Death/obit of William Seward Johnson/Johnston Feb 19,1874 Canton, Fulton, Illino

[Peggy13]

Wanting to confirm the parents of William Seward Johnson/Johnston who died Feb 19, 1874 in Canton, Fulton, Illinois. There is some confusion as to whether he was born in New York or in Nova Scotia, Canada to Robert Johnston and Mary Ann O'Neil.  After William's birth, the family settled in Bertie Township, Welland Co., Ontario, Canada but William found his way to Illinois. He is on findagrave but parents are not mentioned.
thanks for any help
Peggy

[Rosinish]

How old William Seward Johnson/Johnston was when he died in 1874 / his yr of birth?

Who was he married to, who were his children in order of birth?

Often the naming of children had a traditional pattern.

Annie

[Rosinish]

It's always best to give as much additional info. as you know & to post any links to further help others to help you, to save time looking for info. you already have/could have provided...

Is this "Lieut" William Seward Johnson who you refer to?

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106544087/william-seward-johnson

It would also be an idea to state which sites/records you've already checked for the same reason, to save others looking through info. you've already searched.

You're a 'serial/seasoned poster i.e. by now you must have a huge list of 'go to' sites & able to provide a list of those which RCers need not bother with to save duplication of effort?

I've just done a quick search to see what possible help there is for records for Illinois...

Have you tried here...

https://www.ongenealogy.com/listings/illinois-substitute-birth-marriage-and-death-records-online/

Annie

[Peggy13]

Thank you, Annie, for the link to Illinois records. I do not know if William was married nor do I know if he had children. I tried to provide a link for the findagrave record but failing that, I mentioned it so people could check it.
If William has parents Robert Johnston and Mary O'Neill, I have just found a sibling for him, named Robert. Death certificate says born Mar 5, 1830 but findagrave says born 1828.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DK59-BTL?personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AJX81-9XX

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147473475/robert-johnston

Also possible father Robert https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/115550145/robert-johnston
And possible mother Mary https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/115550168/mary-johnston

This does not however confirm that it was their son William who died in Illinois.

The 1861 census has their son William born Ontario, which is the third choice of birth - New York, Nova Scotia or Ontario.I don't find him there in 1871.
http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?app=Census1861&op=img&id=4108422_00080

[AlanBoyd]

Just to add to the confusion about his origins, according to an obituary in the Nemaha Valley Journal (Feb 26 1874) he was born in Mount Morris, New Jersey on October 28, 1838 and came with his parents to Canton [Illinois] in 1852. The obituary doesn't name his parents, but does say that he died in his brother's house in Canton.

After the Civil War he was in apparently back in Canton for a while then was "engaged in business at Norris, Fairview and Prairie City, Nebraska, where he remained until a few months since when he returned to Canton...".

[CaroleW]

Where does he fit into your FH as it’s sometimes useful to use that type if info to track backwards?

Which of his family are you descended from?

[Peggy13]

Thank you AlanBoyd. I would say that the obituary that you found eliminates this William as belonging to the family of Robert Johnston and Mary O'Neill. This was the type of information that I needed. Robert and Mary and their son William were in Bertie, Welland Co., Ontario in 1861. Also in 1851 which has been found under Johnson.
http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?app=Census1851&op=img&id=e002373029

CaroleW, my gg Grandfather James Johnston, as per his death certificate, was from Co. Antrim. The Robert married to Mary Ann O'Neill, if the correct death has been found, was also from Co. Antrim. James born 1798, Robert born 1804. Is there a connection? I don't know as yet.

[AlanBoyd]

I’m glad that it was useful. I just found out how to share a clipping, so here is a link to the whole article just in case there is something else there. The obituary starts at the bottom of the left-hand column.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112792864/william-seward-johnson-obituary/

[Peggy13]

Thanks again, AlanBoyd. This lengthy and informative obit really convinces me that William does not belong to the family of Robert Johnston and Mary O'Neill of Bertie, Welland Co., Ontario even his date of birth roughly fits. Elimination of someone is useful in search of the correct person.
Peggy