Introduction
Johnson ~ First Generation

  William JOHNSON
William was born c1772 based on 1841 census and on the burial record. In the 1841 census it is said that both he and Mary were born out of Warwickshire.

Married Mary, surname unknown. It is possible that this was Mary Stokes: their marriage was celebrated at St Peter and St Paul, Aston, Birmingham, and they were given as William Johnson of this Parish and Mary Stokes of this Parish, married in the church by Banns on 9th November 1797, witnesses Matthew Parton and William Roberts (ref Ancestry Birmingham Marriages). Mary was born c1770 based on 1841 census. Another possibility is Mary Booth; this marriage was celebrated at St Peter and St Paul, Aston, Birmingham on 10 Sep 1798, and again they were both of the parish. Both of these marriage certificates are available on Ancestry Birmingham marriages together with several other possibilities at other Birmingham parishes.

In 1814 they were living at Aston Street Birmingham at the burial of Benjamin, and later the same year they were living at Aston Street Birmingham with him as a Coach Spring Forger at the baptism of Joseph.

In Wrightson's Triennial Directory of Birmingham (1818), page no. 73, there is an entry for William Johnson, coach smith, Bear Yard. It appears to be the only William Johnson with an occupation similar to this.

Residents of Birmingham, England. In the 1835 Directory of Birmingham there is a William Johnson, Coach Spring Maker, address Bank Alley.

Ref 1841 census. Warwickshire, England. Civil Parish of Birmingham. Sub-Registration District of St Peter. Address: Bank Alley.
William Johnson. Age 69. Smith. Not born in Warwickshire.
Mary Johnson. Age 71. Not born in Warwickshire.

William died 19 Jan 1845. Death reg of William Johnson Mar qtr 1845 (ref FreeBMD).
Burial of William Johnson 26 Jan 1845 at St Mary Birmingham, abode Bank Alley Dale End, age 73 years (ref Ancestry Birmingham burials).
His Will is as follows (ref findmypast):
"In the Name of God Amen.
I William Johnson General Jobing Smith of Bank Alley Dale End Birmingham do this Sixteenth Day of January in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty Five Make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body I commit to the earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executrix herein after named all my just Debts, Funeral Expences together with proving this my Last Will and Testament be fully Paid and Satisfied. Now I give unto my dear Wife Mary Johnson All my Book Debts and Household furniture of whatsoever discription it may be to do what she likes with it. And I give unto my eldest Son William my best suit of Clothes and also I give unto my Son Thomas the large Bible and my second suit of clothes at my dear Wife's pleasure. And now I give unto my Son Joseph all the Stock in Trade Shop Tools etc of every discription to do what he likes with them Subject to him paying his Mother Eight Shillings every week for her life If not Agreeing to live together. And now I nominate institute and appoint my Dear Wife Sole Executrix to this my last Will and Testament and her receipt shall be a proper discharge for the same. (Signed) William Johnson"

There are many possibilities for the death of Mary Johnson but no matching addresses so she may have moved after William died. She is not found in 1851 census.
One strong possibility is the burial of Mary Johnson on 16 May 1848 at St Philip, Birmingham age 80, her address being Workhouse, Lichfield Street, Birmingham (ref fmp Parish Burials).

Johnson is a quite common name in Birmingham at this time and there are many children (including overlapping families) baptised as the children of a William and Mary Johnson at the same church (Saint Phillips, Birmingham), including Emma, John, Maria and Benjamin, children of a Sail and Tarpaulin maker of Easey Row, and Harriet, Ann, and Charlotte who were baptised before the occupation of the father was given.

FROM WHOM FRED SHADE IS DESCENDED.

















1841 census



  Children:  
1. William JOHNSON bap 1804 at St Philips, Birmingham, Warwickshire  
2. Thomas JOHNSON bap 1805 at St Philips, Birmingham, Warwickshire  
3. Benjamin JOHNSON born 1809, bap 1809 at St Phillips, Birmingham, Warwickshire  
4. Joseph JOHNSON born 1814, bap 1814 at St Phillips, Birmingham, Warwickshire  



Last modified 21 Jan 2021