John was born 15 December 1844 at Bramley, about 5 miles east of Rotherham. His parents were George Asbery, a labourer, and Ann, formerly Skelton.
In 1851 he was living at home in Bramley aged 6 and born at Bramley.
In 1861, he was at home with his parents in the High Street, Rotherham (1st Court, 2nd House, after 9 High Street) aged 16 an apprentice fender fitter.
In the census of 1871, at Searle Yard, High Street, Rotherham, at home with his father, John was aged 26, a fender fitter.
John Asbery married Hannah Elizabeth Vollans in the Wesleyan Chapel, Doncaster, on 11 April 1871. John was aged 26 and a bachelor and fender maker of 1, High Street, Rotherham. His father was George Asbery, a carter. Hannah was a spinster aged 20, of Whatley Lane, Doncaster. Her father was Joseph Vollans, a farmer.
In the 1881 census of 20 Kimberworth Road, Masbrough, Rotherham, John was aged 36 and a grocer. His wife, Hannah, was aged 29 and a grocer's wife, born at Barlby. Their children were George W aged 9, Margeret (sic) E 7, Florence 5, Annie 3 and Mary 10 months. Also with them was a servant aged 20. This property was apparently at the corner with Ferham Road.
In the 1891 census of 38 Kimberworth Road, John was a master grocer and aged 46. His wife, Hannah E., was aged 40 and born at Bramley (sic). Their children were Margaret E. aged 17, Florence 15, Annie 13, Mary J. 10, Joseph V. 9, John S. 4, Elsie (the document has Eliza) E. 2.
John and Hannah Asbery ran a grocer's shop and bakery, which was near St Paul's Church and on the other side of Kimberworth Road. It was also in sight of Kimberworth station, which was reached by crossing Coronation Bridge. Trams ran from outside the station into Rotherham. The Asberys took in railway men as lodgers.
In the 1901 census of 36, Kimberworth Road (Grocer's shop and house), John was a grocer, aged 56. His wife, Hannah E., was aged 50, and their children were Margaret E. aged 27, Annie 22, Mary J. 20, Joseph V. 19, a telegraph messenger, John S. 14 and Elsie E. 12. With them, as a boarder, was George E. Nelson, aged 27, a railway engine stoker, born at Warton, Lancs; who was later to marry Mary Jane.
Roy Danson, (a grandson of Florence) wrote the following account of the Asbery family. "John was a Warden at St Paul's New Church when he died. This was on Kimberworth Road and very close to his home. He had a very warm obituary in the Kimberworth Parish Magazine, which recorded his burial at St Thomas's, Kimberworth, on Monday July 7th at 4.30pm. He was described as being "ungrudgingly generous" and clearly was a man of faith and principle. It said that he was the first member at St Paul's to have died, as it was literally a "new church". It was said that the Asberys attended St Thomas' Church in the evening (a tram ride away) and St Paul's in the morning. There was a blind organist at St Paul's, with whom Hannah always had a word.
The business was busy and profitable. All the children were well educated, at the Ferham Board School for example. Earl Fitzwilliam used to call at the shop and he provided free breakfasts for poor children in the YMCA Hall next door, for which the Asberys catered. John (and Hannah) also catered for weddings and funerals at the same hall. Margaret (Cissie) and Annie worked in the bakehouse and Mary worked in the shop. Florence must have helped with the bookwork at some stage because there is a memory of her returning to help with the accounts after her marriage [1899]."
John Asbery died of pneumonia 3 July 1902 at 38 Kimberworth Road, Rotherham, aged 57. His widow, Hannah carried on the business until at least 1911.
In 1911(?) there was a coal miners/railway strike. Doris (a daughter of Florence) recalled the story of how Hannah's taxi was attacked on the way to the bank in Rotherham with some money, and had its wheels damaged.
In about 1912, Margaret took over the running of the business but was not very successful and the shop was eventually sold.
Hannah died on 16 May 1913, at 30 Kimberworth Road, aged 61, of a cerebral haemorrhage.
John and Hannah's children were:
Posted December 2007