Isabella Thomson Black Johnston jute preparer¹

Parents:

• Birth*: Isabella Thomson Black Johnston jute preparer was born 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.^2,3,4
• She was the daughter of William Johnston bottler and Euphemia Stewart jute spinner.¹
• (Bride) Marriage*: Isabella Thomson Black Johnston jute preparer married William Brannen, son of Edward Brannen and Mary Strachan, on 2 January 1905 at 18 Albany Terrace, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; 1905 marriages in the district of St Mary in the burgh of Dundee, ref 41; 1905 on the second day of January at 18 Albany Terrace Dundee after publication according to the forms of the Established Church of Scotland; signed William Brannan coal carter bachelor aged 20, 22 William Street Dundee, parents Edward Brannan stoker in bleachfield, Mary Brannan ms Strachan (dec); signed Isabella Johnston jute prepairer spinster aged 19, 22 William Street Dundee, parents William Johnston marine stoker (dec), Euphemia Johnston ms Stewart; signed Robert Sharp Warren minister of St David's signed James Morris witness, Euphemia Johnston witness; registered 1905 January 5th at Dundee Tho Meek regsitrar (this St David's church building in 1905 was in N Tay Street, somewhere near East Henderson's Wynd. Known to have a large congregation in 1898. Congregation merged in 1938 into what is now known as The Steeple (City Churches Complex.)^5,6)
• (Deceased) Death*: Isabella Thomson Black Johnston jute preparer died on 2 September 1949 at Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, , at age 62.⁷

• Twin*: Isabella Thomson Black Johnston jute preparer was a twin of Georgina Keir Paterson Johnston.⁴
• (Twin) Birth: Isabella Thomson Black Johnston jute preparer was a twin 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.³
• Married Name: As of 2 January 1905, her married name was Brannen.
• (Informant) Death: Isabella Thomson Black Brannen registered the death of James Wilson Morris harbour labourer on 30 November 1918 at Royal Infirmary, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, ; 1918 deaths in the district of St Mary in the burgh of Dundee, ref 802; James Wilson Morris harbour labourer widower of 1st Sarah Jarvis 2nd Euphemia Stewart Johnston; 1918 November thirtieth 0h 15m pm at Royal Infirmary Dundee (UR 18 [Dock?] Wynd); male aged 58 years; parents Robert Morris weaver (dec) Isabella Morris ms Wilson (dec); cause broncho-pneumonia (post-influenza) as cert by G R Dudhope MB; informant Isabella Brannan sister-in-law present 93 Overgate; registered 1918 December 2nd at Dundee Tho Meek registrar.⁸

Census & Directory Entries

Member of Household

5 April 1891

They was listed as a member of the household of William Johnston bottler and Euphemia Stewart jute spinner in the 1891 census at 27 Overgate, Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, . Isabella Johnstone, daug, 4, Dundee; William Johnstone, head, 46, Dundee fireman, Dundee; Euphemia Johnstone, wife, 40, Dundee.9

Notes

• (Witness) Note for Web: Isabella Thomson Black Johnston jute preparer and William Johnston, Christina Grubb, Henry Grubb, Janet Forgan, Lewis Johnston seaman, 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, 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.