The Johnson Family

Ernest Edward Johnson

Birth: 5 July 1862, at Loop Street. Pietermaritzburg, Colony of Natal

The birth announcement in the Natal Witness, or the transcription of it, mistakenly refers to Ernest as a daughter.
Natal Witness 11 July 1862
BIRTHS
JOHNSON, 5 July 1862, Mrs Wm. Johnson, Loop Street, of a daughter

Father: William Johnson

Mother: Elizabeth (Ford) Johnson

Married: Susannah Cunningham on 24 April 1889 at Byrne Church, parish of Richmond cum Byrne, Upper Inkomanji district, Colony of Natal
Ernest Edward Johnson is recorded as a bachelor, of full age. He is a farmer, resident in Byrne. Susannah Cunningham is recorded as a spinster, aged of full age, resident in Byrne. The marriage was performed by J. R. Ward and witnessed by N. Cunningham and A. R. Cunningham.

Grave of Susannah (Cunningham) Johnson
Gravestone of Susannah (Cunningham) Johnson in St Mary Magdalene cemetery, Richmond district, Natal
photograph from Gerald Buttigieg dated 17 September 2012 posted at eGGSA
Susannah was born on 17 May 1859, in Pietermaritzburg, Natal. She died on 17 June 1955, aged 96, at "Hilly Prospect", Elandskop, Natal. The cause of death is listed as myocardial degeneration, of duration months, essential hypertension, of duration years and fracture left hip, of duration 18 months. Susannah was buried on 18 June 1955 in St Mary Magdalene cemetery, Richmond district, Natal.
The inscription reads:
In Loving Memory of
SUSANNAH JOHNSON,
17·5·1859 - 17·6·1956.

Addresses:
1889: Byrne, Richmond district, Natal   (marriage registration)
1947: "Hilly Prospect", Elandskop, Natal   (death registration)

Children: Occupation: Farmer

Death: 15 September 1947, at Grey's Hospital, Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa, aged 85 years and 2 months
The cause of death is listed as a coronary occlusion, of duration 3 months, arterio sclerosis and enlargement of prostate.

Grave of Ernest Edward Johnson
Gravestone of Ernest Edward Johnson in St Mary Magdalene cemetery, Richmond district, Natal
photograph from Gerald Buttigieg dated 17 September 2012 posted at eGGSA
Burial: 17 September 1947, in St Mary Magdalene cemetery, Richmond district, Natal, South Africa
The inscription reads:
In Loving Memory of
ERNEST EDWARD JOHNSON,
5·7·1862 - 15·9·1947.
 
