He was baptised 12 July 1795 at Pentrich, a son of Alexander Johnson and Hannah (formerly Fletcher).
He married Maria Chadwicke at Pentrich 10 April 1815. A son, George, was baptised 22 May 1816 at Pentrich and also Joseph, was baptised 22 May 1818 at Pentrich. Maria was buried at Pentrich 29 October 1820, aged 25.
He probably married secondly Elizabeth Phantom, 14 October 1828 at Alfreton. An Elizabeth Fantom was baptised at Crich 31 July 1803 and Elizabeth's ages in 1851 and when she was buried in 1857 suggest a birth year of 1803/4. The less likely second marriage was 18 November 1835 at Alfreton to Elizabeth Collins and an Elizabeth Collins was baptised at Pentrich 6 November 1808, making her rather young for William’s second wife.
In the 1841 census of King William Street, Ironville, William was aged 45-49, a furnace keeper, with Elizabeth, aged 35 – 39 and William aged 2 (probably a grandson, from the 1851 census). There was also Hannah Johnson aged 70 – 74. All were born in Derbyshire. When Hannah died in 1845, William's wife, Elizabeth, was probably the informant.
In the census of 1851, of King William Street, Ironville, William was aged 55, a furnace keeper born at Pentrich, his wife Elizabeth was aged 47 and born at Alfreton and there was a grandson, William, aged 13, a scholar, born at Ironville. This William seems to be the one in the 1841 census.
Elizabeth Johnson, aged 53, of Ironville, was buried at Ironville, 4 November 1857.
In the 1861 census of 63 King William Street, Ironville, William was a widower, aged 65 and an overlooker (Ironwork), born in Pentrich. He had a housekeeper, Elizabeth Peach ?, aged 24 and a lodger, Robert Smith, aged 18, a railway clerk, born in Rutland.
In the census of 1871, William, aged 75 was then living with his sister, Mary Harlow, at 5 Furnace Row. He was a widower, a retired workman and born in Pentrich.
William
died 30 December 18783 and was buried 6 January 1879 at
Christchurch, Ironville, aged 83. His gravestone is in the north east corner of
the old cemetery, Christchurch, and reads
Affectionate Remembrance of William
Johnson who departed this life Dec 30th 1878 aged 83 years.
The winter of trouble is past,
The storms of affliction are o’er,
The struggle is ended at last,
And sorrow and death are no more.
William’s will was dated 30 March 1878. He was described as of Ironville in the parish of Alfreton and a Furnace Keeper. His executors were Herbert Jeffries and William Handley Pegg of Ironville and the witnesses were Thomas Holmes and Albert Lowe. To his granddaughter, Maria Clark, the wife of William Clark, boiler maker, of 34 Fairfoot Road, Campbell Road, Bow Road, London he gave £100 from his account with the Butterley Saving Bank and the money he had deposited with Samuel Chadwick, farmer, of Pinxton. To his niece, Ann Jeffries, wife of Herbert Jeffries, of Ironville he gave the residue and his household furniture, clothes and also his watch. Ann was to have sole charge of his funeral arrangements and was to provide his grave with a decent headstone. Probate was granted 6 February 1879 at Derby to his executors, Herbert Jeffries, sexton and William Handley Pegg, schoolmaster, both of Ironville. His effects were valued at under £200. It was noted that there were no leaseholds.
Samuel Chadwick, the farmer of Pinxton was probably a relative of Maria, William’s first wife. In the 1881 census, he may be the Samuel, aged 63, farmer of 14 acres, born at Kirkby in Ashfield, living with his wife Jane N. and children in the village of Kirkby in Ashfield.
William seems only to have had two sons with Maria Chadwick (and no children with Elizabeth):
i) George Johnson, baptised 6 August 1816 at Pentrich.
ii) Joseph Johnson (1818 – 1875), baptised 22 May 1818 at Pentrich. He married Hannah.
In 1851, at 10 Edward Street, Woolwich, Joseph was aged 33, a blacksmith born at Pentrich. Hannah, his wife, was aged 34 and born at Hoyland, Yorks. Their children were Maria, aged 11 and born at Alfreton and George aged 8 and born at Plumstead.
