TOPIC:

My great grandfather, Edwin Joseph Johnson, does not seem to appear in the 1901 census. Someone of that name served in Ashburner's Light Horse during 1901, but he is listed as South African. Is this reliable? How can I research further? Any help appreciated. Thanks.

Hello Keith,

Attached is the single page "Record of Service" of Edwin Johnson who served in Ashburner's Light Horse.

It shows he attested in Port Elizabeth aged 36 years on 6th March 1901 (probably why he is not on the 1901 census) and again later in Kimberley . He was a married boatman living in PE at the time and it appears with his wife Katie and sister.

He only served for 6 months or so and was discharged in PE September 1901

Perhaps he is the same man??





Regards
Adrian

Thank you. None of the details seem to fit unfortunately. I'll have to find another reason why he's not on the census!

Any idea when and where he was born ?

He was born 25 Jan 1867 in Wolstanton, Staffordshire. His wife died in 1894 which might have made sense of him joining the forces. He remarried back in England in 1905.

I don't think your Great Grand Dad was in SA at all.

The attachments below seems to fit in respect of his birth place and his marriage dates

It also appears that he was a boarder with the Dean family at the time of the 1901 census and perhaps that is why you could not find him..