Ralph Botoler Johnson

Shipping master in Quebec, Canada. Son of Godschall Johnson senior (1745-1800) and his first wife Elizabeth neé Hodges. He claimed unsuccessfully for compensation for Holly & Savannah estates in Antigua as an annuitant of his father.

1. Born 15/02/1785, the third son of Godschall and Elizabeth Johnson (neé Hodges). Emigrated to Canada in 1837 with his nephew Francis Godschall Johnson.

2. In Montreal in the census of 1851, Major Johnson age 56 [sic], born England, and his wife Mrs Johnson age 23, Church of England, born Canada, living with Ralph's nephew Francis Johnson. In the 1861 census he was in Magog, Quebec, "Shipping Master", age 73, with Sarah J. Johnson his wife, born Upper Canada, age 33, living with Sarah's sister Maria Cass and John C. Harriet [Heriot]. In 1871 he was again in Magog, "Major R. B. Johnson", age 84, with his wife Sarah Jane age 43, the now widowed John Heriot and his three sons.

3. Quebec City Directories give his work address as Camplain Street, Lower Town from 1861 to 1863 and as Cul de Sac Street, Lower Town, from 1865 to 1870. His home address is given as 12 Mount Carmel Street, Upper Town, from 1861 to 1869. He was recorded as Major Ralph B. Johnson, shipping master, Old Custom house, Cul-de-Sac Street, Champlain ward and at 12 Mount Carmel Street, Cape, St Lewis ward, in the Quebec and Levis Directory for 1871-1872.

4. Burial register for Georgeville, Quebec Church of England: "Ralph Botler Johnson, late Shipping Master at Quebec and up to the date of his death half-pay Paymaster of Her Majesty's 45th Reg't died on the 14th and was buried on the 16th day of February 1872 by me F. A. Smith. Present Charles D[ewey] Day, William Blaylock". His memorial inscription reads: "Johnson, Ralph Bouthellier, d. 14 Feb 1872, age: 86yrs, Captain in her Majesty's 16th Lancers and Major in the staff of his uncle Gerard Gordon of the Channel Islands".

T71/877 Antigua claim no. 387 (Holly & Savannah).

1. http://www.geocities.ws/lordrichardcholmondeley/godschall.htm [accessed 28/08/2013].

2. 1851, 1861, 1871 censuses of Canada online.

3. Quebec City Directories 1861-1862 p. 178, 1863 p. 170, 1865-1866 p. 192, 1866-1867 p. 360, 1868-1869 pp. 166 and 362, 1869-1870 p. 374. Quebec and Levis Directory, 1871-1872 p. 205.

4. Ancestry.com, Quebec, Vital and Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1621-1967 [database online]. Email from Jean F. Milne, 27/02/2014.

We are grateful to Jean F. Milne for her assistance in compiling this entry.