John Humphrey Jones was born in Meliden in 1893.

He was first recorded on a census in 1901 when he was living with his family at 9 Cefyn y Gwyd, (Spelling? Tricky to read), Meliden. Head of the household was Richard Jones, a Platelayer, who was 38. His wife Sarah Jane was 40 and their listed children were John Humphrey 8 yrs, Gwendolen 5 and Sarah Elizabeth was 3.

The next census of 1911 lists the family at Bron Allt, Meliden. Richard Jones 48, was still a Platelayer working for the LNW Railway. His wife of 19 years , Sarah Jane was 50. She had given birth to 4 children all of whom were still alive. Listed at home on the census were John Humphrey aged 18, a painter’s apprentice. Sarah Elizabeth was 13 and Richard Thomas was 9.