Discovering my grandfather’s parents – Part 2
- Irish-Welsh Ancestry
- 15 minutes ago
- 3 min read
My grandfather was adopted as a child, and his parents' identity had been a mystery to me. After years of research and then a DNA test, I finally uncovered his parents’ identity and their ancestry. For a while I had believed his father to be William Johnson, my feeling had been correct, and the DNA test is what confirmed it.
William Johnson was born at ten minutes past eleven o'clock on the night of November 19th, 1904, at 40 Upper Mercer Street in Dublin, Ireland. The precise moment of his birth is recorded on his certificate, unusual, but explained by the fact he was one of a set of twins. His brother Frederick was born ten minutes earlier. Their parents were Caroline Kenny and Benjamin Johnson, both Irish Catholics. In addition to the twins, there were older brothers Edward and Benjamin, and younger siblings Charles, Bridget, and Caroline. Tragically, both Frederick and Bridget died in infancy.
The Johnson family lived at various addresses in Dublin, including Derby Square, Augier Street, York Street, Upper Stephen Street, and Little Ship Street, all clustered near Dublin Castle, the seat of English occupation in Ireland, and a military garrison. William's father, Benjamin, was recorded as a soldier in 1899, living at Ship Street Barracks in the castle's southwest corner.
After serving as a soldier, Benjamin Johnson had two further occupations, he was a stage assistant and a hairdresser. These seem to contrast to his life as a soldier, yet he would flit between these occupations throughout his life. Benjamin Johnson reenlisted at the outbreak of World War I, serving in France from July 1915 until August 1917, when he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. The following year, the RFC merged with the Royal Naval Air Service to form the Royal Air Force. Benjamin remained with the RAF until the war's end.
On November 29, 1918, just weeks after the Armistice, Benjamin was charged with being absent from the military. This period marked the end of constitutional hopes for Irish Home Rule and the beginning of the War of Independence. He was transferred to the RAF reserve and discharged in April 1920.
Two of Benjamin's sons also served in British forces. Edward briefly joined the RAF for just nine days before the war ended. His brother Benjamin joined the British Army in October 1921 at age 18, months after a ceasefire in the War of Independence. Exactly a year later, he enlisted in the Irish National Army as a Company Sergeant Major, serving in the Civil War against anti-treaty forces.
It was during the next decade that William Johnson left Ireland. He enlisted in the Irish Guards, one of the Foot Guard regiments of the British Army, and was stationed in London, where ceremonial duties likely occupied much of his time.
While serving in London, William met Martha Ann Davies, a young domestic servant from Wales. How they met is unknown, perhaps through friends, or by chance in the city. What is known is that their brief relationship changed everything. In 1931, Martha became pregnant and returned to Wales. In letters to her, William pleaded that she keep their child and not be influenced to terminate the pregnancy.
On November 3, 1931, Martha gave birth to a son, my grandfather, in Troedyrhiw, Wales. But as a single mother with no means, she made the agonising decision to give him up. He was adopted by a neighbouring mining family, who raised him as their own. He grew up knowing nothing of William Johnson.
William, meanwhile, continued his life. He married Myra Conroy ten years later and had more children. He never knew what became of his firstborn son. Those half-siblings grew up unaware of each other's existence.
On April 15, 1993, William Johnson died in Lambeth, London. He is buried at Mount Jerome Cemetery in Dublin, in the same plot as his mother, father, and brother Charles.
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