William Johnston bottler

Parents:

• Birth*: William Johnston bottler was born circa 1848 at Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, .
• He was the son of William Johnston and Christina Grubb.¹
• (Groom) Marriage*: William Johnston bottler married Euphemia Stewart jute spinner, daughter of David Stewart and Agnes Barrie, on 28 April 1871 at 6 Paradise Road, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; 1871 marriages in the district of St Clement in the burgh of Dundee; 77; 1871 on the twenty-eighth day of April at 6 Paradise Road Dundee after banns according to the forms of the UP Church; signed William Johnstone bottler journ bachelor, 22, 18 Nethergate Dundee, William Johnston shipwright jour (dec) Christine Johnston ms Grubb; Euphemia Stewart her mark jute spinner spinster, 20, Overgate Dundee, David Stewart sergeant 42nd Foot (dec) Agnes Stewart ms Barrie; signed George Gilfillan officiating minister, Jessie Matthew, Edward Patterson witnesses; registered 1871 April 29th at Dundee Dav Scott registrar.^1,2
• (Deceased) Death*: William Johnston bottler died on 14 September 1899 at Royal Infirmary, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, , 1899 deaths in the district of St Mary in the burgh of Dundee, ref 521; William Johnstone builders donkey engineman married to Euphemia Stewart; 1899 September fourteenth 1h 30m pm Royal Infirmary Dundee ur 8 Willison Street; male aged 51 years; parents Lewis Johnstone seaman (dec), Helen Johnstone ms Grubb (dec); chronic bronchitis and emphysema cardiac dilatation chronic as cert by H E Frew MD; informant Euphemia Johnstone her x mark widow 8 Willison Street, Thos Meek registrar witness; registered 1899 September 15th at Dundee Thos Meek registrar.³

• (Informant) Birth: He registered the birth of Margaret Woods Johnston jute spinner on 13 January 1876 at 27 Overgate, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; 1876 births in the district of St Clement in the burgh of Dundee, ref 105; Margaret Woods Johnston born 1876 January Thirteenth 8h 30m pm att 27 Overgate Dundee, female, parents William Johnston bottler and Euphemia Johnston ms Stewart marroed 1871 April 28 Dundee; signed William Johnston father, registered 1876 February 1 at Dundee signed Dav Scott registrar.^4,5
• (Informant) Death: William Johnston bottler registered the death of Lewis Johnston seaman on 12 January 1878 at 26 Queen Street, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; 1878 deaths in the district of St Andrew in the burgh of Dundee, ref 43; Louis Johnston seaman MS widower of Helen Grubb, died 1878 January Twelfth 9h 0m am 26 Queen Street, male aged 64 years, parents Ormond Johnston ploughman (dec) and Euphemia Johnston ms Pratt (dec), cause bronchitis 1 month as cert by D Stile Moon LRCP, signed William Johnston nephew 27 Overgate, registered 1878 January 12th at Dundee signed F Macdiarmid registrar.^6,1,7
• (Informant) Birth: William Johnston bottler registered the birth of Isabella Thomson Black Johnston jute preparer on 24 October 1886 at 27 Overgate, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; 1886 births in the district of St Clement in the burgh of Dundee, ref 801; Isabella Thomson Black Johnston, born 1886 October Twenty Fourth 10h 15m am 27 Overgate Dundee, female, parents William Johnston marine stoker and Euphemia Johnson ms Stewart who married 1871 April 24th at Dundee, signed William Johnston father, registered 1886 November 11 at Dundee signed Dav Scott registrar.^8,9,10
• (Informant) Birth: William Johnston bottler registered the birth of Georgina Keir Paterson Johnston on 24 October 1886 at 27 Overgate, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; 1886 births in the district of St Clement in the burgh of Dundee, ref 800; Georgina Keir Paterson Johnston, born 1886 October Twenty Fourth 9h 45m am 27 Overgate Dundee, female, parents William Johnston marine stoker and Euphemia Johnson ms Stewart who married 1871 April 24th at Dundee, signed William Johnston father, registered 1886 November 11 at Dundee signed Dav Scott registrar.⁹
• Occupation*: Before 7 April 1913 at Merchant Seaman, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, , William was (an unknown value.)¹¹
• (Spouse) Death: His spouse Euphemia Stewart jute spinner died on 7 April 1913 at 1 Smalls Wynd, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; Euphemia Johnston widow of William Johnston merchant seaman; died 1913 April 7th 6h 55m am at 1 Small's Wynd Dundee aged 49 years; father James Stewart, jute stower (deceased), mother Agnes Stewart ms Barrie (deceased); cardiac disease as certified by H Buist MB; informant Jessie Ballingall daughter 26 St Mary Street (present); registered 1913 April 8th at Dundee T Y Millar registrar.¹²

