Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1804-1897 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
0.30 linear metres (261 documents).
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Charles Johnston was born in Tottenham in 1801, being the third son of William Johnston who prospered on the Stock Exchange. In 1827 Charles married Caroline Roebuck of Cheltenham by whom he had four children. By 1836 Charles was established in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, and was trustee of various parish charities. The family moved to Hyde Park and, in 1856, to Southland House in Godstone, Surrey. Charles did not appear to have his father's success in business. He became involved in the formation of joint-stock companies, holding the position of chairman in both a chartered banking company with branches in Australia, and a gold mining company in South America. As the correspondence reveals, the companies did not prosper and there was general dissatisfaction from shareholders and directors alike.
Whether the pressures of business affected Charles Johnston's mind is not known but, by 1863 he was insane and as such placed in Dr Harrington Tuke's asylum at The Manor House, Chiswick. In one of his lucid moments Charles wrote to his elder daughter, Harriet describing his life at Chiswick where he was, apparently, very happy (ACC/1292/040). He died in 1865 and his affairs were wound up by his surviving son, William Archibald, and his solicitors.
Edmund Johnston was the second son of William and Sarah Johnston and elder brother to Charles Johnston. Under the terms of his father's will, in 1836, Edmund received property in Holborn and was co-trustee of premises in St. Marylebone (see ACC/1292/003). He did not marry and lived with his widowed mother until her death in 1851 when she bequeathed him the household effects at "Beaulieu", Winchmore Hill, Edmonton. Here he resided until his own death in October 1864.
The estate was left in trust for the children of Charles Johnston and their heirs. Entries in Edmund's account books (ACC/1292/181-182) reveal his affection for his nephew and nieces, although he had little patience with his brother's disastrous business affairs. Nevertheless, he did contribute considerable sums of money to these ventures and also paid the costs of Charles's maintenance in Dr Tuke's asylum in Chiswick.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 ACC/1292 1804-1897 Collection 0.30 linear metres (261 documents). Johnston , Charles , 1801-1865 , businessman
Charles Johnston was born in Tottenham in 1801, being the third son of William Johnston who prospered on the Stock Exchange. In 1827 Charles married Caroline Roebuck of Cheltenham by whom he had four children. By 1836 Charles was established in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, and was trustee of various parish charities. The family moved to Hyde Park and, in 1856, to Southland House in Godstone, Surrey. Charles did not appear to have his father's success in business. He became involved in the formation of joint-stock companies, holding the position of chairman in both a chartered banking company with branches in Australia, and a gold mining company in South America. As the correspondence reveals, the companies did not prosper and there was general dissatisfaction from shareholders and directors alike.
Whether the pressures of business affected Charles Johnston's mind is not known but, by 1863 he was insane and as such placed in Dr Harrington Tuke's asylum at The Manor House, Chiswick. In one of his lucid moments Charles wrote to his elder daughter, Harriet describing his life at Chiswick where he was, apparently, very happy (ACC/1292/040). He died in 1865 and his affairs were wound up by his surviving son, William Archibald, and his solicitors.
Edmund Johnston was the second son of William and Sarah Johnston and elder brother to Charles Johnston. Under the terms of his father's will, in 1836, Edmund received property in Holborn and was co-trustee of premises in St. Marylebone (see ACC/1292/003). He did not marry and lived with his widowed mother until her death in 1851 when she bequeathed him the household effects at "Beaulieu", Winchmore Hill, Edmonton. Here he resided until his own death in October 1864.
The estate was left in trust for the children of Charles Johnston and their heirs. Entries in Edmund's account books (ACC/1292/181-182) reveal his affection for his nephew and nieces, although he had little patience with his brother's disastrous business affairs. Nevertheless, he did contribute considerable sums of money to these ventures and also paid the costs of Charles's maintenance in Dr Tuke's asylum in Chiswick.
Records deposited in October 1975.
Records of Charles Johnston, businessman, including property transactions, probates and administrations; papers relating to Johnston's marriage settlement; correspondence; financial accounts; sales catalogues; papers relating to charities in Cheshunt; papers regarding Johnston's insanity and his financial affairs; letters to Johnston in his capacity as the chairman of the English, Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank; papers of the New Granada Company including annual reports, prospectus, correspondence, shares and papers relating to liquidation.
Also papers of Edmund Johnston including property transactions, financial records and papers relating to his estate.
The documents were received in a metal deed box from a firm of solicitors. The collection has been arranged to reflect Charles Johnston's personal and business affairs. Original bundles of letters have been preserved and are noted as such in the list.
The documents were received in a metal deed box marked ""Executors of Edmund Johnston Esq."" The final item in this collection { ACC/1292/261} clearly belongs with the papers relating to the estate of Charles Johnston.
Available for general access.
Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.
English
Fit
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Records prepared May to September 2011. Title deeds Primary documents Personal papers Business records Archives Personal archives Information sources Documents Charity records People People by roles Property owners Property Property transfer Bequests Psychiatry Psychopathology Mental diseases Insanity Deeds Wills Property ownership Civil law Right to property Property law New Granada Company Ltd English , Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank Cheshunt Hertfordshire England UK Western Europe Europe Legal systems Civil and political rights Human rights Law
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Records deposited in October 1975.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of Charles Johnston, businessman, including property transactions, probates and administrations; papers relating to Johnston's marriage settlement; correspondence; financial accounts; sales catalogues; papers relating to charities in Cheshunt; papers regarding Johnston's insanity and his financial affairs; letters to Johnston in his capacity as the chairman of the English, Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank; papers of the New Granada Company including annual reports, prospectus, correspondence, shares and papers relating to liquidation.
Also papers of Edmund Johnston including property transactions, financial records and papers relating to his estate.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
The documents were received in a metal deed box from a firm of solicitors. The collection has been arranged to reflect Charles Johnston's personal and business affairs. Original bundles of letters have been preserved and are noted as such in the list.
The documents were received in a metal deed box marked ""Executors of Edmund Johnston Esq."" The final item in this collection { ACC/1292/261} clearly belongs with the papers relating to the estate of Charles Johnston.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Available for general access.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English