John Wilfred (Jack) was the fourth son of Horace Arthur and Sarah Kate Fisher (nee Thackeray).
His father Horace Arthur was born in Hyson Green, Nottingham, in 1854 the son of James and Emma Fisher. He was baptised at St Paul, Hyson Green, on 3 December 1854. His mother Sarah Kate was born in Nottingham in 1854, the daughter of John Lawson and Eliza Thackerary. She was baptised at Radford Christ Church on 21 October 1854.
Horace Arthur and Sarah Kate were married at Arnold St Mary on 26 August 1879 (J/A/S Basford). They had six children all of whom were baptised at Radford Christ Church: James Thackeray b. Ruddington 26 March 1883 (A/M/J Basford) bap. 22 May 1883; Sybil Blanche b. Nottingham 28 March 1885 (A/M/J Basford) bap. 15 May 1885; Horace Frank (also Frank Horace k/a Frank) b. Nottingham 15 September 1886 (O/N/D Nottingham) bap. 20 November 1886; Geoffrey Herbert b. Nottingham birth registered 1888 (J/F/M Nottingham) bap. 27 March 1888; John Wilfrid b. Nottingham birth registered 1893 (J/F/M Nottingham) bap. 22 February 1893 and Florence Maud b. Nottingham 1894 (J/A/S Nottingham) bap. 16 August 1894.
In 1881 Horace (26), a lace manufacturer, and Sarah (26) were living at Arnon House, Ruddington. They employed three staff, a cook, parlour maid and groom. Their first child, James Thackeray, was born in Ruddington two years later in March 1883 but by the time of his baptism in the May they were living in The Park, Nottingham.
By 1891 Horace and Sarah were living at Duke William Mount, Newcastle Circus, Standard Hill, Nottingham, with their four children James (8), Sybil (6), Frank (4) and Geoffrey (3). Also in the household was Sarah's widowed mother, Eliza Thackeray (68) who was 'living on own means'. Horace and Sarah employed a cook, butler, house maid, nurse (domestic), under nurse (domestic) and a kitchen maid.
The family had moved to The Hills, Bramcote, Nottingham by 1901 but only the two youngest children, John (8) and Florence (6) were in the home on the night of the census. Also in the household were seven servants: ladies' maid, cook, parlour maid, two house maids, kitchen maid and scullery maid.
James (18) was a gentleman cadet at Woolwich, London (subsequently commissioned in the Royal Engineers, possibly in 1902), Sybil (16) was at school in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, Frank (14) at school in Great Malvern, Worcestershire, and Geoffrey (13) at school in Eastbourne, Sussex.
Horace had retired by 1911 ('private means') and was living with his wife at Arno Vale, Arnold, with three of his six children: Frank, a mining engineer, Sybil and John. Also in the household were seven servants: cook, two parlour maids, house maid, maid, under-maid and kitchen maid.
At the time of the 1911 census James was at the Garrison, Sheerness, a lieutenant 39 Corps Royal Engineers, but Geoffrey and Florence have not yet been traced, although Geoffrey, who would have been about 23 years old, may have already been pursuing an agricultural career in Canada.
Geoffrey Herbert served in the Sherwood Foresters and died of wounds on 25 October 1915 and John Wilfred died of wounds nine months later in July 1916. James Thackeray suvived the war and was awarded the DSO in the New Year Honours List, 1918: 'Maj. James Thackeray Fisher, Royal Engineers'.
The youngest sibling, Florence Maud, probably died in 1918 (J/F/M Nottingham) aged 24.
Their father Horace Arthur died on 30 January 1937 aged 82. He had lived at Car Colston Hall, Nottinghamshire, for several years before his death. His widow, Sarah Kate, died on 6 June 1939; the probate record gives her address at Whatton Grange, Nottinghamshire.
Of John's surviving siblings:
James Thackeray served with the Royal Engineers in France from 4 October 1915 and after the war served in India; he retired in the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He married Mary Sophia Darra Mair (21) of Stone Court, Carshalton, Surrey, daughter of the late Dr. Laurie William David Mair, on 15 June 1918 at Carshalton All Saints. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled James and Mary were living at Fireston Green, Caythorpe, Grantham, Lincolnshire. They continued to live at Fireston Green until their deaths, James on 6 May 1967 and Mary on 12 May 1981.
Sybil Blanche was living at The Grange, Aslockton near Bingham, in 1939 ('single, private means'). She later lived at Derbyshire House, Station Road, East Leake, and died there on 21 March 1976.
Frank Horace married Constance Lesley Orton (28) of Congreve House, Bedworth, daughter of the late Dr Edward William Orton (physician and surgeon), on 23 March 1915 at Bedworth Parish Church. At the time of his marriage Frank was residing at Temple Lodge, Swinton, Lancashire. In 1939 they were living at 12 Warwick New Road, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, with their daughter Lorna V Fisher (b. 28 December 1924); Frank had retired. He died on 26 February 1965 at Clarendon Place, Leamington Spa but his home was still at 12 Warwick Road.