It is not yet known with certainty where Alexander was baptised. There is a strong possibility at Baslow, 4 (or1) January 1762, a son of William Johnson and Anne (formerly Kitchen).
The evidence, such as it is, may be summarised as follows:
There is no burial of an infant named Alexander in the Baslow register which suggests he became an adult.
No marriage or burial has been found in or near Baslow to suggest that Alexander of Baslow remained there.
The Butterley Iron Works near Alfreton opened in 1790 and Alexander of Alfreton married there in 1791 which may suggest that he, as a single man, made the move to Alfreton for reasons of employment.
Alexander of Baslow was the last child of William, who may have been aged about 65 when Alexander was born, and died when Alexander was aged about 11. Alexander may have had to move away for employment reasons as his mother may have had difficulty supporting him.
The name Barbara is an unusual one. Alexander of Baslow had a sister named Barbara and Edward, a son of Alexander of Alfreton, named a daughter Barbara.
The first definite appearance of Alexander is at his marriage to Hannah Fletcher (probably baptised at Pentrich, 16 August 1767, a daughter of Edward Fletcher and Elizabeth Marsden who were married at Pentrich, 17 April 1759. Edward was a framework knitter). The marriage was at Alfreton parish church on 27 April 1791. Alexander was of the parish of Alfreton and Hannah was of the parish of Pentrich. Both were literate.
A removal order dated 19 January 1819 records that Alexander and his wife Hannah together with their daughter Elizabeth, aged 27 and her illegitimate son, John, aged 2 years were removed from Pentrich to Alfreton, where Alexander had settlement.
Civil Registration began on 1 July 1837 and the death of Alexander is the first entry in the register of the sub-district of Ripley. It records the death on 1st July 1837 at Codnor Park, Ripley, of Alexander Johnson, aged 77, a labourer, who died of old age. The informant was Thomas Johnson (X) his nephew, of Codnor Park, Ripley. This may help to make the link with Baslow even firmer if Thomas can be linked to Alexander of Baslow’s brother William (baptised 15 May 1759 at Baslow).
Alexander's burial is recorded in the parish register of Pentrich on 8 July 1837. He was aged 77 years and of Codnor Park.
Hannah died 15 June 1845 of 'old age', also aged 77 years and probably at the home of her son, William, in King William Street, Ironville, where she is recorded in the 1841 Census. In Hannah's death certificate, Alexander is described as a 'labourer'.
Six children of Alexander and Hannah Johnson have been identified from baptisms in the parish register of Pentrich:
Posted October 2016