Arthur William Johnson

 

Java! What a surprise! Was Arthur William Johnson really born in Java on 12 September 1813? This was the Non-Conformist baptism record for Arthur in 1827 in Paris, France.  So by that time Arthur was 14 years old.  Attached to the page is a note:

“born at Java, according to a statement of his friends”.  The sponsors were Mary Augusta Webb, John William Latham and James Wilkinson.  Jeremiah’s occupation was Colonel.  This is an intriguing insight into another theatre of British Empire wars, with the conquest of Java by the English in 1811 and their colonisation of the island between 1811 and 1816.  This episode inspired several plays at the time – more theatre.  Was Arthur William’s father a soldier in the English East India Company and his mother Saiba was Javanese?

This was the first result when searching FamilySearch for William Johnson, death in England between 1845 and 1900, birth 1810 to 1832, birthplace specified as France: Arthur William Johnson, christening 1827, Paris France from the Non-Conformist Record Index (RG4-8).  His parents were Jeremiah Martin Johnson and Saiba [no surname].  

Few confirmed facts are known about Margaret’s father, Arthur William Johnston.  His occupation was recorded as farmer on Margaret and George’s marriage.  On that marriage transcription, Margaret’s father was named William Arthur Johnston.  Although Margaret's records state she was born in France, there is no evidence that her father was also born in France.

Could William Johnsone, born France in 1817 be related?  He was in the Royal Staff Corps, recorded in the GRO Regimental Birth Indices 1761 to 1924 from UK British Armed Forces and Overseas Vital Records, 1761-2005.   There was a William Johnston, a Sergeant Major (is that the Light Horse?) and his wife Agnes was born in Sterling (?), India.  So perhaps this family moved around if he was in the army (email 13 September 2013).

There were 501 results from searching FamilySearch for William Johnson, born in France 1810 to 1832, residence England between 1841 and 1871.  There were no results when these results were filtered to only born in France.  There were 11 results when specified to be William Johnson.  The only William Johnson born in France was born in 1817, his wife was Martha Johnson and children were William and George in the 1851 Census and George, Martha, Eliza and Alice in the 1871 Census.  This family continued to live in Norfolk until 1881 when William age 74, born France, British subject was a retired plasterer and “inmate” and 1891, widowed was a lodger pensioner Queens Household in Brighton, Sussex.  There does not seem to be a connection with the Margaret Rebecca Johnston who migrated to Queensland in 1871.

Searching Ancestry for Arthur William Johnson in France, there were several births and deaths, results in Paris France BMD, 1555-1929, but the baptism of William, born on 30 June 1841, son of William and Ann Johnson was too late - and the baptism record is Le Havre.  The 1857 marriage was to Justine Cetaz.

France, registres protestants, 1536-1897." Database with images. 
FamilySearch. https://FamilySearch.org : 8 December 2023.
Societe de L'histoire du Protestantisme Francais
(Society of the history of French Protestantism), Paris.

On 9 May 2024, I  found Arthur Johnson’s marriage to Justine Tetaz on 20 August 1857.  The civil marriage was at the town hall in Batignolles, Paris.  

His parents were Jeremie Martin Johnson and Marie Saiba.  This confirms that he is the son born in Java in 1813 and baptised in Protestant records in Paris in 1827.

It is unlikely that he is Margaret Johnson’s father.  So this Arthur did not marry Annie Pasquie. 

There are many Ann* Pasquier in France births and marriages, but none of them married Arthur or William Johnson.  It seems like a very specific name for Margaret Goodfellow to have recorded as her mother.

There have been many suggested results for William Arthur Johnston on MyHeritage.  The birth dates are too early or late and none of these has spouse named Anne and daughter Margaret. 

The second result in Ancestry for Arthur William Johnson was a baptism on 13 November 1814 at Hackney in London.  His parents were Clement and Sarah Johnson. They lived in Kingsland Road; Clement was a packer.  This record is also in FamilySearch Genealogies source International Genealogical Index (IGI) of Arthur William Johnson birth 16 October 1814 at Shoreditch, London.  However, the record was submitted the Genealogies by unknown38379.  This family could be more relevant, given the 1866 burial of Arthur William Johnson in Hackney.  There was no Clement Johnson in the 1841 Census.

Another result from the England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8) was the burial of Arthur William Johnson on 25 May 1866 at Hackney, Middlesex.  There was an old Non-Conformist burial ground at St Thomas Long Burial Ground in Well Street.  This is now a park.  An Arthur William Johnson’s death in London in 1866, was registered in the June quarter 1866 at St Marylebone.  In the 1861 Census, “Johnson” was living in Riding House Street, St Marylebone.  A single man, with many other unrelated surnames.

There is no evidence that this was the same Arthur William Johnson whose wife was Anne Pasquie and daughter was Margaret Rebecca Johnson.