Thomas Andrew Johnston

Other Events:

• _UID: 6D2DBC4D9B54480E9565E50E8FBD8BEE9A58

Other Events:

• Education: Middlemarch, Otago, New Zealand
• _UID: 3522772925784922A86FA10F6159C463A7A9
• Occupation: 1902; bacon curer

Notes:

5925 WA Johnston served in South Africa with the 8th NZ Contingent, got dysentery, measles and pleurisy and had his health 'completely shattered'. There are many medical reports in his military service file in Archives NZ. He was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with clasps for South Africa 1902, Transvaal and Cape Colony. Enlisted 4 January 1902, returned 2 August 1902, 4 months served in Africa, mainly as Mess Sergeant in the Officers' Mess, 2 Regt 1 NZ Brigade. He contracted measles, pleurisy and bronchitis on the ship home (HMT Britannic). However, he was declared healthy and fit for work 18 February 1903
He served as a stoker in the Royal Navy (NZ Division) from June 1904 to January 1906; he was discharged from HMS Pyramus as an invalid in Sydney on 8 Jan 1906 . He was also an Instructor Sergeant on the NZ Defence Force during WWI from 1915 - 1919 (serving in NZ).
When he enlisted in 1902 his occupation was bacon curer; he is also variously a carpenter's improver, a tram conductor, a railways surface man and a dredge hand.

William married Mary Ann Thompson on 26 Jun 1907 in St Augustine Church, Petone, New Zealand. Mary (daughter of James Thompson and Elizabeth Taylor Toms) was born on 24 Apr 1878 in Clive, Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealnd; died on 19 Aug 1958 in Wanganui, New Zealand; was buried on 21 Aug 1958 in Aramoho Cemetery, Wanganui, New Zealnd. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: C7ABE341AFAF42DC9F492DC99017A548843E

Other Events:

• _UID: 5ABA461D55314C2299C4A9264EB39E386EB1
• Occupation: 30 Apr 1875; Carrier

Notes:

Thomas Johnston went from Tasmania to NZ in 1864

For ten years Tom was a Bullocky, driving bullock teams carting from Outram to central Otago. This he did for ten years and then moved on to Cottesbrook, Mt. Stoker, out to Three O'Clock and on to Barewood Stations in Strath Taieri.
Becoming one of the first landowners at Arden, in 1889. (Arden was later incorporated into Middlemarch).
In the front rooms of his house he opened a general store and butchery

Thomas married Jane Melville Aitken on 30 Apr 1875 in West Taieri, Otago, New Zealand. Jane (daughter of William Aitken and Jessie Melville Threadgold) was born on 26 Oct 1853 in 258 Canongate, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland; died on 14 Oct 1929 in Featherston, New Zealand. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Occupation: Mid Wife
• _UID: D321F90F1DB440D5A0D2C282472846D4215D
• Emigration: 8 Jan 1858, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland

Notes:

William, Jessie, Jane and William junior departed from Leith, for NZ, on board the "Strathallen", in 1857.
The ship left Leith on the 4 Oct 1857 arriving at Port Chalmers, Otago, 8 Jan 1858 after a voyage of 96 days. Even after that long journey they still had to wait four days before they could get ashore.

Jane was a Midwife. The Johnston Journal says "the Strath Taieri District had reason to be very grateful to Jane Johnston for the excellent work as a midwife that she did for many years."

Emigration:
?b?Emigrated to Dunedin, New Zealand?/b?

Other Events:

• _UID: 2B8979699C4441528E94636950F2FD20565D

James married Elizabeth Taylor Toms. Elizabeth and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 2A87FF92229F4A50A21F7CB84E56F5709B03

Other Events:

• _UID: 7FB2F0012B2943CBB2216B1E325E943034DC
• Occupation: 27 Mar 1851, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland; Carpenter & Joiner
• Emigration: 4 Oct 1857, Leith, Midlothian, Scotland
• Immigration: 8 Jan 1858, Otago, New Zealand

Notes:

