Greetings Genies,
I think I've <i>finally</i> found my Isabella JOHNS(T)ON nee DYER in the 1861 census Cockermouth:
RG9/3935/94/33 Derwent St
WHITAKER Betsy / head / mar / 37 / Cleator
SCOFIELD Sarah J / dau / 11 / Hull
WHITAKER James / son / 4 / Cockermouth
JOHNSTON Isabella / grandmother (sic) / wid / 73 / Whitehaven
Betsy JOHNSON/SCHOFIELD/WHITTAKER fits fairly well with Isabella's daughter Elizabeth b 1821. Also, a Henry JOHNSTON just around the corner in Crown St Cockermouth in 1861 census fits perfectly with Isabella's son Henry b 1818 Whitehaven. So I <i>think</i> (hope!) this is my Isabella.
I'd be grateful if SKS could please check 1851 census for Cockermouth for Isabella JOHNS(T)ON, hoping she's with husband Joseph to confirm it is the right Isabella (marr 1817 St Bees). When youngest son William arrived Sydney 1852, he said they were both living, and in Cumberland.
Roly Grigg's index shows the following in Cockermouth, giving me hope:
JOHNSTON ... Jos (54) Isabella (62) ... [2434 fols 420-507]
I checked online partial transcription for Cockermouth 1851, but they're not there.
TIA
Steve
PS Whoo-hoo! In the 1871, 83yo Isabella is head at Derwent St (lodging house), and "Betty" (39yo!) correctly shown as daughter (her husband William is at home too). Then in 1881 Elizabeth WHITTAKER (58yo) is there as head (William elsewhere again). I'm pretty sure these are the folk I've been looking for the last five years... just wish Betsy would age at the same rate as the rest of us...
PPS Even better, just found another of Isabella's daughters, Maria b. 1819 in Cleator, marr to Thomas BELL and living in Cockermouth in 1861 - looks like the whole tribe moved from Whitehaven some time.
