Lewis Johnston seaman¹

Parents:

• Birth*: Lewis Johnston seaman was born on 10 May 1810 at Gothenburg, Sweden, ; from Merchant Seaman's Ticket.^3,4
• He was the son of Ormond Johnston and Euphemia Pratt.²
• (Groom) Marriage*: Lewis Johnston seaman married Helen Grubb, daughter of Henry Grubb and Janet Forgan, on 11 February 1838 at Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; January 1838, contracted 24th, Lewis Johnston seaman and Helen Grubb both of this parish, married 11 February.^5,6
• (Deceased) Death*: Lewis Johnston seaman died on 12 January 1878 at 26 Queen Street, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, , at age 67 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.^2,7,8

• (Spouse) Death: His spouse Helen Grubb died on 29 August 1869 at 42 St Andrews Street, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; 1869 deaths in the district of St Clement in the burgh of Dundee, ref 427; Helen Johnston married to Lewis Johnston seaman MS; 1869 August Twenty-ninth found about 10h pm at 42 St Andrews Street, Dundee; female aged 57 years; parents Henry Grubb gardener (deceased) and Jessie Grubb ms Forgan (deceased); cause hanging (suicide) not certified; informant Alexander Matthews son-in-law, 150 Seagate; registered 1869 August 30th at Dundee Jas Kinnison registrar.^9,10

Census & Directory Entries

Member of Household	30 March 1851	It is possible that he was listed in the 1851 census at Half Way Houses, Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham, England, . Lewis Johnston, 29, son-in-law, mar, mariner, Sweden - British Subject; with Margaret Simpson, head, widow, 65, New Lambeth & Margaret Johnston, her daug, mar (maybe to LJ?), 23, millinar, Durham Houghton le Spring.11
Head of Household	7 April 1861	He was listed as head of household, along with spouse Helen Grubb in the 1861 census at 47 Fish Street, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, . Lewis Johnston, head, 50, seaman, BS (British Subject) Sweden; Helen Johnston, wife, 41, St Andrews, Fife; also in the household were Jessie C Johnston ginger beer manufacturer and William Johnston bottler.3,12
Member of Household	2 April 1871	They was listed as a member of the household of Alexander Lawson Matthew and Jessie C Johnston ginger beer manufacturer in the 1871 census at 26 Queen Street, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, . Lewis Johnstone, father-in-law, 60, seaman, Guttenburgh Sweden; Alexander Matthew, head, 30, brewer, b Dundee; Jessie Matthew, wife, 30, b Dundee.13

Notes

• (Witness) Note for Web: Lewis Johnston seaman and William Johnston, Christina Grubb, Henry Grubb, Janet Forgan, Helen Grubb, Euphemia Stewart jute spinner, Jessie Johnston jute spinner, Agnes Barrie Johnston jute spinner, Margaret Woods Johnston jute spinner, Christina Johnston, Euphemia Stewart Johnston jute spinner, Isabella Thomson Black Johnston jute preparer, Georgina Keir Paterson Johnston, Andrew McGlashan, Henry McGlashan, Janet McGlashan and Robert McGlashan was mentioned with 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.