John Holding was born in Adlington in 1830 and was the son of John Holding (1785) and Jane Darbyshire. In 1841 he was living in Grimshaw Cottages, Haigh. In 1851 he was living with his widowed mother in the household of elder brother James at Side of Moor in Aspull and working as a coal miner. He married Mary Coman in 1857. In 1861 and 1871 he was living in Ladies Lane in Hindley and working as a miner. By 1881 he had moved back to Aspull and was living at 7 Longfield Street. In 1891 he was working as a beerseller and living at the Fair Trade Inn, 13 Wigan Road, Aspull. He died in 1892.

Sources
• 1. 1841 Census. Grimshaw Cottages, Haigh. John Holding. Age 11. Born Lancashire. • 2. 1851 Census. Side of Moor, Aspull. John Holding. Brother. Age 20. Coal Miner. Born Adlington [sic]. • 3. 1871 Census. Ladies Lane, Hindley. John Holding. Head. Age 41. Coal Miner. Born Adlington. • 4. 1881 Census. 7 Longfield St, Aspull. John Holding. Head. Age 51. Coal Miner. Born Adlington. • 5. 1891 Census. 13 Wigan Rd, Fair Trade Inn, Aspull. John Holding. Head. Age 61. Beerseller. Born Adlington. • 6. Marriage Registers. Holding, John & Coman, Mary. Mar. 1857. 8c. 93. Wigan. • 7. 1871 Census. Ladies Lane, Hindley. John Holding. Head. Age 30. Coal Miner. Born Adlington.