Table of Contents

1820-1903 John JOHNSTON of County Fermanagh, Ireland

Birth Name John JOHNSTON
Birth Date about 1820
Birth Place County Fermanagh, Ireland 1)
Death Date 19 May 1903 (age 83)
Death Place Francis Street, Belmont, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Cause of Death Apoplexy Cerebral Haemourhage (stroke)
Informant on Death Certificate N S King assistant undertaker
Occupation Retired Farmer (dairy farmer)
Burial Date 21 May 1903
Burial Place Mount Duneed Cemetery, Victoria, Australia
(Methodist Section, Mount Duneed)

Parents

Father Unknown
Mother Unknown

Grandparents

Paternal Grandparents Maternal Grandparents
Unknown Unknown
Unknown Unknown

Marriages

1839 Marriage of John JOHNSTON and Martha WILCOX

John's Life

John Johnston, retired farmer, and benefactor of several charitable organisations in the Geelong area; including Geelong Infirmary and Benevolent Society, The Missions Schools of Geelong, Homes of Hope Orphanage Ocean Grove, Geelong Female Refuge, Cottage by the Sea charity at Queenscliff, Protestant Orphan Asylum, Salvation Army Rescue Home, South Geelong Wesleyan Church, Wesleyan Church Jubilee Fund, Baptist Church of Aberdeen Street Geelong, and Geelong and Western District Ladies Benevolent Association.

John was born in County Fermanagh Ireland 2) in 1820. Not much is known about his early life. The first record of John is the marriage to Martha Wilcox on 28th October 1839 in Romaley 3) County Cavan Ireland. Is it thought that John and Martha were married at the Drumreilly Church of Ireland church 4) on the edge of Lough Garadice which resides in County Leitrim but is walking distance to County Cavan where they lived.

John and Martha had their 1st child Eleanor at Drumreilly 5) Leitrim on the 31st October 1841. Their second child Catharine was born in 1842 in Templeport County Cavan. The third child Margaret was born in 1844. The family moved to Manchester England sometime after the birth of their fourth child John George in 1847 in County Cavan; but before 1850.

John worked as a ‘Master of Gas’ while living in Manchester. Their fifth child Hannah was born in December 1850; most probably at 9 Back Irk Street where the family resided when the 1851 census was taken on 30th March. The census also recorded Martha’s sister Grace residing at the residence. Her occupation was listed as ‘Cotton Weaver’. Also recorded on the census form was lodger Ann Lord.

The family moved to 10 Tebbutt Street where Alexander was born sometime between the 14th and 17th October 1852 6).

Margaret died on 2nd November 1853 from burns sustained in the Pillings Buildings in Manchester; The Pillings Buildings are about 100 yards from Tebbutt Street. Grace Wilcox, Margaret's Auntie, left a month later for Australia on 12th December 1853; leaving on the Barrackpore from London.

On 30th March 1855 the Johnston family set sail from London aboard the ship ‘Hope’ and arrived on 8th July 1855 at the Port Philip Colony (Melbourne) of Victoria Australia.

John took up farming as a dairy farmer upon settling near Geelong shortly after arriving in Australia. John and Martha’s youngest child Thomas was born in St Albans East Geelong on 11th August 1857. The house at St Albans East was part of a dairy farm that John owned from 1856.

The family moved sometime later from St Albans to Connewarre where they were farming in 1863. Their farm was near the Bluestone School road and adjacent to the farm of George Wiggins and his wife Elizabeth Wilcox (sister of Martha).

When a new section of land became available not far away in Barwon Heads, John took the opportunity and leased the new land from James Noble. This was 72 acres right near the mouth of the Barwon River in the centre of what is Barwon Heads today.

Adjacent to John's farm was the farm of George Bush, who married Catherine Johnston the daughter of John and Martha. George & Catherine's farm was on the other side of Golf Links Road toward geelong.