William, Jessie, Jane and William junior departed from Leith, for NZ, on board the "Strathallen", in 1857.
The ship left Leith on the 4 Oct 1857 arriving at Port Chalmers, Otago, 8 Jan 1858 after a voyage of 96 days. Even after that long journey they still had to wait four days before they could get ashore.
By the time the family arrived in NZ there had been an addition to the family, Johan Todd Strathallen Aitken. The boy was named after the master of the ship and the ship itself.
This is rather surprising given the report of the captain's conduct. An extract from the "Otago Witness" of Saturday January 16th, 1858, reads;
"We have to welcome the immigrants by the Strathallen which arrived in this port on Friday last, bringing 289 passengers.
She left Leith on Sunday 4th of October, and had a fine passage of 79 days from land to land, and landed her passengers on the 100th day from leaving the Leith docks. The voyage was, we understand, a very agreeable one. We have to regret the death of one adult and several children, the latter being chiefly infants born on the voyage. The ship was plentifully and well found, and the passengers were much indebted to Mr Greene, the chief officer, to whose hands the management of the ship chiefly devolved for his considerate attention. We regret to hear that the conduct of the Captain was not such as could be desired, but any definicies (sic) on his part were fully made up by the conduct of his subordinates. It is satisfactory to know that the conduct of Mr Greene, the chief officer, has met with its due reward, that gentleman having conceded to the command of the vessel, the captain having resigned his charge."
In an extract from "NZ Shipwrecks and Tragedies";
"When the Strathallen arrived in Otago in 1858, after a voyage on which her master, Captain John Todd, spent most of his time rip-roaring drunk, the whole crew struck and was imprisoned for its common sense."
On the same ship travelled Thomas Aitken, William's cousin
William lived in Mosgiel and later Outram, Otago, where he was involved in the building trade. In 1879 he built a school at Taieri Ferry on the Taieri Plain. The school was established on the condition that the settler's children and the local Maori children are allowed to be educated together. This was the only school on the plain where this was permitted. It remained this way until its closure in 1925.

William married Jessie Melville Threadgold on 27 Mar 1851 in 256 Canongate, Edinburgh, Scotland. Jessie (daughter of John Threadgold and Jane Melville) was born on 15 Feb 1832 in Inverkeithing, Fife, Scotland; died on 24 Sep 1893 in Outram, Otago, New Zealand; was buried on 27 Sep 1893 in East Taieri Cemetery, Otago, New Zealand. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: F18FAC81F659483FBA273113DD6D11A5A8B0

Notes:

William, Jessie, Jane and William junior departed from Leith, for NZ, on board the "Strathallen", in 1857.
The ship left Leith on the 4 Oct 1857 arriving at Port Chalmers, Otago, 8 Jan 1858 after a voyage of 96 days. Even after that long journey they still had to wait four days before they could get ashore.
By the time the family arrived in NZ there had been an addition to the family, Johan Todd Strathallen Aitken. The boy was named after the master of the ship and the ship itself.
This is rather surprising given the report of the captain's conduct. An extract from the "Otago Witness" of Saturday January 16th, 1858, reads;
"We have to welcome the immigrants by the Strathallen which arrived in this port on Friday last, bringing 289 passengers.
She left Leith on Sunday 4th of October, and had a fine passage of 79 days from land to land, and landed her passengers on the 100th day from leaving the Leith docks. The voyage was, we understand, a very agreeable one. We have to regret the death of one adult and several children, the latter being chiefly infants born on the voyage. The ship was plentifully and well found, and the passengers were much indebted to Mr Greene, the chief officer, to whose hands the management of the ship chiefly devolved for his considerate attention. We regret to hear that the conduct of the Captain was not such as could be desired, but any definicies (sic) on his part were fully made up by the conduct of his subordinates. It is satisfactory to know that the conduct of Mr Greene, the chief officer, has met with its due reward, that gentleman having conceded to the command of the vessel, the captain having resigned his charge."
In an extract from "NZ Shipwrecks and Tragedies";
"When the Strathallen arrived in Otago in 1858, after a voyage on which her master, Captain John Todd, spent most of his time rip-roaring drunk, the whole crew struck and was imprisoned for its common sense."
On the same ship travelled Thomas Aitken, William's cousin

Following the death of Jessie there must have been some sort of autopsy held because it stated on her Death Certificate that it was "the verdict of the jury" that she died of Bright's disease of the kidney and heart failure.

(Medical):On her death certificate it said that it was "the verdict of the jury" that she died of Brights disease of the kidney and heart failure.

Notes:

Married:
Name: William Aitken
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 27 Mar 1851
Marriage Place: Edinburgh Parish,Edinburgh,Midlothian,Scotland
Spouse: Jessie Threadgold
FHL Film Number: 1066696

Name: Jessie Threadgold
Gender: Female
Marriage Date: 27 Mar 1851
Marriage Place: Edinburgh Parish,Edinburgh,Midlothian,Scotland
Father: John Threadgold
Spouse: William Aitken
FHL Film Number: 1066696