Will: dated 26 March 1941, filed 27 September 1947
Pietermaritzburg Estate Files #1805/47
  THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me ERNEST EDWARD JOHNSON, of Byrne, Farmer.
  I HEREBY revoke and annul all Wills or other Testamentary Dispositions heretofore made by me.
  I appoint my son WILLIAM EDWARD JOHNSON and JOHN LESLIE SMITH, of Pietermaritzburg, to be the Executors of this my Will and Administrators of my Estate and Effects, and I direct that it shall not be necessary for them to file security for the due and faithful administration of my Estate as Executors or Administrators. If JOHN LESLIE SMITH should die or if he refuses to act I appoint ARTHUR AUSTEN SMITH as Executor and Trustee in his place and he also shall not be required to file security.
  I record that I am married in community of property to my wife SUSANNAH JOHNSON.
  I am making this Will to cover the whole of the Joint Estate in community realising that if I die before my wife she will be required to take the benefits under this Will, or to claim half of the Joint Estate by virtue of community.
  I wish to record that, although in law my wife owns half of the joint estate by virtue of community, all that I have has been earned by me with the co-operation of my wife, and she did not bring any substantial assets into the community. I therefore hope that, although there is no obligation on her to do so, she will accept the benefits in respect of the whole of the joint estate and that she will not claim her half by virtue of community.
  If my wife does accept the benefits under this Will then I bequeath the whole of the joint estate to my said Administrators to be held and administered by him with the powers and subject to the the conditions following :-
(a) The whole of the income accruing to my Trust Estate shall be paid to my wife SUSANNAH JOHNSON until her death, but in the case of livestock those dying or disposed of shall be replaced out of the progeny, so that the numbers will be kept up as far as possible.
(b) My Administrators shall have the right to lease any portion of my landed property but not longer than from year to year on such terms as they deem advisable. My son WILLIAM EDWARD JOHNSON is already occupying the farm "Hilly Prospect" owned by me, and I agree to him continuing to occupy it on the same terms and conditions during the lifetime of my wife.
(c) Any moneys in my Estate shall be invested in trust securities, or they may be deposited in the Savings Bank Account in any Building Society.
  If my wife accepts the benefits as above then on her death the whole of the joint estate shall be divided as follows :-
(a) The farm "Hamilton" with all the movables on it at the date of my death and the livestock on it at the date of my death including those that have been used to replace ones dying or disposed of, shall go to my nephew JOHN ANDREW CUNNINGHAM and to his wife JOYCE CUNNINGHAM equally, or the survivor of them. If both of them predecease my wife these assets shall go their children by representation, but if they have no children they shall go to my son WILLIAM EDWARD JOHNSON and to his children by representation.
(b) All other livestock shall be divided equally between my son WILLIAM EDWARD JOHNSON and my daughter EVA MURIEL CARTE or te survivor of them.
(c) The residue of my Estate shall go to my son WILLIAM EDWARD JOHNSON AS his sole and absolute property, or if he dies before my wife it shall go to his children by representation, but if he is deceased without lawful issue such residue shall go to my daughter EVA MURIEL CARTE or to her children by representation.
  If my wife does decide to claim half of the joint estate by virtue of community, then immediately upon my death, my half of the joint estate shall be divided as follows :-
(a) My half of the farm "Hamilton" and my half of all movables on it at the date of my death, shall go to my nephew JOHN ANDREW CUNNINGHAM and to his wife JOYCE CUNNINGHAM equally, or to the survivor of them.
(b) My half of all other livestock shall be divided equally between my son WILLIAM EDWARD JOHNSON and my daughter EVA MURIEL CARTE.
(c) My half of the residue of the joint estate shall go to my son WILLIAM EDWARD JOHNSON.
  The bequest of the whole or half of the farm "Hamilton" and the movables thereon to my nephew JOHN ANDREW CUNNINGHAM and his wife is made subject to the condition that they must maintain and support their mother EDITH HELEN CUNNINGHAM according to her station in life. I do not stipulate that any condition should be inserted in the transfer in their favour to secure the fulfilment  of this condition, as I am satisfied that they will faithfully comply with this condition.
ALL WHICH I DECLARE TO BE MY LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT.
Dated at Pietermaritzburg this 26th day of March, in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty-One (1941).
SIGNED by the Testator the said ERNEST EDWARD JOHNSON as and for his Last Will and Testament, in the presence of us, who, in his presence, and in the presence of each other, all being present together at the same time have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.
"E.E. Johnson"
AS WITNESSES :
1. ".E.Holgate"
2. "J.A. Ladbrooke"
 
Addresses:
1889: Byrne, Richmond district, Natal   (marriage registration)
1947: "Hamilton", Elandskop, Natal   (death registration)

Sources:

Frederick Conrad Johnson

Birth: 5 March 1867

Father: William Johnson

Mother: Elizabeth (Ford) Johnson

Death: 8 October 1874, at Cleveland, Richmond, Colony of Natal
Natal Witness 20 October 1874
DEATHS
JOHNSON, Frederick Conrad, 8 October 1874, at Cleveland, Richmond, youngest son of Mr W. Johnson, of Byrne, aged 7 years and 7 months

Grave of Frederick Conrad Johnson
Gravestone of Frederick Conrad Johnson in St Mary Magdalene cemetery, Richmond district, Natal
photograph from Gerald Buttigieg dated 17 September 2012 posted at eGGSA
Burial: in St Mary Magdalene cemetery, Richmond district, Natal, South Africa
The inscription reads:
In Loving Memory of
FREDERICK CONRAD JOHNSON,
born 5th March 1867,
died October 1874.

Sources:

Walter William Johnson

Birth: July or August 1864, in Pietermaritzburg, Colony of Natal

Father: William Johnson

Mother: Elizabeth (Ford) Johnson

Married: Janet Maria Cunningham on 25 January 1899 at Byrne Church, parish of Richmond cum Byrne, Upper Inkomanji district, Colony of Natal
Walter William Johnson is recorded as a bachelor, of full age. He is a farmer, resident in Byrne. Janet Maria Cunningham is recorded as a spinster, aged of full age, resident in Byrne. The marriage was performed by J. R. Ward and witnessed by A. R. Cunningham and A. E. Cohulle.

Janet was born in January or February 1861, in Natal. She died on 9 November 1950, aged 89, at "Dunbar", Byrne, Richmond district, Natal. The cause of death is listed as auricular fibrillation, of duration 6 weeks, and old age. Janet was buried on 10 November 1950, in St Mary Magdalene cemetery, Richmond district, Natal.

Addresses:
1899: Byrne, Richmond district, Natal   (marriage registration)
1945: Byrne, Richmond district, Natal   (will)
1948: "Dunbar", Richmond district, Natal   (death registration)

Children: Occupation: Farmer

Death: 19 April 1948, at "Dunbar", Richmond district, Natal, South Africa, aged 83 years and 8 months
The cause of death is listed as a bronchitis emphysema, of duration some years.

