Trying to cover all avenues in my search for the father of my great-grandfather Joseph WATKINS born abt. 1868. Joseph is one of many children born to Esther Watkins out of wedlock.

Benjamin JOHNSON who was a widower when he married my 2nd great grandmother Esther WATKINS later in her life at the Register Office at Ross in 1884. At the time of marriage both were were listed at living at Ruardean.

On the marriage certificate Benjamin is listed as a Collier aged 35 and his father was James JOHNSON a Blacksmith.

I have obtained the following information from the 1891 Census but do not have the full details of the transcription.

Ruardean Petty Croft 1891

JOHNSON Benjamin Head 48
JOHNSON Hester Wife 52
WATKINS Edwin Stepson 20
WATKINS Oliver Stepson 14
JOHNSON Ernest Son 14
JOHNSON Elizabeth Dau 11

It is possible that this is Benjamin married to a Sarah in the 1881 census:

Benjamin JOHNSON Head M Male 32 Newent Gloucester England Coal Miner
Sarah JOHNSON Wife M Female 29 Ruardean Gloucester England
George JOHNSON Son Male 8 Ruardean Gloucester England Scholar
Elizabeth JOHNSON Daur Female 11 m Ruardean Gloucester England

Source Information:
Dwelling Turners Tump
Census Place Ruardean Gloucester England
Family History Library Film 1341623
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 2586 / 45
Page Number 8

All the dates of Benjamin's birth year conflict on the information above but as we know that often occurs. Any further information on Benjamin would be welcomed as it may give me a few clues of finding out who the father of Joseph Watkins is.

Thank You

1851
James Johnson abt 1815 Newent, Gloucestershire, England Head Linton Herefordshire
Ann Johnson abt 1818 Tibberton, Gloucestershire, England Wife Linton Herefordshire
Absalom Johnson abt 1836 Newent, Gloucestershire, England Son Linton Herefordshire
Benjamin Johnson abt 1847 Linton, Herefordshire, England Son Linton Herefordshire
Ellen Johnson abt 1849 Linton, Herefordshire, England Daughter Linton Herefordshire
Emma Johnson abt 1845 Newent, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Linton Herefordshire
George Johnson abt 1838 Newent, Gloucestershire, England Son Linton Herefordshire
Susan Johnson abt 1841 Newent, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Linton Herefordshire
William Johnson abt 1843 Newent, Gloucestershire, England Son Linton Herefordshire

1861
Ann Johnson abt 1820 Liberton, Gloucestershire, England Head On Wife Linton Herefordshire
Benjamin Johnson abt 1846 Linton, Herefordshire, England Son Linton Herefordshire
Eliza Johnson abt 1855 Linton, Herefordshire, England Daughter Linton Herefordshire
Emma Johnson abt 1844 Newent, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Linton Herefordshire
Mary Ann Johnson abt 1850 Linton, Herefordshire, England Daughter Linton Herefordshire
Sarah Jane Johnson abt 1859 Linton, Herefordshire, England Daughter Linton Herefordshire

1871
Benjamin Johnson abt 1849 Gorsley, Gloucestershire, England Servant Ruardean Herefordshire

1881
Benjamin Johnson abt 1849 Newent, Gloucestershire, England Head Turners Tump, Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England
Elizabeth Johnson abt 1880 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Turners Tump, Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England
George Johnson abt 1873 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Son Turners Tump, Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England
Sarah Johnson abt 1852 Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England Wife Turners Tump, Ruardean, Gloucestershire, England

1891
Johnson, Benjamin abt 1843 Linton, Gloucestershire, England Head Ruardean Gloucestershire
Johnson, Hester abt 1839 R Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife Ruardean Gloucestershire
Johnson, Elizabeth abt 1880 R Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Ruardean Gloucestershire
Johnson, Ernest abt 1877 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son Ruardean Gloucestershire
Johnson, George abt 1873 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son Ruardean Gloucestershire
Watkins, Edwin abt 1871 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Stepson Ruardean Gloucestershire
Watkins, Kinei abt 1876 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Stepson Ruardean Gloucestershire

1901 Pettycroft Ruardean
Johnson, Benjamin abt 1846 R Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head Ruardean Gloucestershire
Johnson, Hester abt 1838 R Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife Ruardean Gloucestershire
Johnson, Ernest abt 1879 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son Ruardean Gloucestershire

I have a copy of the Linton People CD which contains a transcript of the parish registers. This shows that Benjamin Johnson was baptised at Linton on 21 October 1846 the son of James & Anne Johnson. James was a Brickmaker.

there was a sarah johnson that married william hatton and they had a child called nancy

Do you know if Sarah Johnson was a a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Johnson?

Have you a date of the birth of Sarah Johnson and of her the marriage to William Hatton?

Can you give a date and place for this marriage please.
I have a fairly extensive database on HATTONs of Lydbrook and Ruardean but do not have this marriage.

Mike