Thomas, John and Martha's youngest son, died due to an accident on the farm at Barwon Heads on 23rd February 1872 at the age of 14 and is buried at Mount Duneed Cemetery. Also buried with Thomas is his sister Hannah who died during childbirth aged 29 (in 1879) and Thomas' parents John who died in 1903 and Martha who died in 1898.

John purchased the 72 acres in Barwon Heads from James Noble one month after Thomas' death and stayed there until he retired in 1890. This land is the parcel of land that is nowadays bounded by Hitchcock Avenue, Golf Links Road, Barwon Heads Road, and Bridge Road. John and Martha and their family lived on this land as well as farming their dairy cows there.

In 1880 John purchased an additional parcel of 150 acres of land from the Crown in Barwon Heads. That land is at the end of what is now Taits Road and was used for his dairy cows.

In 1890 John retired from dairy farming, sold the farm at Barwon Heads to the Barwon Heads Real Estate Company, and bought a house at Barwon Terrace, South Geelong. He and Martha lived there until Martha's death in 1898.

Sometime after 1898 John moved to live with his son Alexander at Ravenswood, near Moriac. Later, when Alexander decided to sell Ravenswood and move into Geelong, John moved to Francis Street in Belmont, Geelong.

John lived in Francis Street for the remainder of his life, having a stroke while living there, and dying 10 days later. During this short time Alexander was in the process of purchasing Barwon Grange in South Geelong, however the purchase did not complete until just after John died.

During John's time in Belmont his very good friend, a cab driver and one of the executors of his will, Robert HUMPHRIES would take John from place to place around Geelong in his cab. John had left him his pocket watch in his will however the will was changed at the last instant, under suspicious circumstances, to remove the bequest to Robert and remove him as executor of the will. Robert was also leasing John's house in Barwon Terrace in 1903 before John died. Robert was married to Susan DEAN.

By all accounts John was a very religious man and active in the Methodist Church in Connewarre and Barwon Heads. In the 1880's John offered a parcel of his land to the church to build a church on in Barwon Heads. After much consideration the church could not decide and did not take up John's offer. However in 1892, after John had sold his property to the Barwon Heads real estate company, the church purchased the same parcel of land directly from the Barwon Heads Real Estate Company. It is the current site of the Uniting Church in Hitchcock Avenue in Barwon Heads. The church on that site is the combination of two churches. One is the original church from Connewarre, the other from another location in Connewarre that is unknown.

