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.