Jen's Genealogy Pages

Amy Johnson Crow, on her blog No Story Too Small, has challenged her fellow bloggers to post 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. This is week ten.

My great-great grandfather John George Johnson was born on February 11, 1847. I believe he was the eldest son born to Baptist(e?) Johnson and Ann Kelly.

On the 1851 census, Baptist (30) and Ann (30) are shown living in St. Laurent, Quebec with their children John (5), William (3), Jane (2) and Ann (1). Also with the family is an Isabelle Johnston (20). I expect she is related to Baptist, perhaps his sister. Baptist, Ann and Isabelle were all born in Ireland, the children were all born in QuebecLower. It appears that the family is sharing a one storey stone house with Luc and Josephte Verdone.

I have yet to find the family on the 1861 census.

In 1871, Baptiste (50) and Ann (50) are home with their children John (24), William (22), Jane (21), Anny (19), Sara (17), Elizabeth (15) and Joseph (12) in St. Laurent, Quebec.

In March of 1873, John married Alice Jane Burton.

“John George Johnson of the St. Laurent District of Montreal and Alice Jane Burton of the same place, spinster, were married by licence on the ninth? day of March one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three by me,
WB Curran”

In 1881, it appears John (33) and Alice (31) are living with John’s parents Baptist (64) and Ann (60) along with John’s youngest brother Joseph (22). By the time of the 1881 census, John and Alice should have two children (Emily and Grace). I am still looking for them!

On the 1891 census, John (44) and Alice (43) are found at home with their children, Emily (14), Grace (13), Annie (10) and Margaret (8).

In 1901, John (54), Alice (52), Annie (20) and Margaret (17) are in the family home.

And again in 1911, John (64), Alice (62), Annie (26) and Margaret (24) are shown living at home in St. Laurent.

In 1921, John (74) and Alice (72), along with daughter Annie (40) are living in Athelstan, Quebec. I don’t know when they moved down there from Montreal. Given that when daughter Margaret was married in 1913, her marriage record showed her as being from Athelstan, I have to assume it may have been somewhere between 1911 and 1913.

Alice passed away in 1928.  John continued living in Athelstan until his death in January of 1939. The Huntingdon Gleaner reported on John’s passing, saying:

John Johnson, the oldest resident of this community, died at Athelstan Québec, the deceased was formerly of Montreal, but has made his home in Athelstan for many years. He was in his 92nd year. He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. James Lumsden, Mrs. Alva Wilson, and Mrs. John Fee, also four grandchildren. His wife predeceased him several years ago. Service held at the Athelstan Presbyterian Church, by the Rev. W. S. Duncan. Interred in the Athelstan Cemetery.