2.3.5.7. Joseph Johnston (1896-1956)

Joseph Johnston was born on 26 August 1896 in Orchardhead, Blantyre, Scotland, to John and Margaret (Dickie) Johnston. Joseph's father was a coal miner. In 1901 the family remained in Blantyre parish as they did in 1911 when Joseph was 15 years old. At that time he worked as a pit head worker and lived with his parents at 54 Watson Street.

On 31 October 1919 he married Ellen Forsyth, who was known as Helen, at her parents' home on 47 Clarence Street in Glasgow according to the forms of the United Free Church of Scotland. Joseph was 23 years old, worked as a coal miner and lived at 191 Main Street in Blantyre. They had at least one son.

In 1925 Joseph and Ellen lived at Joseph's home on 191 Main Street for which he paid 12 pounds, 15 shillings in annual rent and he worked as a miner.

Ellen initiated a divorce action against Joseph that was final on 17 June 1949. She married again later that same year. At the time of their divorce Joseph lived at 100 Cooper Street in the Towhead area of Glasgow.

On 24 June 1956 Joseph Johnston died of a skull fracture and multiple bodily injuries at the Victoria Infirmary in Glasgow. He was 59 years old and had previously worked as a laborer in a cleansing department. Before his death his usual residence was Gartloch Hospital in Glasgow. Gartloch was a National Health Service mental hospital.

Gartloch Hospital; photograph courtesy of Wikipedia

I have some questions about Joseph. How did he come to be in Gartloch? Was it also why Ellen divorced him? How did he sustain the terrible injuries from which he died?

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"Gartloch Hospital," Wikipedia
1901 Scotland Census, Parish: Blantyre; ED: 3; Page: 37; Line: 6; Roll: CSSCT1901_245
1911 Scotland Census, 02/04/1911 Johnston, Joseph (Census 1911 624/00 003/00 031)
1925 Scotland Valuation Rolls, 1925 Johnston, Joseph (Valuation Rolls VR107 / 400 / 283)
Scotland, Statutory Registrations, 1855-2013, 1896 Johnston, Joseph (Statutory Births 624/00 0396)
Scotland, Statutory Registrations, 1855-2013, 1919 Johnston, Joseph - Forsyth, Helen (Statutory Marriages 644/17 0418)
Scotland, Statutory Registrations, 1855-2013, 1919 Johnston, Joseph - Forsyth, Helen (Statutory Marriages 644/17 0418) (RCE)
Scotland, Statutory Registrations, 1855-2013, 1956 Johnston, Joseph (Statutory Deaths 644/12 0760)
Scotland, Statutory Registrations, 1855-2013, 1956 Johnston, Joseph (Statutory Deaths 644/12 0760) (RCE)