John William's Story.
John's parents, John & Susannah (nee Rowland) had married between July and September 1880. They lived at 15 Chadwick Street and John was born, shortly afterwards, within the parish of St Paul's, Portwood. John does not seem to have been present when the 1901 Census was taken and it is likely that he was serving abroad, as a regular soldier, at that time. John was a reservist recalled when war broke out. In 1908, John had married Lily Pelham at All Saints Church, Heaton Norris. They would have two children together. These are probably the Lily and John William Mott, born in 1910 and 1911 respectively. Lily was obviously grief-stricken at the news of John's death, and it had a detrimental effect on her ability to look after the children. Matters deteriorated to the point where the neglect became so bad that the authorities intervened. Lily was brought before the courts where the newspapers reported that her "conduct since the death of her husband has been very bad". She was jailed for six months. The children were cared for by John's parents.
