He was the son of John Pilkington and Mary Ann Pilkington (nee Poxon) who were married in Nottingham in 1876. According to the 1911 census they had thirteen children born alive, all of whom were still living at the time of the census. Thirteen children are named on the census between 1891 and 1911, eleven boys and two girls; Arthur, James, John, Albert, Francis (Frank), William, Edward, Evelyn, Frederick (Fred), Ethel A. (Annie), Joseph (Joe), Harry (Henry) and George.
In 1891 John and Mary were living at 15 Redoubt Street, Radford; eight children were at home the night of the census; Arthur (14), James (11), Albert (9), Francis (7), William (5), Edward (4), Frederick (2) and Ethel A (1 month). Another son, John, who would have been about 13, was not recorded in the household.
They were still at the same address ten years later in 1901 and ten of their children were in the house on the night of the census: John (22), James, Frank (Francis), William, Edward, Evelyn, Annie (Ethel Annie), Joseph (8), Harry (4) and George (2). Albert was not at home on the night of the census and as he took part in the South African Campaign, probably with the South Notts Hussars, he may have been serving abroad at the time.
John Pilkington senior died in 1908 and for details of other family members in 1911 see record for Joseph Pilkington.
Albert married Ellen (Nellie) Briggs on 7 July 1906. They were to have three children; Evelyn Eleanor (b.1907), Albert Edward (b. 908) and George Henry (b. 1913).
In 1911 Albert and Ellen were living at 2 Westville Street, Radford, with their two eldest children, Evelyn and Albert. Also in the household was a boarder, Robert Meakin (21), a baker. Albert's youngest son, George Henry, was born two years later in 1913.
When Albert enlisted in 1915 he gave his address as 54 Garden Street, Radford, although a document in Albert's service record dated November 1919 gives his widow's address as 6 Ivanhoe Terrace, Russell Street, Nottingham. His widow, Ellen (Elizabeth Ellen), married Albert Stretton Jackson in 1920 (marriage registered Jan/Feb/Mar).
His brother, Joseph, died of pneumonia in India on 18 October 1918 and the notice of his death includes the information that he was the second son 'to fall' and that eight brothers were still serving. John and Mary had eleven sons and it is likely that their eldest son Arthur, who was born about 1878, had died before the war in 1912 (registered Oct/Nov/Dec) aged 34. Another brother, Edward, who served in the Royal Garrison Artillery, died on 13 August 1920 as a result of shrapnel injuries received in France in November 1918. He left a wife and daughter and is commemorated on the John Player memorial although his name is not recorded on CWGC.