John's Life Events

Event Date Year Age Place Source
Birth 1820 0 County Cavan, Ireland 7)
Birth 22 Mar 1820 0 Keliwilly, County Cavin, Ireland 8) 9)
Birth 1821 0 County Fermanagh, Ireland 10)
Birth 1821 0 Ireland 11)
Marriage to Martha WILCOCK 28 Oct 1839 19 County Cavan, Ireland 12)
Marriage to Martha WILCOCK 28 Oct 1840 20 Drumreilly Parish Church, Drumreilly, County Leitrim, Ireland 13)
Birth of daughter Eleanor JOHNSTON 1841 21 County Leitrim, Ireland
Birth of daughter Catherine JOHNSTON 1843 22 Templeport Parish, County Cavan, Ireland
Birth of daughter Margaret JOHNSTON 1845 24 Ireland
Birth of son John George JOHNSTON 1847 27 County Cavan, Ireland
Emigrated 1847-1850 27-30 from Templeport, County Cavan, Ireland
Immigrated 1847-1850 27-30 to Manchester, Lancashire, England
Birth of daughter Hannah JOHNSTON 1850 30 Manchester, Lancashire, England
Residence 30 Mar 1851 30 9 Back Irk Street, Manchester, Lancashire, England 14)
Birth of son Alexander JOHNSTON 14 Oct 1852 32 Manchester, Lancashire, England 15)
Birth of son Alexander JOHNSTON 16 Oct 1852 32 Manchester, Lancashire, England 16)
Birth of son Alexander JOHNSTON 17 Oct 1852 32 10 Tebbutt Street, Manchester, Lancashire, England 17)
Residence 1852 32 10 Tebbutt Street, Manchester, Lancashire, England 18)
Baptism of son Alexander JOHNSTON 26 Dec 1852 32 Cathedral Church Manchester 19)
Death of daughter Margaret JOHNSTON 2 Nov 1853 35 Manchester, Lancashire, England 20)
Emigrated 30 Mar 1855 35 from London, England
Immigrated 8 Jul 1855 35 to Port Phillip, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Residence 23 Feb 1857 36 St Albans Street North, WB ver 2 rm dairy stables and 5.5 acres 21)
Birth of son Thomas JOHNSTON 11 Aug 1857 36 St Albans, East Geelong, Victoria, Australia 22)
Marriage of daughter Eleanor JOHNSTON 11 Jun 1863 43 Connewarre, County Grant, Victoria, Australia 23)
Leasing land from Wilson Buchanan 12 Jan 1864 44 72 acres, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Bluestone School Road) 24)
Leasing land from Wilson Buchanan 11 Jan 1865 45 72 acres, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Bluestone School Road) 25)
Purchase Crown land by James Noble 17 Jan 1865 45 72 acres, Crown Allotments 1-8, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Barwon Heads) 26)
Leasing land from James Noble 24 Jan 1866 46 70 acres, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Barwon Heads) 27)
Leasing land from James Noble 9 Jan 1867 47 75 acres, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Barwon Heads) 28)
Owning land (Probable lease from James Noble) Jan 1868 48 75 acres, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Barwon Heads) 29)
Residence 1868 48 Connewarre, Victoria, Australia 30)
Marriage of daughter Catherine JOHNSTON 9 Apr 1868 48 Connewarre, County Grant, Victoria, Australia 31)
Owning land (Probable lease from James Noble) 16 Dec 1868 48 75 acres, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Barwon Heads) 32)
Owning land (Probable lease from James Noble) 19 Jan 1870 50 75 acres, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Barwon Heads) 33)
Leasing land from John Cuthbertson 19 Jan 1870 50 56 acres, cultivation land, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia 34)
Residence 1870 50 Connewarre, Victoria, Australia 35)
Owning land (Probable lease from James Noble) 21 Dec 1870 50 75 acres, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Barwon Heads) 36)
Leasing land from John Cuthbertson 21 Dec 1870 50 56 acres, cultivation land, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia 37)
Selected Crown land 21 Dec 1870 50 150 acres, selected land, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Taits Road) 38)
Leasing land from James Noble 17 Feb 1872 52 72 acres, House and Farm, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Barwon Heads) 39)
Leasing land from John Cuthbertson 17 Feb 1872 52 60 acres, Farm, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia 40)
Crown land 17 Feb 1872 52 155 acres, Swamp land, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Taits Road) 41)
Death of son Thomas JOHNSTON 23 Feb 1872 52 Hospital, Geelong, Victoria, Australia 42)
