John Martin Johnson, 1898-1962

Francis Collinson collected one song from “Dr Johnson, Smarden”. This would have been Dr John Johnson, who was born in Richmond, Yorkshire in 1898. His mother was Janetta Jane Johnson, née Ayres. His father, Jonathan, was listed in the 1901 census as a boot dealer, but in 1911 – although still at the same address, 20 New Road, Richmond – as a farmer.

John, by then a medical student, was shown as a visitor to the family home in the 1921 census. He married Sybil M Wetherell in Richmond in 1925, and they must have moved to Smarden at some point between then and 1934 – the Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser, 11^th May 1934 reports that Dr J Johnson was to be one of the two vice presidents of the newly established Smarden, Biddenden and Bethersden Nursing Association. Clearly he became involved in village life in other ways: the Kentish Express, 14^th April 1939, reported that he was re-elected as a church warden; while the Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser for 3^rd May 1935 noted that “John Clementson, as “Fergus Wimbush,” and J. Martin Johnson as “Mr. Priestly” were outstanding” when The Rooting Players, from Biddenden and Smarden, presented a dramatic piece titled The Man from Toronto.

The 1939 Register has John and Sybil living at “Appletree, Smarden”, presumably Apple Tree Cottage on Cage Lane, which is now a Grade II listed building. He died in the final quarter of 1962.

Songs

My Nan’s a Mazer (Roud 21895)