John William Ainscough was born in Wigan in 1866 and was the son of James Ainscough (1836) and Mary. In 1871 he was living at 48 Ashmoor Street in Preston. In 1881 he was living with his widowed mother at 65 Ashmoor Street and was working as a pattern maker's apprentice in a foundry. He married Mary Dixon, a widow with two children, in Preston in 1890. In 1911 he was working as a pattern maker and living at 199 Rawlinson Street in Barrow-in-Furness.

Sources
• 1. Deborah Ainscough's data. John W Ainscough. Born 1866, Wigan. Father: James. Mother: Mary. • 2. 1871 Census. 48 Ashmoor Street, Preston. John W. Ainscough. Son. Age 5. Scholar. Born Wigan. • 3. 1881 Census. 65 Ashmoor St, Preston. John Wm. Ainscow. Son. Age 15. Patter Maker, App at Foundry. Born Wigan. • 4. 1911 Census. 199 Rawlinson St., Barrow in Furness. Jno. Ainscow. Head. Age 45. Pattern maker. Born Wigan. • 5. Marriage Registers. Ainscow, John William & Dixon, Mary. Sep. 1900. Preston. 8e. 1255.