George Johnston Berwickshire

[gajjer]

My ggrandfather was George Johnston ( dob Jul 1847 )from Duns(e) in Berwickshire. He moved to London and joined the Metropolitan Police. He names his parents as William Johnston and I'm pretty certain his mother was Jane Durno. I have been able to confirm that by DNA results. What I can't find is information about William. I can't find a marriage between him and Jane. There is a 1851 census record showing
Jane Durno 65
Jane Hopkins 31
Jane Hopkins 6 months
George Johnston 2 years

I think Jane got pregnant by William Johnston but he may have died before George was born. Pretty quickly Jane gets together with a Dennis Hopkins and has Jane Hopkins. So the census shows Janes mother, with Jane Hopkins ( was Johnston nee Durno ), with Dennis Hopkins' daughter, and William Johnston's son George. I have a lot about George because of police pension records but I know nothing about William.
Any help would be gratefully received.
Gaj

[Neale1961]

My ggrandfather was George Johnston ( dob Jul 1847 ) from Duns(e) in Berwickshire.
There is a 1851 census record showing
Jane Durno 65
Jane Hopkins 31
Jane Hopkins 6 months
George Johnston 2 years

Your date of birth for George is not correct, according to the census and his baptism.


Baptism record for George JOHNSTON 17/07/1849 in Duns
Parents William JOHNSTON and Jane DARNO

You would need to see the record, if it says the child was legitimate or not, and what if anything it says about the father.
Available on Scotlands People.

I suspect George was illegitimate. There are a few possible William Johnstons in the area at this time, so looking at the baptism record is important.

[Neale1961]

Baptism for ½ sister Jane HOPKIN
03/10/1850 Coldingham
Parents Dennis HOPKIN and Jane DIRNEY

[Neale1961]

Jean / Jane DURNO
Birth 11 Aug 1819 (bapt 18 Sept) Coldingham, Berwick
Daughter of George DURNO and Jean FALCONER

1841 census for Jane DURNO
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a142867f4040b9d6e13559a/jean-durno-1841-berwickshire-coldingham-1821-?locale=en

1841 census Durno parents
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a142866f4040b9d6e1353bb/george-durns-1841-berwickshire-coldingham-1781-?locale=en

[Neale1961]

George DURNO  (Linen Weaver) married Jean FALCONER
 22 June 1810
Coldingham, Berwick, Scotland

Baptisms for children of George DURNO and Jean FALCONER
 In Coldingham
•   Beatrix 26/05/1811
•   Alexander 29/07/1813
•   Alison 04/08/1815
•   Helen 22/08/1817
•   Jean 18/09/1819
•   Margaret 21/10/1823
•   Christian 31/12/1825
•   Catharine 26/10/1829



Jean / Jane FALCONER
Born 01 APR 1785 Bunkle & Preston Berwickshire
Daughter of  George FALCONER (Agricultural Labourer) and Beatrix "Beattie" MACK
Death 05 AUG 1860 Auchencraw Coldingham Berwickshire

[gajjer]

Thank you for your response.
On George's police pension record the date is unclear. It looks very much like a 7 but with a curl back at the top that could make it a 9. As you say the Census of 1851 would suggest the later date. I could find no baptism records but that may be because I had the wrong date.
I'm ok with the Durno side of the family but was really wondering about William's background.
Thank you so much for your input.

[Neale1961]

As previously posted, the baptism record is readily available from Scotlands People.
Until you see the baptism record, you have no information about the father, and cannot move forward.

[gajjer]

Sorry, but I can't see a baptism record for George on Scotland's People.

[rosie17]

Baptism record for George JOHNSTON 17/07/1849 in Duns
Parents William JOHNSTON and Jane DARNO

You would need to see the record, if it says the child was legitimate or not, and what if anything it says about the father.
Available on Scotlands People.

As posted by Neale  just  search  George Johnston 1849-1849 and it will come up old parish registers
Ref 735

Rosie