Missing Johnstons in or around Sheffield

[mikegall]

I am hoping someone might be able to help me with a Sheffield related brick wall I have been unable to break through for several years.  I am trying to find records for the birth of my Gt Grandfather, James Johnston and the marriage of my 2x Gt Grandparents.  I believe these events happened around Sheffield but there is a distinct gap in the records I have been able to find.

Details: 2 x Gt Grandparents
Charles Johnston born bet 1827-29 Monaghan, Ireland
Harriet Thompson born abt 1823 Sheffield.

Details: Children
James Johnston abt 1852 Sheffield (no birth record found)
Phoebe Johnston abt 1855 Sheffield (no birth record found)
Mary E Johnston abt 1857 Masbrough (no birth record found)
Harriet Johnston abt 1858 Sheffield (no birth record found)
Charles Joseph Johnston 1860 Liverpool (birth record found)
Edward Johnston 1862 Liverpool (birth record found)
Amy M Johnston 1864 Liverpool (birth record found)

Timeline:

1851 Census – Charles seems to be working as a Tailor in Clitheroe
1851 – Presumed marriage of Charles and Harriet
1851 – My Gt Grandfather, James, is born in Sheffield
1861 – Family is living at 3 Brown Court, Liverpool. Charles listed as Tailor Journeyman
1871 – Family is in Widnes at 36 Lugsdale Road. , Charles listed as Master Tailor

I cannot find birth or baptism records for the first 4 children born 1852-1858 nor can I find a marriage record for Charles or Harriet.

I have a public tree on Ancestry I can provide a link for with more info. I wasn't sure if I should do that or not in this post.

Any clues or where to look next would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks
Mike

[libby9]

Looking at your timeline Charles  Johnston hasn't been recorded on census as living Sheffield.  Have you considered the first four children may have been Harriet's but not Charles' and therefore not registered as Johnstone's? 

[mikegall]

I hadn’t, but that’s a very good point.

[libby9]

I'm working on it.

[libby9]

Best I can come up with.  If them - dates and places of birth fit - perhaps Charles changed his surname for some reason.

MCMAHON, MARY  ELLEN      JOHNSON      
GRO Reference: 1856  J Quarter in ROTHERHAM  Volume 09C  Page 415    
 
MCMAHON, JAMES        JOHNSON      
GRO Reference: 1851  S Quarter in SHEFFIELD  Volume 22  Page 700

MCMAHON, HARRIET        JOHNSON        
GRO Reference: 1858  M Quarter in ROTHERHAM  Volume 09C  Page 413

MAHON, PHOEBE        JOHNSON      
GRO Reference: 1854  S Quarter in OF ECCLESALL BIERLOW  Volume 09C

[libby9]

Possibly Charles and Harriet in 1851

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SP9M-B81

[libby9]

Marriages Mar 1851, Sheffield vol 22, page 455
Charles Mcmahon a Harriet Johnson is on the same page

[libby9]

Details: 2 x Gt Grandparents
Charles Johnston born bet 1827-29 Monaghan, Ireland
Harriet Thompson born abt 1823 Sheffield.

On the marriage I quoted above, she's 28 and he's 23, so the ages fit. 

[mikegall]

Thanks for this Libby, I'll need to take some time to consider the possibility.  I'm not sure about the name change idea.  I've spoken to several branches of the Johnston line and they all make note that Charles came from Ireland nothing like this has ever been mentioned.  Not sure how I would progress this either.  I guess DNA might help but I'd need samples from multiple branches of his descendants.