Samuel was born in Daresbury in 1886. He was one of nine children born to William and Mary Johnson. William had been born c1841, also in dares bury and he worked as a wheelwright. Mary was born c1846 in Comberbach.
Samuel’s oldest brother, Thomas, was born c1886 in Stockton Heath, but by 1871, the family had moved to Daresbury as all the other children were born there – George c1871, Herbert c1872, Albert c1875, Cecil c1877, Harriet c1880 and Beatrice c1881.
Samuel was baptised at dares bury on 18 July 1886 by H T Clarke.
By 1881, the family had moved to Preston Brook. Twenty years later, they were living in Aston Lane and their mother was now a widow. Thomas worked as a gardener, George and Cecil were road labourers and Samuel was a telegraph messenger boy. By 1911, only Thomas, George and Samuel were living at home in Aston lane with their mother. Samuel was now working as a blacksmith – described as a shoeing smith.
He married Elsie Phoenix on 24 December 1912 and they lived in Earlstown, Lancashire.
In WW1, he joined the Royal Army Service Corps, service number TS/8315 and was a driver/shoeing smith.
Thomas died on 8 January 1964, aged 76 years.