Census & Directory Entries

Member of Household	30 March 1851	He was listed as a member of the household of Henry Grubb and Janet Forgan in the 1851 census at Market Street, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, . Is this our William? William Normand, grandson, unm, 4, scholar, Fifeshire, Crail; Henry Grubb, head, mar, 60, pauper, Fifeshire, Crail; Janet Grubb, wife, mar, 60, Fifeshire, Crail.13,14
Member of Household	7 April 1861	They was listed as a member of the household of Lewis Johnston seaman and Helen Grubb in the 1861 census at 47 Fish Street, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, . William Johnston, nephew, 13, mill worker, Fife St Andrews; Lewis Johnston, head, 50, seaman, BS (British Subject) Sweden; Helen Johnston, wife, 41, St Andrews, Fife.15,16
Member of Household	2 April 1871	He was listed in the 1871 census at 7 Keys Close, 18 Nethergate, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; William Johnston, boarder, 22, brewer, b Dundee; with Elizabeth Morrison, head, 52, dressmaker, b Banff; & others surnames Farrel, Joss, Castles.17,18
Head of Household	4 April 1881	He was listed as head of household along with spouse Euphemia Stewart jute spinner in the 1881 census at Yeaman's Close, 19 Overgate, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, . William Johnstone, head, 34, iron work labourer, married, born Dundee; Euphemia, wife, 30, Dundee; also in the household were Jessie Johnston jute spinner, Agnes Barrie Johnston jute spinner, Margaret Woods Johnston jute spinner and Christina Johnston.19,20
Head of Household	5 April 1891	He was listed as head of household along with spouse Euphemia Stewart jute spinner in the 1891 census at 27 Overgate, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, . William Johnstone, head, 46, Dundee fireman, Dundee; Euphemia Johnstone, wife, 40, Dundee; also in the household were Jessie Johnston jute spinner, Agnes Barrie Johnston jute spinner, Margaret Woods Johnston jute spinner, Christina Johnston, Euphemia Stewart Johnston jute spinner and Isabella Thomson Black Johnston jute preparer.21

Notes

• Note for Web*: William Johnston bottler Facts and Hypothesis re William Johnston born about 1848 who says his parents are William Johnston, shipwright, and Christina Grubb:
  
  From various records one could assume that William is born about 1848 in either Fife – maybe Crail, maybe St Andrews – or Dundee. All these possibilities have been explored in the name of Johnson, Jonsen, Johnston(e) and variants; and Grubb without finding a birth/baptism that fits.
  
  On the 30^th March 1851 census there is a 4-year-old child recorded as William Normand living in St Andrews with Henry Grubb and his wife Janet Forgan and who is described as ‘Grandson’ and born in Crail, Fife. No marriage between a Grubb and Normand can be found, and no William Normand was recorded as born/baptised in Scotland in the time frame. So a query exists that this might be William Johnston. But there are likely to be other grandsons who could fit this description. But no other William Johnson or Grubb that fits the profile.
  
  On the 7^th April 1861 census William is declared as 'nephew' aged 13 with Lewis Johnston as head and Helen Grubb as wife, who are living in Fish Street Dundee. William is described as a mill worker born in St Andrews Fife. So William is nephew to whom? It should be stated as relative to the head of the house - Lewis Johnston. Or is it his wife, Helen? Christina Grubb is Helen’s younger sister. Is she William’s mother? Does Lewis Johnston have a brother named William? – Not found.
  