Burial of son Thomas JOHNSTON 25 Feb 1872 52 Methodist section, Mt Duneed Cemetery, Mt Duneed, Victoria, Australia 43)
Property Purchase from James Noble 23 Mar 1872 52 72 acres, Crown Allotments 1-8, Barwon Heads, Victoria, Australia 44)
Owning land 12 Feb 1873 53 72 acres, House and Farm, Crown Allotments 1-8, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Barwon Heads) 45)
Leasing land from John Cuthbertson 12 Feb 1873 53 60 acres, Paddock, Crown Allotment 23 O, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia 46)
Crown land 12 Feb 1873 53 155 acres, House and Farm, Crown Allotment 14 G, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Taits Road) 47)
Owning land 11 Feb 1874 54 72 acres, House and Farm, Crown Allotments 1-8, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Barwon Heads) 48)
Leasing land from John Cuthbertson 11 Feb 1874 54 60 acres, Paddock, Crown Allotment 23 O, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia 49)
Crown land 11 Feb 1874 54 155 acres, House and Farm, Crown Allotment 14 G, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Taits Road) 50)
Owning land 21 Oct 1874 54 72 acres, House and Farm, Crown Allotments 1-8, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Barwon Heads) 51)
Leasing land from John Cuthbertson 21 Oct 1874 54 60 acres, Paddock, Crown Allotment 23 O, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia 52)
Crown land 21 Oct 1874 54 155 acres, House and Farm, Crown Allotment 14 G, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Taits Road) 53)
Marriage of daughter Hannah JOHNSTON 22 Apr 1875 55 Wesleyan Church, Barwon Heads, Victoria, Australia 54)
Marriage of son John George JOHNSTON 7 Oct 1875 55 Barwon Heads, Victoria, Australia 55)
Marriage of son Alexander JOHNSTON 18 Sep 1878 58 56)
Death of daughter Hannah JOHNSTON 30 Nov 1879 59 Barwon Heads, Victoria, Australia 57)
Burial of daughter Hannah JOHNSTON 2 Dec 1879 59 Methodist section, Mt Duneed Cemetery, Mt Duneed, Victoria, Australia 58)
Property Purchase of Crown Land 12 Jun 1880 60 155 acres, Crown Allotment 14 G, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia 59)
Discharged mortgage 15 Mar 1884 64 72 acres, House and Farm, Crown Allotments 1-8, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Barwon Heads) 60)
Residence 1884 64 Connewarre, Victoria, Australia 61)
Residence 1888 68 Connewarre, Victoria, Australia 62)
Sale of land to The Barwon Heads Estate Company Limited 9 Sep 1890 70 72 acres, House and Farm, Crown Allotments 1-8, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Barwon Heads) 63)
Property Purchase 1890 70 Barwon Terrace, Geelong, Victoria, Australia, WB 7R Coach House 64)
Residence 1890 70 Barwon Terrace, Geelong, Victoria, Australia, WB 7R Coach House 65)
Leasing Barwon Terrace 1891 71 66)
Vacant Barwon Terrace 1892 72 67)
Methodist Church members purchase land 29 Apr 1892 72 Lots 4 and 5 part of Crown Allotment 5, Connewarre, Victoria, Australia (Barwon Heads) 68)
Marriage of son John George JOHNSTON 14 Jan 1892 72 69)
Son residing John George JOHNSTON 1893 73 Barwon Terrace, Geelong, Victoria, Australia, WB 7R 70)
Vacant Barwon Terrace 1893 73 71)
Death of son John George JOHNSTON 18 Jun 1896 76 72)
Burial of son John George JOHNSTON 20 Jun 1896 76 Broadford Cemetery, Broadford, Victoria, Australia 73)
Residence 2 Aug 1898 78 Yarra Street, Barwon Terrace, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Death of wife Martha JOHNSTON 2 Aug 1898 78 Yarra Street, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Burial of wife Martha JOHNSTON 4 Aug 1898 78 Methodist section, Mt Duneed Cemetery, Mt Duneed, Victoria, Australia
Residence 1899 79 Barwon Terrace, Geelong, Victoria, Australia, WB 5R outhouse land 74)
Residence 1900 80 Ravenswood, Mt Moriac, Modewarre, Victoria, Australia 75)
Residence 1901 81 Modewarre, Victoria, Australia 76)
Residence 21 Feb 1903 83 Belmont, Geelong, Victoria, Australia 77)
Death 19 May 1903 83 Francis Street, Belmont, Geelong, Victoria, Australia 78)
Burial 21 May 1903 83 Methodist section, Mt Duneed Cemetery, Mt Duneed, Victoria, Australia 79)

