Hi there!
Well, this is really exciting and I don't really know where to start but here goes...
I've recently been searching for information on my 'mysterious' great grandfather, from whom I get my surname. I didn't even know his first name, or the first name of his wife and you've just provided me with that information, along with a host more, so thank you so much!
Some information for you:
My grandfather was Thomas Johnson (jr.) and he had a sister, Eveleen (Eve) who, I can confirm for you, did indeed marry Joe Partridge as you speculated.
All we knew was that my great grandfather was a soldier (possibly a sergeant) in the British Army, stationed in Newbridge, who married a local Murphy girl. The marriage was frowned upon by her family and the belief was that they eloped to England. It was uncertain as to where Thomas jr and Eveleen were born, which you have now answered. I don't believe that my family ever that knew they had a sister who died in infancy, so thank you for that discovery, albeit a sad one.
By the way, I was told that my great grandfather was in the Royal Horse Artillery. They were based in Newbridge Barracks until 1890, when they were disbanded, so that might explain the move to England, as opposed to an elopement?
Oh, and I'd say the location on their Wedding Cert is actually "Ballysax" Church, which is a small townland on the Curragh.
We understood that my great grandmother (and possibly my great grandfather) died in England around 1900, and her uncle, Laurence Murphy, travelled to England to bring them back to Newbridge.
It now appears that Eveleen moved in with her uncle James and his wife Ellen, while Thomas eventually was living with Laurence and his family by 1911.
I'm fascinated however by the 1901 Census entry for Thomas Johnson - why was he living as a "Boarder" in Kildare Barracks at such a young age? Perhaps he was in Military School?
It would also be fantastic to find out more about my great grandfather, Sergeant Thomas Johnston. You mentioned he was born in Yorkshire, but I wonder what happened to him after his wife died and his children moved to Ireland? Any advice on how to access his full Military Record would be greatly appreciated.
Here's some information on my family...
Thomas Johnson served in the IRA during the War of Independence and in the National Army during the Civil War. I've been told he was close to Michael Collins and was one of the last people to see him alive before he was assassinated as he was stationed in Cork at that time.
At some point after the Civil War, he returned to civilian life as a carpenter. He married Annie Reen from Bandon, who he met while stationed there, and they settled in Newbridge in the house where my mother still lives.
They had two sons, Teddy (Peter) - deceased - and John, my father, also deceased. Annie died and Thomas re-married Elizabeth Walsh. They had two sons, one currently living in the US and the other currently in Australia. They will be especially excited to read this thread - they've never known the first names of their paternal grandparents or where their father was born.
Thomas Johnson died in the early 1970s.
Teddy married Hilda and they had seven children. John married Rose and they had three: me, my sister and my brother. My other uncles are single.
As regards Eveleen's side of the family, the Partridges, I must admit I'm not that well-connected to that branch although I believe many of them still live in Newbridge (I haven't lived there since 1987). However, my mother stays in touch and will I'm sure be delighted to pass on this information to them.
Sorry, I know that this has been a tsunami of a post, it's just so exciting to find out so much precious information in one go. Please let me know if I can provide you with any more information.
I really look forward to hearing from you soon.
Regards,
TomJ