In 1861 at 32 Doris terrace, Manchester Road, Poplar, Joseph was aged 43, a blacksmith born at Pentrich. Hannah, his wife, was aged 44 and born at Hoyland, Yorkshire. Their children were William aged 22 born at Alfreton and George aged 18 and born at Woolwich Kent, both blacksmiths and Maria aged 21 and born at Alfreton. There was a visitor, Susannah Warespall/Marshall? aged 3 and born at Liverpool, Lancashire.
Hannah Johnson’s death was probably registered in the Poplar district in the March quarter 1871. She was aged 54.
In 1871 he was living with his daughter and her family, a widower aged 53, an engine smith and born in Alfreton.
Joseph’s death may have been registered in the Poplar district in the September quarter 1875. He was aged 57. He was not mentioned in his father’s will of 1878, which tends to confirm Joseph’s death is 1875.
Joseph and Hannah’s children were
(1) William Johnson, born about 1839 at Alfreton. He seems to have been with his grandparents in the 1841 and 1851 censuses. In 1861 he was with his parents. In 1871 he cannot be found with certainty and there are three possible death registrations in Poplar between 1861 and 1871.
(2) Maria Johnson (1839 – 1911), baptised 6 October 1839, at Alfreton15. She married William Clark (born about 1842 or 1843 at Gateshead, Durham17).
In 1871, at 11 Robin Hood Lane, Poplar, she was aged 30 and born at Alfreton. Her husband was aged 29, a steam boiler maker and born at Gateshead. Their children were John W.E. aged 6 and born at Poplar and Frederick Johnson aged 16 mo/wk? and born at Bromley. There was also Maria’s father, Joseph Johnson aged 53, a widower and an engine smith and born in Alfreton.
In 1878 they were living at 34 Fairfoot Road, Campbell Road, Bow Road, London and William was a boiler maker16.
In the 1881 census they were found at the Cannon Inn, 27 Close, Newcastle upon Tyne. William was aged 40, a licensed victualler, his wife, Maria, was aged 40, born at Ironville, and their children were John W.E. aged 16, licensed victualler barman and Walter U aged 9, scholar, both born at Poplar, Middx, Kate C. aged 7, scholar, Mark L. aged 5, scholar and Amy F. aged 3, all born at Bow, Middx. With them was William’s mother, Mary F. Clark aged 70, an annuitant, born at Alnwick, Northumberland.
In 1891 at 13 Prince Consort Road, Gateshead, William was aged 48, a boiler maker, born at Gateshead, Maria was aged 50 born at Ironville, and their children were John W.E. aged 26 a boiler maker, Walter E. aged 19 a blacksmith’s apprentice, Kate O. aged 17, Mark L. aged 17 a cashier’s assistant and Amy F aged 13. All the children were born at Poplar.
In 1901 at 9 Brighton Avenue, Gateshead, William was aged 58 a boiler maker plater born at Gateshead, Maria was aged 60 and born at Derby, and their child was Kate Orrick Reid a widow aged 27, a domestic servant born at Bow, London.
William’s death was registered in the March quarter 1910 in the Gateshead district. He was aged 67.
In 1911, at 10a Camborne Grove, Gateshead, Maria was a boarder and widow aged 71 and born in ‘Caynor’, Derbys.
Maria’s death was registered in the September quarter 1911 in the Gateshead district. She was aged 71.
Maria and William’s children were:
(i) John William Edwin Clark, born about 1864/5 at Poplar, Middx, and registered in the March quarter 1865 in the Poplar district.
(ii) Frederick Johnson Clark (1870 – 1872), birth registered in the March quarter 1870 in the Poplar district. His death was registered in the March quarter 1872 in the Poplar district. He was aged 2.
(iii) Walter Uttley Clark, birth registered in the Poplar district in the December quarter of 1871.
(iv) Kate Orick. Clark, born about 1873/4 at Bow, Middx, and registered in the September quarter 1873 in the Poplar district.
(v) Mark Laurence Clark, born at Bow, birth registered in the Poplar district (which includes Bow) in the June quarter of 1875.
(vi) Amy Frances Clark, born about 1877/8 at Bow, Middx. and registered in the June quarter 1878 in the Poplar district.
(3) George Johnson, born about 1843 in Woolwich, Kent. In 1851 and 1861 he was with his parents.
Revised March 2014