Great Grandparents William Robert John Johnston and Ada Bradshaw

Ada Bradshaw( 1874-1938)

When Ada Bradshaw was born on July 2, 1874, in Alverstoke, Hampshire, England, her father, Thomas, was 35, and her mother, Eliza, was 39.  Her father died five years later and her poor mother then had a difficult life raising the children alone. In the 1881 census she is registered as living with her family at St Mary Extra, Hampshire, England. 

She married Andrew Scott and had one child, Richard Scott. Andrew was drowned at sea when his ship sank off the coast of Western Australia 9 May 1903. He was the ship's engineer. He was to return to Melbourne to collect her and take her with him to America on his next voyage. She then married William Robert John Johnston in 1907. They had two children during their marriage, although one was born before she could actually marry him because she could not be declared a widow until seven years had elapsed since her husband's death. These children were named William Archibald Scott born November 4, 1905,  and Phyllis Johnston (1907). She died on January 1, 1938, in Annandale, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, at the age of 63.

After her marriage with William Johnston broke down life was very difficult for Ada and she had to work hard to support her children.  The two boys lived with her and the daughter, Phyllis, was put into a convent.

William Robert John Johnston (1869-1919??)

When William Robert John Johnston was born on February 10, 1869, in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland, his father, John, was 61 and his mother, Christina, was 29. When he was 17 he emigrated to Australia (Melbourne) aboard the Loch Long. The journey took 120 days. There is a delightful account of the journey by Jane Snodgrass on The Ship's List. It is interesting because, on the ship's register, Mrs Snodgrass's name is directly below William's family's names, although she doesn't mention them in her account. He travelled with his widowed mother, Christina and his younger sisters. He married Ada Bradshaw on May 8, 1907 (Age 38) in Sydney (The Whitefields Congregational Church).  They had two children during their marriage. He died in 1919 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, at the age of 50. 

His occupation, listed on his marriage certificate, was listed as clerk.  He is also listed as a clerk on his insolvency notices in the newspaper, the New South Wales, Australia, Government Gazettes, 1853_1899, March-April 1891 also in the February issue of the same year.  He came from a publishing family. 

He had been married three times, previously married to Catherine Kenny (1891; aged 22, Sydney)  and to Muriel G Ricetrevor (1897).  He is listed as a clerk and she governess.  She was only 22.

We know that his death was before July 16, 1931 (Age 62) Source: Death Certificate - Johnston - Christina Carmichael.

Far left and middle; Ada Bradshaw.  Right; William Johnston

Although he declared bankruptcy in 1891 he may have been affected by the banking crisis of 1893, and there was a major economic depression in Australia caused by a drop in the wool price.

Above; passenger list for the Loch Long 1886/87 listing William and his family