Burial: 20 April 1948, in St Mary Magdalene cemetery, Richmond district, Natal, South Africa

Will: dated 16 August 1945, **filed 27 September 1947
Pietermaritzburg Estate Files #868/48
  THIS IS THE JOINT WILL of us WALTER WILLIAM JOHNSON and JANET MARIA JOHNSON (born Cunningham) his wife, both of Byrne in the District of Richmond, Natal, who were married in community of property.
  WE HEREBY revoke, annul and make void all previous Wills, Codicils, and other Testamentary Acts heretofore made by us, and WE DECLARE this to be out Last Will and Testament.
  WE HEREBY nominate, constitute and appoint the Survivor of us, together with our son ERIC ALBERT JOHNSON to be the Executors of this our Will and Administrators of our Estate and Effects, giving and granting unto them all such powers and authority as the Law directs.
  WE EXCUSE our Executors and/or Administrators from the necessity of filing security with the Master of the Supreme Court for the due performance of their duties and the administration of our Estate.
  UPON the death of the first dying of us, our Executors and Administrators shall hold our Joint Estate in trust for the sole benefit of our son ERIC ALBERT JOHNSON who shall receive for his own use and benefit, the whole of the income from our joint Estate, subject to his paying the survivor of us the sum of THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY (£350) per annum.
  UPON the death of the Survivor of us, WE GIVE, devise and bequeath the whole of our Estate and Effects, both movable and immovable, and whether the same be in possession, reversion, remainder or expectancy, nothing excepted and wheresoever situate, to our son ERIC ALBERT JOHNSON, for his sole and exclusive use and benefit, subject to the following provisions, to wit :-
  (a) That our said son ERIC ALBERT JOHNSON shall pay to our daughter MARY GRAEME HOSKING (born Johnson) the sum of FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS (£500).
  (b) That our said son ERIC ALBERT JOHNSON shall pay to our daughter DOROTHY MARGARET JOHNSON so soon as she shall require payment of same, the sum of ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS (£1,500), and until such time as our said daughter shall receive payment of the said amount, our said son shall pay to her the sum of FIVE POUNDS (£5) per month to represent interest on her investment.
  (c) That until her marriage or death, our said daughter DOROTHY MARGARET JOHNSON shall be allowed to reside on the immovable property to be inherited by our said son.
  WE RESERVE to ourselves the right at all times to alter, amend or add to this our Last Will and Testament.
THUS DONE AND EXECUTED at Byrne, in the District of Richmond, Natal, in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses, on the 16th. day of August, in the Year of Our Lord, One thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty-Five (1945)   
SIGNED by WALTER WILLIAM JOHNSON and his wife JANET MARIA JOHNSON, in the presence of us, who, in their presence and in the presence of each other, all being present together at the same time, have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses on the date and at the place above written.
"W.W.Johnson"
"J.M.Johnson"
AS WITNESSES.
1. Leslie G.Wynne Cole.
2. D.Gibb.
 
Addresses:
1899: Byrne, Richmond district, Natal   (marriage registration)
1945: Byrne, Richmond district, Natal   (will)
1950: "Dunbar", Richmond district, Natal   (death registration)

Sources:

William Johnson

Birth: 11 March 1822, in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England

Married (1st): Ann Gelder on 6 June 1846, in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England

Anne died in 1859.

Children: Married (2nd): Elizabeth Ford on 24 August 1861 at the residence of Mr. Ford, Pietermaritzburg, Natal
William Johnson is recorded as a widower, of full age. He is a merchant, resident in D'Urban. Elizabeth Ford is recorded as a spinster, of full age, resident in P.M.Burg. The marriage was performed by W. Berry, Wesleyan Minister, and witnessed by Joseph Burge Godfrey, Harriett Ford and Eliza Ford.

Children: Occupation: Merchant (1861); Farmer (1906)

Death: 23 September 1906 at Cottingham farm, Byrne, Richmond district, Natal, South Africa
William Johnson is recorded as a farmer, aged 84 years and 6 months. The cause of death is listed as gastric ulceration and senile decay

Grave of William Johnson
Gravestone of William Johnson in St Mary Magdalene cemetery, Richmond district, Natal
photograph from Gerald Buttigieg dated 21 September 2012 posted at eGGSA
Burial: 25 September 1906, in St Mary Magdalene cemetery, Richmond district, Natal, South Africa
The inscription reads:
In Loving Memory of
WILLIAM JOHNSON,
born 11th March 1822,
died 23rd Sept. 1906,
in his 85th year.

Sources:
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