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| Name | JOHNSTON / JOHNSTONE – William |
|---|---|
| Regiment (s) | 28th Regiment |
| Regiment Number (s) | 997 |
| Date/Age/Place/Trade or Profession at Attestation | 6th July 1833 / 18 years 2 months / Bow Street Middlesex England Labourer |
| Description – Height Complexion/Eyes/Hair/Scars | 5 Ft 8 in Fresh / Hazel / Dark Brown / Pock pitted |
| Overseas Service/Duration | New South Wales – 6 years East Indies – 6 years |
| Length of Service | 21 years 105 days |
| Rank/Date/Place of Discharge | Private / 19th March 1855 / Parkhurst Isle of Wight England |
| Campaign Medals | None |
| Intended Residence at Discharge | Aberdeen Scotland |
| Pension Districts | 1855 Aberdeen 1859 2nd Plymouth 1859-1885 Western Australia |
| Pension Paid | 1/0d per diem |
| Date of Departure and Place England or Ireland | 26th May 1859 Plymouth Devon England |
| Ship and Date of Arrival Western Australia | SULTANA 19th August 1859 |
| Date/Place of Birth | May 1815 Stokenchurch Oxfordshire England |
| Date/Place of Baptism | Not yet known |
| Father Date/Place of Birth | JOHNSTONE Joseph |
| Mother Date/Place of Birth Marriage | Not yet known |
| Siblings | Not yet known |
| 1st Wife Date of Birth or Baptism | REINFORD Ruth 1819 Devonport Devonshire England |
| Date/Place of Marriage | 30th October 1849 Stoke Demerel Devon |
| Children by 1st Wife | Thomas B 1838 Plymouth Devonshire England D Not yet known |
| Father of 1st wife Date/Place of Birth | REINFORD William |
| Mother of 1st wife Date/Place of Birth Marriage | Not yet known |
| Land Grants Western Australia | None |
| Occupation after Arrival | Not Yet Known |
| Newspaper Articles | Inquirer & Commercial News 10 July 1867 page 3 The Perth Gazette & Independent Times Friday 12th July 1867 page 3 The Herald Saturday 13th July 1867 page 3 |
| Departure from Western Australia | Not applicable |
| Date/Place of Death/Burial | January 1885 Perth Western Australia 6th January 1885 Church of England Section East Perth Cemeteries Western Australia |
| Date/Place of Death/Burial Wife | 23rd January 1872 Perth Western Australia East Perth Cemeteries Western Australia |
| Will or Probate | None known |
| Further Information | British Army Worldwide Index 1841 William Johnston 997 Private 28th Foot location Sydney 1851 William Johnston 997 Private 28th Foot location Manchester Discharge due to having completed 21 years’ service and about to be transferred to the Aberdeen Militia. In the 1851 Census William Johnston a soldier serving with the 28th Regiment is living in the Salford Barracks with his wife Ruth aged 32 born Devonport Devon and their son Thomas age 13 born Plymouth Devon. 4th July 1867 William Johnson was charged with the murder of Sultana crewmate EPG Andrew Alcock at Fremantle on the 7th May 1867. Andrew had been living with William and his wife at North Fremantle when for an unknown reason Johnson shot him in the back, prior to the shooting they had mostly been on friendly terms. At the trial it was thought it may have been when he was cleaning his gun but that theory was discounted. Freely admitting his guilt the Jury gave a verdict of not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. Sentenced to 6 years penal servitude. William Johnson found guilty of the manslaughter of Andrew ALCOCK at Fremantle on the 7th May 1867. Subsequent to the conviction of her husband Mrs Johnston applied to the resident Magistrate at Fremantle for relief, the RM wrote to the Colonial Secretary suggesting 8d per day might be a reasonable allowance, however he was advised to supply her with rations only as she was in danger of starvation and on no account was he to issue her with money. |