  On the 2^nd April 1871 census William Johnston is found boarding at 7 Keys Close (which is at 18 Nethergate) Dundee, with Elizabeth Morrison as head of the household. William states he is born Dundee, aged 22 and working as a brewer.
  
  On his marriage three weeks after the census night, on 24 April 1871, William Johnston signs his name and states his parents as William Johnston, shipwright & Christina Grubb, his address as 18 Nethergate Dundee (see census above), his age as 22 and his occupation as bottler.
  
  On informing of Lewis Johnston's death in 1878, William states he is nephew and his address is 27 Overgate, Dundee. William also states Lewis’ parents as Ormond Johnston, a ploughman, and Euphemia Pratt – no information about this couple or any other similar Johnston family can be found.
  
  When his 4^th daughter (of 7) is born in March 1881, she is named Christina – but this is not an uncommon name of the time.
  
  On the April 1881 census William states he is 34, and iron work labourer and born Dundee.
  
  In 1886, on birth of twin daughters, William is living at 27 Overgate, states his occupation as marine stoker and his marriage date as 24 April 1871.
  
  On the April 1891 census William states he is 46, born Dundee and occupied as a fireman.
  
  But on his death in 1899, William's wife Euphemia Stewart states his occupation as builder’s donkey engineman, his age as 51 and his parents are Lewis Johnston, seaman, and Helen Grubb. (Because they raised him?)
  
  On his wife’s death in 1913, his eldest daughter Jessie, says that he was a merchant seaman – but she also records her mother’s age as 49, when she was probably about 62.
  
  So who to believe?
  
  
  If Christina Grubb was Wiiliam’s mother – how would that look?
  
  Christina Grubb was born about 1828 (no birth/bapt found, but other records suggest this)
  If William is born about 1847/8, then Christina would be aged about 19/20.
  Christina marries Andrew McGlashan in January 1849 in Liverpool. Christina is probably aged 21.
  Christina and Andrew have a son, Robert McGlashan, who is born in Dundee in August 1950.
  The family are recorded in March 1851 in Fish Street Dundee. Christina’s age is stated as 22, Robert as under 1 year.
  Christina and Andrew have a daughter, Janet, in November 1852 in Dundee.
  When both Christina’s parents die within months of each other in 1855, Christina’s age is recorded on both occasions as 27.
  The next time this family is found is in Australia when a headstone in Geelong Eastern Cemetery records Christina’s death in May 1885, aged 57, along with Andrew McGlashan, aged 74, in 1891 and a son, Henry, aged 28, in February 1886. In the absence of records, it is presumed that the family emigrated about 1853.
  
  
  It could be hypothesised that Christina Grubb, sister of Helen Grubb, and William Johnson, brother of Lewis, are the parents of William Johnston born about 1848 and that he was probably born in Dundee, probably whilst Christina was staying with her sister Helen and brother-in-law Lewis.
  
  Further – Christina marries far away from home in Liverpool, but returns to Dundee to live and have her family – at least for a while. In 1851 Christina is living close by to her sister Helen in Fish Street Dundee. Helen has only one surviving child at this time – Jessie – three others have died in infancy, followed by another two who do not survive after 1851. It would make sense for Helen to take in her sister’s child – William Johnston – especially when Christina and her husband (who presumably is not William's father) emigrate to Australia.
  
  Extensive research has produced nothing to support any of this suppostition.
  
  Additionally - there is a document for a William Johnston who is aged 14 and volunteering for the Navy. It is signed in Birkenhead and witnessed by the boy's uncle Edward Clancy and aunt Mrs John Bird. Neither of these people have been found to be related to our William Johnston. The boy's signature is typical of the era and there is a similarity to the older William's when he signs first his marriage register and later still his daughter's birth records - but not conclusively so..