1881 Census lookup request; Johnson

[ward3736]

Johnson, Joseph Charles and/or Ruth Grace (nee Fisher).
Residence; 32 Thornbury Road Chapham Park SW London as at
                 1896.
Occupation; Publisher's Clerk. (Joseph Charles)

They are my grandparents on my mother's side.

They had four (4) children; Edith, Elsie, Joseph & Ivy(my mother). My mother's birth certificate registered BA 490897 at Hampstead County of London and was born August 3, 1896 at 112 Adelaide Road London.

According to my mother (deceased), they died in a London theatre fire around 1898-1900. She was only 2 years old at the time and was taken and raised by her god parents (Llewelyn of South Wales - at their beach house in Caswell Bay).

I would like to find out more about my grand parents, so that I may search further back into my ancestory and perhaps discover who they are.       

[Wendi]

Hi Ward3736, and Welcome to Rootschat 

What an interesting story, there will probably be records in London newspapers of the fire, in the mean time, as you posted in 1881 Census lookup requests I thought you might like to know that this is available, free, on-line at

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=search_all1.asp&clear_form=true

Good luck 
Wendi

[ward3736]

Thanks for the link Wendi. Will carry-on.

[Meliora]

Hello, Ward3736,

This is a surorise,

1901 census
RG13/714  folio  132
Gravesend & Milton Union workhouse.

John Charles Johnson  Mar. age 45  clerk in Shipping House
born  Hackney, London
John Herbert  son age 7  b, Islington
Edith May  dau  age 5    b  ditto
Ivy dau age 3  b  South Hampstead
Gladys  dau age 1  b  Lewisham
Elsie Mary  dau  age 1 mth. b   Gravesend.

The only birth I checked was Elsie Mary as she was only imth old, I thought it was the easiest.
Born    mar ¼  1901 Gravesend   2a  604

I could not find anything yet for Ruth, the obvious guess would be that she died when Elsie was born but I cannot find a death for her at that time.   

I wonder if your mother's memory was a little adrift re the Theatre fire, dates can become very confused in memory.

If you obtained Elsie Mary's birth certificate this would be a great help, this can be done online at

www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificate/index.asp#0

good luck

Meliora

[Meliora]

hello, Ward3736,

I have found the birth entries for the Johnson children

Joseph Herbert
Mar ¼  1893  Holborn  1v 735

Edith May
June ¼  1984  St.Giles  1b  594

Ivy Adelaide   you already know details
Sept.  ¼  1896  Hampstead  1a  663

Gladys Caroline F. 
Mar ¼  1900  Lewisham  1d  1267

Elsie Mary
Mar ¼  1901  Gravesend  2a  604

Meliora

[Tati]

Still in the same workhouse in 1901, there is also:

Grace Johnson, married, 29, wife of Joseph, b. Farnham Surrey

just 2 lines above the rest of the family, which would explain the fact that George is down as married. Perhaps the fire took place later?

Tanja 

[ward3736]

Wow ... Thankyou so much for your help everyone. It's beyond my expectations and opens new idea's to persue. I'm gratefull.

My mother kept a lot of information private and so did my father who is worse to try and trace. Anyway, I do know that my mother (Ivy Adelaide Johnson) was raised by the Llewelyns of South Wales at their Caswell Bay Beachhouse near Swansea and was christened at a local church (St. Peters) around 1906. I have some post cards that were sent to her from Wales back in early 1900's.

Again, your information will help tremendously and opens up some new possibilities.

Thanks,
Roy
 

 

[Tati]

Unfortunately, I can't find a matching Grace or Ruth Grace in either 1881 or 1891 - at least not born in Farnham, anyway. You don't have Joseph and Grace's marriage certificate, do you?

Tanja   

[ward3736]

No ... The only certificate I have is my mother's birth certificate and I believe her baptismal certificate (1906) south wales. Thats it.
I could post her birth and baptismal + a family picture taken back around 1898/99 but I can't figure out how to insert them into this thread.

Thanks