John was born in Gateshead in 1860, the son of Arthur and Sarah Brown. He married Jane Elizabeth Smith in Lichfield in 1886, and they couple were living in Wolverhampton by 1891 with their two daughters, Elsie Jane and Florence Mary. They were at 11 St Jude’s Road by 1901, with two further children, John Henry and Gertrude Hilda. John was working as a joiner and carpenter. By 1911, they were living at 34 St Jude’s Road West.

Presumably because of his age, John does not appear to have done any military service during the First World War. However, his name does appear on the list of men who served Wolverhampton Borough Council as special constables during this period. John died in Wolverhampton in 1932.