Alice Insker was born in Castle Heaton, Durham, in 1845 and was the daughter of Charles Ainscough (1818) and Charlotte Derbyshire. In 1851 she was living with her widowed mother in Langley Green, Oldbury. In 1861 she was living with her mother in the household of Samuel Sneed or Smeeth in Sycamore Lane, Oldbury, and working as a brickyard labourer.

Sources
• 1. 1851 Census. Langley Green, Oldbury. Alice Insker. Daughter. Age 6. Scholar. Born Durham, Castle Heaton. • 2. 1861 Census. Sycamore Lane, Oldbury. Alice Insker. Daughter. Age 16. Bk Yd Lab. Born Castle Eaton.