John Waite was born on 22nd January 1860 at 17 Rome Street, Manchester and was the son of Mary Ann Bellingall (1828) and an unknown father. He was illegitimate, Mary's husband Benjamin Waite having died before John was born. In 1871 he was aged 11 and was living at 5 Kelly's Buildings in the New Cross district of Manchester. In 1881 he was aged 21, was working as a boiler maker and was living with his mother at Kelly's Buildings. He was still living at Kelly's Buildings when his mother died in 1885. He married Mary Sykes, the daughter of Jane Sykes, in Manchester in 1885. In 1891, John and wife Mary were living at 50 Addington Street in Manchester. Mary died in 1895. A widower, he married Alice Boland on 20th March 1897 at Chorlton Register Office. He was then living at 52 Hyde Road in Gorton and was described as a boiler maker. It is possible that he worked for a Gorton locomotive engineering firm called Beyer Peacock, or possibly at Galloways Boiler Works, just round the corner from Bennett Street, where daughter Alice was born. In 1901 he was aged 41, was working as a boiler maker and was living at 18 Samuel Street, Gorton. He moved to 13 Leicester Street (now Leicester Avenue) in Horwich around 1904 and was living there in 1911, working as a riveter. He died of senility in Townley's Hospital, Farnworth, on 30th May 1934.

Sources
• 1. 1881 Census. 5 Kelly's Buildings, Manchester. John Waite. Son. Age 21. Boiler Maker. Born Manchester. • 2. 1901 Census. 18 Samuel Street, Gorton. John Waite. Head. Age 41. Boiler Maker. Born Manchester. • 3. Marriage Certificate. Married 20th March 1897 at Chorlton Register Office. John Waite. Widower. Age 37. Boiler Maker. 52 Hyde Road, Gorton, Manchester. Father: Benjamin Waite (deceased) [sic], Tailor & Draper. Alice Boland. Spinster. Age 34 [sic]. 23 Hervey Road, Gorton. Father: Thomas Boland (deceased), Bricklayer. • 4. Birth Certificate. John Waite. Born 22nd January 1860 at 17 Rome Street, Manchester. No father. Mother: Mary Ann Waite, 17 Rome Street. Registered 3rd March 1860. • 5. Death Certificate. Mary Ann Waite. Died 18th January 1885, 5 Kelly's Buildings, M.S.D. Age 58. Widow of Benjamin Waite, Draper. Cause of death: Morbis cordis. certified by G.A. Bolton, M.B. Informant: J. Waite, Son, present at the death, 5 Kelly's Buildings. Registered 19th January 1885, E. Watkin. • 6. 1871 Census. 5 Kelly's Buildings, New Cross, Manchester. John Waite. Son. Age 11. Scholar. Born Manchester. • 7. 1891 Census. 50 Addington Street, Manchester. John Waite. Head. Age 31. Boiler Maker. Born Manchester. • 8. Marriage Registers. Waite, John & Sykes, Mary. Mar 1885. 8d. 207. Manchester. • 9. Parish Church of St. Barnabas, Manchester. No. 12. March 1 1885. John Waite, 25, Bachelor, Boiler Maker, Kelly’s Buildings. Father: Benjamin Waite, Draper. Mary Sykes, 23, Spinster, Mellon Street. Father: John Sykes, Baker. Married: Thomas Bellamy. Witnesses: David Stretch, Lilly Stretch. • 10. Death Registers. Waite, John. Jun. 1934. 8c. 317. Bolton. • 11. Death Certificate. Bolton. 1934. Sub-district Farnworth. 181. Thirtieth May 1934, Townleys Hospital, Farnworth U.D. John Waite, Male, 74 years, of 13 Leicester Avenue, Horwich U.D Formerly a Boilermaker. Cause: I. (a) – Senility, no. P.M. Certified by J.B. Marinan, M.B. Informant: R. Ainscough, Son-in-law, 13 Leicester Avenue, Horwich. Reg: Thirtieth May 1934, F. Morgan, Registrar.