John Alfred William Watkins

John was born in 1885 in Newchurch in Rossendale and his baptism took place in Rossendale.¹ 

• Birth Notes

  Lancashire Birth indexes for the years: 1885
  WATKINS    John Alfred William    DRAINE    Newchurch    Preston    NEW/76/68

John's father was Alfred James Watkins and his mother was Sarah Ann Drain.  His paternal grandparents were <unknown> and Sarah Watkins; his maternal grandparents were John Draine and Winifred Astley. He had two brothers and four sisters, named Thomas, Robert, Sarah, Elizabeth, Rose and Bertha.  He was the oldest of the seven children.