He was born 27 January 1881 at Topcliffe Row, West Ardsley to George Johnson, coal miner and Elizabeth Johnson, late West, formerly Baines. His birth was registered 8 March 1881 by C. Shephard, present at the birth, of Topcliffe Row, West Ardsley. (C. Shephard has to be Caroline Hawksley, who married Nathan Shephard, and hence was the half-sister of George.)
In 1881 he was at home with his parents at Prospect Place, Normanton, aged 10 weeks and born at Ardsley.
In 1891, living at 25 Newcastle Street, Hucknall under Huthwaite, Sutton in Ashfield, Notts, he was with his mother, aged 10, born at Topcliffe, Yorks.
In 1901 he was living with his mother at Darley Bank, St Thomas, Rotherham, aged 20, a coal trammer, born at Ardsley.
He was a miner and married Lucy Bisby 23 November 1912 in Masbrough Parish Church, Rotherham. He was a bachelor and miner aged 31 and living at 26 King Street and George, his father, (deceased) was a miner. Lucy was a spinster aged 27 of 19 Albert Street, the daughter of William Bisby (deceased) a labourer.
He lived at 15 Ferham Park Avenue, (Jan 1909? – July 1915). He is listed at 15 Ferham Park Avenue, a miner, in the 1911 White's Directory of Sheffield and Rotherham. He was a Governor of Rotherham Hospital and was ‘a bit of a boxer’.
Joseph and Lucy’s children were: