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Having apparently a Johnson great grandfather who was a Brush Manufacturer [Robert Edwin Johnson probably born around 1850, possibly in Lancashire], I was wondering whether anyone had been able to identify any family links to Joseph Johnson, the 19th Century radical agitator who became a Brush Manufacturer in later life? Joseph Johnson was born in Manchester in 1791. Although he became a fairly successful brush manufacturer he also developed radical political ideas. A strong supporter of universal suffrage and annual parliaments, Johnson helped to start the radical newspaper, the Manchester Observer. He also helped arrange the meeting that took place at St. Peter's Field, Manchester on 16th August 1819 and that led to the 'Peterloo Massacre'. Found guilty of "assembling with unlawful banners at an unlawful meeting for the purpose of inciting discontent", he was sentenced to one year's in Lincoln Prison. While Johnson was in prison his young wife became ill and died. Imprisonment and the death of his wife broke Johnson's spirit and he ceased to play an active part in politics after he was released from prison in March 1821. Joseph Johnson died in 1872. [Like as not though he subsequently started another family].