Author Topic: Missing Johnstons in or around Sheffield  (Read 1592 times)

Offline libby9

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 850
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Missing Johnstons in or around Sheffield
« Reply #9 on: Wednesday 10 January 18 16:56 GMT (UK) »
I understand and agree with your caution.  What struck me with the records I posted was the coincidences.  All Mcmahon children born right year and place, mother's maiden name JOHNSON.  The couple on the marriage certificate being of the right ages.  Charles Mcmahon's occupation at marriage and on 1851census is tailor. 

It actually wasn't unknown for people to change their surnames and move town.  I have it in my own family history, however, I knew more about my ancestor and his parents than you know about yours and was able to prove the name change eventually, it did though take a lot of research. 

I'll continue searching and try to find 'something' to tie it all together.  Do you have death records for Charles and Harriet?  Also marriages for their children?

Offline mikegall

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 51
    • View Profile
Re: Missing Johnstons in or around Sheffield
« Reply #10 on: Wednesday 10 January 18 17:31 GMT (UK) »
Thank you for your continuing help.  I have messaged you a link to my tree on Ancestry, although I didn't ask first if you had an account!

Having looked again the thing that worries me about you theory is that I have birth certificates for some of the other children which show the mothers maiden name as formally Thompson.
Gallagher, Foley, Fleming, Duffy, Reid, Read, Reed, Folds, Saunders, Bonfield

Offline libby9

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 850
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Missing Johnstons in or around Sheffield
« Reply #11 on: Thursday 11 January 18 18:03 GMT (UK) »
I looked for possible marriages for Charles and Harriet's daughters born in Yorkshire.  I had thought perhaps one of them lived long enough to be on the 1939 register and we could then have their exact birth date and see if it matched with the Mcmahon births in year and qrt.  Unfortunately I didn't glean any definite marriages as the marriages I did find were probably civil marriages, so no parish records in Ancestry's Lancashire collection to prove father's name.

A possible for Phoebe: Marriages Sep 1878, Prescott, vol 8b page 1023. Phoebe Mary Johnston on same page John Burgess (not sure if your Phoebe had the middle name Mary)

1881 census, 49, Lacey St Widnes. RG11; Piece: 3725; Folio: 52; Page: 40
John Burgess    27, Over Cheshire
Phoebe M. Burgess    26, Sheffield
John Young Burgess    1, Widnes

BURGESS, JOHN  YOUNG. Mother's maiden name      JOHNSTON      
GRO Reference: 1879  D Quarter in PRESCOT  Volume 08B  Page 659

1891, RG12; Piece: 3014; Folio: 83; Page: 37;
1901, RG13; Piece: 3513; Folio: 69; Page: 25
1911, RG14; Piece: 22717

Unfortunately that Phoebe appears to have died in 1936
Deaths Jun 1936, Prescott vol 8b, page 675
Burgess Phoebe M, age at death 81.

Offline mikegall

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 51
    • View Profile
Re: Missing Johnstons in or around Sheffield
« Reply #12 on: Friday 12 January 18 10:56 GMT (UK) »
You may well be correct.  I've attached the hints that Ancestry suggests for Phoebe.

I'll order the marriage record from the GRO for Phoebe and see if she is a match.  As they're not PDF's it will take a week or so I guess.

Thanks for your on-going help.
Gallagher, Foley, Fleming, Duffy, Reid, Read, Reed, Folds, Saunders, Bonfield


Offline libby9

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 850
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Missing Johnstons in or around Sheffield
« Reply #13 on: Friday 12 January 18 13:45 GMT (UK) »
I hadn't seen those hints and wonder how they (Ancestry) linked PMJ to the PMB censuses. Sometimes Ancestry make a link as a member has a tree including the records.  Have you checked other trees?  Has to be noted though that not all Ancestry's links are correct (as I'm sure you are aware) 

I found PMB by searching censuses for a Phoebe (no surname) born 1856 +/- 2yrs in Yorkshire, living Lancashire and she was the only one.  I then looked for a marriage between John Burgess and Phoebe Johnston.  I tried in the same way for Harriet but didn't find a possible.  So Harriet for now is a mystery after the last census she's on with her parents, same for Mary E.

Offline libby9

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 850
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Missing Johnstons in or around Sheffield
« Reply #14 on: Saturday 13 January 18 00:24 GMT (UK) »
Marriages Sep 1884, Chester, vol 8a page 593
Harriet Johnston, Abel Parkinson on same page.
Cheshire BMD confirms it to be the correct pairing, either a civil marriage or registrar attended.

1901, 21, Midland St, Widnes.   RG13; Piece: 3514; Folio: 21; Page: 34
Abel Parkinson   38, grocer;s assistant, Widnes
Harriet Parkinson   40, Sheffield
Marguerit Parkinson   6, Widnes
Frances M Hamblett   34, lodger.

1891, RG12; Piece: 3014; Folio: 53; Page: 46;
1911, RG14; Piece: 22719

And she also appears to have died before the 1939 register

Deaths Jun 1934   
Parkinson    Harriet A    76    Prescot    8b   706

Offline mikegall

  • RootsChat Extra
  • **
  • Posts: 51
    • View Profile
Re: Missing Johnstons in or around Sheffield
« Reply #15 on: Tuesday 16 January 18 12:16 GMT (UK) »
I ordered the birth PDF for
MCMAHON, JAMES        JOHNSON     
GRO Reference: 1851  S Quarter in SHEFFIELD  Volume 22  Page 700

But it doesn't have any more clues. Not sure what I was expecting.  I will order Phoebe's marriage record and see what that has to say.

Gallagher, Foley, Fleming, Duffy, Reid, Read, Reed, Folds, Saunders, Bonfield

Offline libby9

  • RootsChat Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 850
  • Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    • View Profile
Re: Missing Johnstons in or around Sheffield
« Reply #16 on: Tuesday 16 January 18 15:26 GMT (UK) »
Good luck with the marriage certificate.  I do hope it proves to be the right one, please let me know.

Yes, unfortunately the birth certificates won't offer more clues.  It's a great pity that none of the children born in Sheffield appear to have survived until the 1939 register was taken as their full DOB would be on there.  Everything seems to be working against you.!