Most of my stories so far in the 52 week challenge have been about deaths. In order to bring some form of balance to my ancestral past, this week will be slightly different. It is about James Johnson, a surgeon, an eccentric and a publisher of a treatise on poisons and antidotes who has a connection to cattle thieves !
James was another of my 2 x great grandfathers on my adopted father's side of the tree. He was born near Covent Garden in 1811. I don't know anything about his childhood, even whether he had any brothers or sisters. He must have studied at university or college as, by the time of the 1841 census, he was a qualified surgeon. I don't think a 'surgeon' in those days had quite the same expertise as they do now, but he was probably adept at using the drill and saw when called upon - the contents of a 19th century surgeons briefcase can be seen on the left.
I am grateful to an uncle of mine who wrote an unpublished autobiography, entitled "A Load of Codswallop", as he shed some light on James's personality when he said that "he had a number of hobbies and pursuits which, at that time, probably branded him as eccentric. He drew and painted reasonably competently and had a number of professional artists as friends. He dabbled in horology and electricity." Not sure how you were able to dabble in electricity in the middle of the 19th century without doing yourself a mischief, but he did !
In June 1841, 30 year old James married a minor, 19 year old Charlotte, in Chelsea, London. Their first child was born nearly a year later and they went on to have at least five children - all girls.
My uncle's writings say that James also read for the bar and although he was wealthy enough not to have to practice as either a surgeon or a barrister, he kept up with medical developments and contributed to various medical journals. Apparently he even published a treatise on poisons and antidotes, although I haven't been able to trace this myself.
I am grateful to an uncle of mine who wrote an unpublished autobiography, entitled "A Load of Codswallop", as he shed some light on James's personality when he said that "he had a number of hobbies and pursuits which, at that time, probably branded him as eccentric. He drew and painted reasonably competently and had a number of professional artists as friends. He dabbled in horology and electricity." Not sure how you were able to dabble in electricity in the middle of the 19th century without doing yourself a mischief, but he did !
In June 1841, 30 year old James married a minor, 19 year old Charlotte, in Chelsea, London. Their first child was born nearly a year later and they went on to have at least five children - all girls.
My uncle's writings say that James also read for the bar and although he was wealthy enough not to have to practice as either a surgeon or a barrister, he kept up with medical developments and contributed to various medical journals. Apparently he even published a treatise on poisons and antidotes, although I haven't been able to trace this myself.
Why the connection to cattle thieves ? Well, I inherited some fish knives and forks with a crest on them (see left) and have discovered that this is the crest of Clan Johnson (see right). This Clan were border raiders and pretty much stole cattle from land owners on both sides of the England / Scotland border. They were apparently excellent horsemen who dressed in metal helmets, reinforced leather jackets and high riding boots. They carried a long lance, a cutting sword, and a set of pistols. |
The last census James appears on was 1871 when his occupation was described as “Member of Royal College of Surgeons, England. Licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries, retired from practice”. He must have died sometime before the 1881 census as by then Charlotte, now 59, is described as a widow. Despite searching for evidence of his death, I have yet to find his death certificate, his burial or any sign of a Will ..... which is strange.
It was after his death that electricity turned from being a scientific curiosity into an essential tool which enabled the industrial revolution to take place, so I am intrigued as to what dabbling my 2 x great grandfather may have been involved in !
It was after his death that electricity turned from being a scientific curiosity into an essential tool which enabled the industrial revolution to take place, so I am intrigued as to what dabbling my 2 x great grandfather may have been involved in !