I'm not connected to these family lines and only know them through the records. I'm also aware of the brick walls you have hit when it comes to Bessie May JOHNSON. If I'm reading the records correctly her son, Norman Leslie JOHNSON, died in Ballarat in 1968 aged 46 years.

And if I'm correct Bessie had at least two more children you may not know about. There was Alfred JOHNSON that died in Carlton in 1920 when a few days old. The mother was named as Bessie May JOHNSON, father unknown.

There was also Edward Alfred JOHNSON born 1920 in Fitzroy. Mother named as Bessie May JOHNSON, father unknown.

There were a few Bessie JOHNSONs married after 1920 but none with the second name of May, so it's a bit hard trying to find out if Bessie married. I have been through the death records but found nothing, so she may have died outside the range of the death records currently available to me. She was born in 1903 and may have lived into the 1990s.

It may also be possible Phoebe JOHNSON had a few more children. There was the death of an unnamed female JOHNSON recorded in Castlemaine in 1899. The mother was named Phoebe JOHNSON, father unknown.

And there was the birth of George JOHNSON in Ballarat East in 1913. Mother named as Phoebe JOHNSON, father unknown. There is one strange thing about this birth ... it was registered under the surname of EVELYN ADA, but the father was unknown. One small clue for you to follow regarding the father of Phoebe's other children.

Phoebe's other three children were all born in Ballarat East, the last being Alfred James JOHNSON born in 1903. The birth place and year of birth for George seems to fit it well. More so when the mother was Phoebe JOHNSON and father unknown.

These are just a few details I have picked up in the Victorian records and needs to be confirmed. If I find any further on your Bessie will let you.

Other members may be able to assist you further as my skills are very limited. There are other records that can be searched, but finding the right Bessie will be the challenge.

I found this interesting Electoral Roll entry for Phoebe

Name: Phoebe Shuttleworth
Gender: Female
Electoral Year: 1931
State: Victoria
District: Ballaarat
Subdistrict: Soldiers Hill

address - 68 Nicholson Street Ballarat
occupation - weaver

in 1924 Bessie May Johnson lived at 68 Nicholson and in 1931 Phoebe is now living at the address - I can't find any further entries for Bessie - but perhaps she is married and under a different surname.

In 1936 Phoebe is still at 68 Nicholson and in 1937 she is joined by son George Shuttleworth - occupation miner.

Phoebe SHUTTLEWORTH died in Carlton, Victoria, in 1942 at the young age of 61 years. She was born in Ballarat in 1880 to parents George JOHNSON and Drucilla MARTIN.

And it looks like the George JOHNSON born in Ballarat East in 1913 was Phoebe's son, and he was now going by the name of SHUTTLEWORTH.

Maybe the Thomas SHUTTLEWORTH Phoebe married in 1915 was the father of all her children. Lots of couples had a family first, and then got married ... even in those days.

At least we now know Bessie was living in Ballarat in 1924. She'll turn up again, sooner or later.

Thank you so much for your time and research tonkin and asheppard. That has shed a little more light but creates more interest and intrigue...
Tonkin - you are absolutely spot on with the information you have uncovered. I look forward to hearing any further news of Bessie as her borther Alfred James JOHNSON (b.1907) was my great grandfather. How sad though if Bessie did in fact live into the 1990's without ever knowing any of us.
More questions now - Were Bessie's three births in 1920 triplets of different dates? Where did the remaining son (Edward Alfred JOHNSON) go? How interesting!!

If in fact Thomas SHUTTLEWORTH is the father of Alfred James JOHNSON this would make my maidern name SHUTTLEWORTH not JOHNSON - What a merry-go-round...

Thank you becdean much appreciated.

No, Bessie did not have triplets and they were different dates.

I do have your Edward Alfred JOHNSON and Bessie May JOHNSON on my 'seek and find list' and will certainly let you know if I find any further information on them. It all takes time.

There are still a number of records that can be searched and I'm sure if any members can assist you with your family research they will.

Lets see if we can find your Bessie and Edward for you.

Just having a look at the WW2 Service Records and thought this may be of interest to you.

Service Record

Name: Norman Leslie JOHNSON

Service: Australian Army

Service Number: VX45721

Date of Birth: 12 February 1920

Place of Birth: Ballarat, Victoria

Date of Enlistment: 09 July 1940

Place of Enlistment: Caulfield, Victoria

Next of Kin: SHUTTLEWORTH, P

Date of Discharge: 02 November 1945

Rank: Private

Posting at Discharge: 2/6 Australian Infantry Battalion


Service records are easily obtained and cost about $25.00 including postage. I'm slowly obtaining all the service records for my main family lines for WW1 and WW2. Some of the records contain photos, some do not. I have some records containing up to 50 pages.

To visit the site just Google WW2. It's a very simple site to use and you will soon work it out.

That is absolutely of interest to me Tonkin - thanks for that i'll follow that up :)

hi, interesting info. I am looking for information about Tom Shuttleworth, father of George Shuttleworth who is my husband's (Robert Shuttleworth)'s father. As far as we know Tom Shuttleworth was the father only to George Shuttleworth born in 1913 and died in 1996. cheers Ei

You may have the correct Thomas here Ei - The Phoebe and Thomas Shuttleworth in my family only had the one son with the surname SHUTTLEWORTH the remainder of their children (possibly fathered by someone else) were under Pheobe's maidern name of JOHNSON. Pheobe had a total of 5 children. I fit into this family as Phoebe's g.g. grand daughter.
To make sure we have the same George SHUTTLEWORTH the one in our family married a Dorthy HARRIET (1919-1996) does this fit with your research? If we are one and the same i'd be more than happy to pass on further information to you