Here we have Jason Johnson who served alongside Robert Laxon on the Medical Fund Committee from 1853-1859.
Jason was a homegrown railway man, and in the early days there weren’t too many of them around.
Jason was born in nearby Baydon in 1819. Jason married Emma Adams in 1846 and by 1851 they were among the early residents to move into Taunton Street. According to the 1851 census returns Emma was 21, which would have made her just 17 when they married. You have to be a bit flexible when reading census returns – until civil registration was introduced in 1837 people were not always certain of their birthdate, and of course people told fibs for all manner of reasons. A wife older than her husband might shave off a few years. A child born out of wedlock might have a year added to their age and a boy out at work might also add a year to qualify for a higher rate of pay.
Jason’s job ‘Inside,’ which was the local term for the railway works, was that of blacksmith.
In 1861 the couple lived at 30 Taunton Street with their six children. Ten years later and they had moved to 27 Gloucester Street. During the intervening 10 years Emma had five more babies with one last one born in 1874.
The boys all went into the Works; Arthur and Alfred worked as blacksmiths; John and Daniel as coach body makers while Thomas worked as a railway clerk.
Jason died at his home 19 Gloucester Street on December 2, 1891 and left effects to the value of £404.
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