My DNA research has led to a mini-cluster of people descended from Alfred Johnson. Before I give you the information I already have, I should say that my focus in on his life
before the birth of his (presumably) first child in 1846. I cannot find a
baptism or marriage record for him, so that's what I'm really after.
Between 1846 and 1868, Alfred has 12 children registered in Sheppey district, all with mother's maiden name Budd.
In 1851, 1861 and 1871, the family is in Minster in Sheppey, Kent.
In 1888, they can be found in Chelsea, London.
Alfred's occupation is consistently given as shoemaker/cordwainer or similar.
His birthplace is routinely given as Henley on Thames in Oxfordshire, or just Oxfordshire.
In 1851, his age is given as 30; in 1861 as 40; in 1871 as 56 and in 1881 as 66. This would suggest a birth year of 1815-1821.
His wife, Emily, is born circa 1823-1825. Her birthplace information varies on the censuses but seems to be either Isleworth, Middlesex or the Wonersh/Guildford area in Surrey.
Of particular interest to me in the 1851 census, when they have the following servant with them:
Fanny Bradford (or Bradfield, it's hard to read), aged 43 born in Henly on Thames.
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As an aside, other DNA matches indicate a chance that Alfred Johnson is somehow connected to my ancestor William Cooper who was baptised in 1798 in Ascott under Wychwood, Oxfordshire.
Interestingly enough, his elder sister Rachel (baptised 1785 in Ascott) ended up in Henley and her husband was called John Bradfield, a tailor. I haven't been able to find a marriage record but they start baptising children in Henley in 1812 with their son Alfred Bradfield.
This Alfred Bradfield (born 1812 in Henley) married an Elizabeth Andrews on 6th June 1838 in Wonersh, Surrey. He is a bachelor, his occupation is cordwainer and his father is John Bradfield, a taylor.
They baptised their first daughter in Wonersh on 7th October 1838 - Frances Ellen Bradfield, Alfred's occupation being a cordwainer!
On the 1841 census, they are in Wonersh and Alfred is a shoe maker!
Elizabeth remarries in 1859 in Ewhurst, Surrey to a Stephen Stemp. She is listed as a widow.
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Now I'm rambling and confusing myself. Does anybody see something I'm missing?!
All the best from the heatwave in Berlin
Andy