benj johnson boatman

[chas1]

hi,

would anybody have info on a clara johnson d of benj johnson boatman.

mar:-  1902 nov 20  beauchamp george to johnson clara  d  benjamin johnson boatman
 

thanks chas

[The Mc]

FreeBMD has the marriage.....

George Beauchamp to Clara Johnson in December 1902 in the Oxford Registration District (volume 3a page 1851)

[chas1]

thanks i have that info already on file

[Spidermonkey]

Hi Chas,

What sort of info are you after?  If you are struggling to find a birth etc, I suggest that you look on the 1911 census for Clara Beauchamp, which would give you an idea of date of birth and place of birth.  Remember also that if the JOhnson family were permanent boatmen, then it is possible that Clara could have been born in one place, but then registered somewhere else.

In the meantime, I shall have a look and see if I can find any likely candidates for Clara and her parents.

[Spidermonkey]

Not found anything concrete yet, but I looked at the 1891 census and found a Benjamin Johnson with his wife Betsy and sons Frederick (15) and Benjamin (4).  They are at Bath Loading Stage, Ashby de la Zouch.  In the next boat enumerated are a family of Beauchamps (but no George).  RG12; Piece: 2511; Folio 93; Page 48


(In 1881 Benjamin and Betsey can be found with daughter Caroline).

[Spidermonkey]

Same family in 1901 (and with Beauchamps just down the moorings) RG13; Piece: 1406; Folio: 73; Page: 46

Am starting to go off this line as being Clara's parents - you would think that she would appear on at least one census with them! 

Do you have a copy of the marriage cert for Clara and George?  Does it say whether Benjamin was deceased?

Suspect that this is George in 1891 RG12; Piece: 2511; Folio 65; Page 61

[Spidermonkey]

There is a death in 1916 of a Benjamin JOhnson of Thrup Oxfordshire, with administration granted in 1926 to Benjamin Johnson, boatman effects totalling £326.

Benjamin JOhnson left a will which might be worth looking at, once you have established if this is indeed the right Benjamin Johnson!

You definitely need Clara's birth cert, which will tell you both parents names.  I suspect that this is Clara - Jun qtr 1883, Woodstock, 3a 821

[chas1]

thanks spiderman,

sent for clara's b/cert last friday.

2 benj johnsons oxford, 1 is not a boatman the other is, the problem is on the 1911, benj boatman is shown having 3 children, 2 living, 1 deceased, clara is not 1 of these children.

[Spidermonkey]

sent for clara's b/cert last friday.

2 benj johnsons oxford, 1 is not a boatman the other is, the problem is on the 1911, benj boatman is shown having 3 children, 2 living, 1 deceased, clara is not 1 of these children.

Yes, that was the stumbling block in my grand theory!!  Although 2 thoughts did then spring to mind - 1) perhaps Clara and Caroline are the same person (although this is not hugely likely due to the disparity in ages); and
2) perhaps Caroline was Betsey's daughter from a prior relationship (and so when the 1911 census asks about children, it is from the current relationship).

Fingers crosed the b/cert will be with you soon!  Do let us know the parents names!