He was born about 1872/3 at Brampton Bierlow (registered in the Rotherham district June quarter of 1872).
In the 1881 census he was living at home, aged 8 and born at Brampton Bierlow.
He married Esther Oates (sister of Sam Oates , who married Alice Vollans) in the December quarter of 1896 in the Rotherham district .
In the 1901 census he was living at Townend, Wath-en-Dearne, in four rooms. He (Allan J.) was aged 28, a coal miner and born at Newhill. His wife, Esther, was aged 28 and born at Newhill, and his children were Allan, aged 3 and Howard, aged 6 months. They were both born at Newhill.