Edith Alice Johnson-Johnston/e

[lil growler]

Hi there

I'm having quite a bit of trouble finding the parents and marriages for Edith.

Edith Johnson was born 1885 Sheffield, South Yorkshire. I have looked on Ancestry BMD's and census to 1901. I was hoping another set of eyes may pick up something I have missed.

According to her Funeral directors records, Edith's father is a Johnston and an Engineer, her mothers name is Elizabeth, no maiden name given.

Edith was married at the age of 18 (abt 1903) Aboard ship to a ? Simpson and then married again to a William Henry Hitches aged 31 (abt 1916) in Surrey, England.

At this stage I don't know if Edith had any children to Simpson but she did have 2 chilldren to Hitches. An Isobel Betty Simpson Hitches, bmd have her born 1918, Kingston, Surrey, Kent. William Henry Simpson Hitches was born 1922, Croydon, Surrey, Kent. The family moved to NZ I believe about 1922.

Regards

lil

[rutht22000]

Hi

There is a Edith A Simpson, aged 24 living in Chigaco on the 1910 US census (aged 24 would give her born 1886)

Husband is given as Charles T (or J) Simpson and they are both English, married 4 years and having come into the USA in 1906 (which could co-incide with a marriage on the ship).  Only difference is that she would have been 19 or 20 on marriage.

There is 2 year old child Vera M Simpson with them, born Illinois.

[rutht22000]

There are a couple of 1885/1886 Sheffield born Edith A Johnson's around.

1901 with a sister and brother in law (Edmund and Harriett Middleton)

1891 with her mother but the mother is down as as a widow, Ann E (could be Ann Elizabeth).  This Edith has a sister called Harriett who is the right age to be Harriett Middleton

I can't see a Simpson or Johnston to Hitches marriage though before Isobel was born (any chance they did not marry until after the children were born?)

[rutht22000]

There is also a Charles Simpson, draper and Edith Johnston arriving on the same ship (The Baltic) at New York on 9 February 1906 going on to Boston, both giving last place of residence as Sheffield.

There is a reference at the end of what looks like Charles' entry saying "married this... '06 by....." and the rest is too blurred to see

[lil growler]

Hi Ruth

Thank you for your reply. I did happen to come across the Middleton and Ann E entry and wondered, but just couldn't prove anything. The fact that Harriet Middleton that matches in age with the Edith with Ann E, is promising. Besides looking for marriages at sea, I had no idea where else to look, so the 1910 US entry is interesting.

Funeral directors records as only as good as the information given by Next of Kin, I'm pretty sure. A 1906 marriage may be possible. I'll have a look for Charles and see if he passed away and whether Vera M may have come to NZ.

Thanks for your help

Regards

lil

[lil growler]

Ruth

Yes it has been suggested to me they may never have married and this may not have been uncommon during the time period or possibly have married after the childrens birth. I found it interesting that William's probate is Intestate-

lil

[rutht22000]

Hi Lil

I've also found entry for an Edith Simpson-Hitches (note double barrelled) travelling with 2 children in July 1920 back to Chigaco via New York.  The children are Vera (aged 11) and Betty (presumably Isobel, aged 1).  The children are both Simpson-Hitches as well.  That might suggest she didn't marry Mr Hitches although he is given as the families' nearest relative living in Merton, Surrey.

They are crossed out on the entry so whether they planned to go and didn't.....


Edited: - they are further on/duplicated on the passenger list, same ship, same date but all 3 of them are just Simpson and Mr Hitches is down as "friend".

[lil growler]

Ruth

Fantastic..yes William, son wouldn't have been born then and I have come across Isobel on the NZ Electoral Roles as Betty Isobel. Great work.

Regards

lil

[rutht22000]

Edith travels back from Montreal, Canada in July 1921 with 3 year old Betty, but both of them are now "Hitches"

Their address constantly on the manifests is always Manor Park Gardens in Merton, Surrey. Last permanent residence is given as USA.