Joshua was born in  Rhes y Cae, near Holywell, Flintshire in 1886, the son of Hugh Evans (a lead miner) and his wife Sarah.

We have found him aged 5 on the1891 census living with his parents and five siblings. Their names were Elizabeth 13, Mair 9, Newman 7, Sarah 2 and Margaret Ann 0 yrs.Ten years on the family was still in Rhes y Cae. Joshua was 15 and the siblings living at home were Mair 19, Newman 17, Sarah 12, Margt Ann 10, William Hugh 7 and Maud 5.In the 1911 census  Sarah was a widow and living with her were Mair 29, Newman 27, Joshua – a lead labourer 25 yrs, Margaret Ann 20, William Hugh 17 and Maud was 15.

This form tells us that Sarah had given birth to 10 children, 7 of whom were still alive.