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Thomas Johnson, who was illegitimate, was born 19 April 1852 to Frances Johnson and William Astle. On birth certificate, no father is specified, but later on Thomas's marriage certificate to Sarah Rushton Reed in 1873, his father is given as William Astle. On Thomas's baptism record, 15 August 1852, his mother is given as Frances Johnson, while the father is given as Joseph Johnson (Frances's father), probably for propriety's sake. In 1861 and 1871 censuses, he was living with grandparents Joseph Johnson and Sarah Watson. Thomas Johnson and Sarah Rushton Reed apparently eloped and married at Breedon Church, Leicestershire on 9 June 1873. Both gave their residence as Worthington at the time of marriage.
Witnesses to the marriage were: Joseph Reed (brother of Sarah Rushton Reed) & Sarah (Johnson) Laban, his mother's youngest sister (b1848), who was later to marry the other witness, his new wife's brother Joseph Reed (b1852). On the marriage certificate Thomas wrote down that his father's name was William Astle. Their first child Kate was born less than 6 months later, so this may have been the reason for the elopement. In 1881 census, he and wife Sarah are living in Tibshelf, where they lived the rest of their lives. They most likely moved there 1874/1875. Their first child Kate was born in Coleorton, Leicestershire at the end of 1873, while their second child Fanny, presumably named after his mother Frances, was born in Tibshelf in 1875.
In 1891, 1901 and 1911 censuses they are living in Tibshelf, a total of 13 children have been born, of which 5 had died before the 1911 census. Thomas Johnson died aged 88 on 2 June 1940, and is buried in Tibshelf, Derbyshire.
At the time of his death he was living with son Robert Johnson (1893-1985), while his granddaughter Emily (G.E. Patilla) was present at his death. |