also sailor, born Nyhamnslage near Hoganas, left Sweden aged 15 to go to sea and never returned, ended up in Hull and died aged 33.

Have you looked for him on www.familysearch.org ?
Barbara

[Ecneps]

Did you have this 1861 census for him (possibly) in which it says he was born Gothenburg, 1891 has just Sweden

1861 RG9/4448 fol.82 (misc. ships at sea)
Vessel: 'East Anglian', English Channel
Charles Johnson unmarried 21 AB Seaman Sweden, Gothenburgh

[johnna j]

Hi Again,
Thanks for all of this information, your details from the 1861 Census is all new to me , and if born (possible) in Gothenburg it has opened a new world for me.
I'm going to check out Familysearch and National Archives ( thks for extra help on NA) and other Websites ASAP.....I really appreciate this.
Derek.
PS.  In your last post you did mean Gothengburg 1841?

[Ecneps]

Hi Derek,

The 1861 census address is the English Channel, he's on a vessel called the 'East Anglian' with 4 other crew, and his birthplace is Gothenburg, sorry if I didn't make it clear.  But I have noticed another Swede called Charles Johnson born Gothenburg and their ages are very close so he may not be yours 

Which census are you short of?  I can look them up for you.
Barbara

[johnna j]

Hi Barbara,
These Johnson people are very common...lots of them I'm afraid...Bless them!
Thanks for the extra news about ANOTHER Johnson about the same age, any details about him will be welcome and hopefully I can sort out which one is mine, which may prove difficult, but interesting.
I have no info of Charles Johnson in the 1861 Census exept what you have told me,  in the 1871 he is not at home on that Census night in Mistley, Essex, with his wife Annie and child ( I think he was at sea)
I have his details from the 1881 census, but nothing in the 1891/1901 Census.
Thanks
Derek

[Ecneps]

Right, 2 more the same age, besides the one I gave you already:

1861 RG9/3793 fol.65 p.28
Long Row, South Shields, Durham
in household of John Lawlor, publican
Charles Johnson boarder unm 22 Mariner  b.Sweden

1861 RG9/4439 fol.18 p.11
Royal Navy, English Channel, aboard the vessel 'Elgar'
Charles Johnson  A. B.  single  b. Sweden (British Subject)