Date of Birth Estimation

Date Event Age Earliest Birth Date Latest Birth Date
30 Mar 1851 Census 30 31 March 1820 30 March 1821
30 Mar 1855 Passenger List 38 31 March 1816 30 March 1817
11 Aug 1857 Birth of Thomas 36 12 August 1820 11 August 1821
19 May 1903 Death 83 20 May 1819 19 May 1820
19 May 1903 Cemetery 84 20 May 1818 19 May 1819

Hannah Dunse nee Bush birthday book quotes a birth date of Mar 22 for John Johnston. This seems to be a reasonable birth date for John given the available information.

Pictures

Photo
Title John JOHNSTON land at Barwon Heads ca 1890 (72 acres) John JOHNSTON farming land at Barwon Heads (150 acres)
Location Hitchcock Avenue - Bridge Road - Golf Links Road - Geelong Road End of Taits Road
Photo
Title Land Title - Barwon Heads - 72 acres - John JOHNSTON - 1872 Sale of Land to Barwon Heads Estate Company Limited - 1890
Photo
Title Cemetery Memorial Photograph of John and Martha JOHNSTON at a photographic studio in Malop Street, Geelong about 1890

Information about John

1855 HOPE Passenger List

1886 John JOHNSTON's daily Bible

1903 Will of John JOHNSTON

1903-05-19 Death of John JOHNSTON of County Fermanagh, Ireland (age 83 years)

1903 Cemetery Memorial for John JOHNSTON

Referencing Pages

1)
According to birth certificate of his son Thomas JOHNSTON
2)
there are records for both County Fermanagh and County Cavan as John's birth place, however the most accurate is Thomas' birth certificate which states County Fermanagh
3)
The spelling is unclear and Romaley is not a recognisable town land name
4)
This is according to the Family Bible in the possession of Claude Bush
5)
There is no town land of Drumrary in Leitrim although the spelling is repeated on several different documents, other documents for the area write Drumreilly very similarly to Drumrary
6)
Different records have a different birth date for Alexander
7) , 78) , 79)
Death certificate of John JOHNSTON
8)
Bible in possession of Claude BUSH
9)
Birthday book of Hannah DUNSE nee BUSH
10) , 12) , 22)
Birth certificate of Thomas JOHNSTON
11) , 14)
Manchester 1851 Census
13)
Bible in possession of Claude BUSH
15) , 19)
Baptism record of Alexander JOHNSTON
16)
Bible of Alexander JOHNSTON and Alice ALLEN
17) , 18)
Birth certificate of Alexander JOHNSTON
20)
Death certificate of Margaret JOHNSTON
21) , 64) , 65) , 66) , 67) , 70)
Barwon Ward Rate Book
23)
Marriage certificate of Eleanor JOHNSTON
24) , 25) , 27) , 28) , 29) , 32) , 33) , 34) , 36) , 37) , 38) , 39) , 40) , 41) , 45) , 46) , 47) , 48) , 49) , 50) , 51) , 52) , 53)
Connewarre Road District Rate Book
26)
Volume 137 Folio 310-321
30)
Baillieries Victorian Directory
31)
Marriage certificate of Catherine JOHNSTON
35) , 61) , 62)
Wise Victorian Post Office Directory
42) , 43)
Death certificate of Thomas JOHNSTON
44)
Land Transfer 24075
54)
Marriage certificate of Hannah JOHNSTON and Alexander HOGG
55)
Marriage certificate of John George JOHNSTON and Frances Honora SHARP
56)
Marriage certificate of Alexander JOHNSTON and Alice ALLEN
57)
Death certificate for Hannah JOHNSTON
58)
Death certificate of Hannah JOHNSTON
59)
Connewarre Parish Plan 2421
60) , 63)
Volume 484 Folio 797
68)
Volume 2423 Folio 423
69)
Marriage certificate for John George JOHNSTON and Sarah Ann STEPHENS
71)
Geelong Town and Lighting Rates
72) , 73)
Death certificate for John George JOHNSTON
74) , 75) , 76) , 77)
Barwon Ward Rate Notice