Arthur Acquila was the son of John Robert and Lydia Williams (née Clarke or Clark formerly Shacklady or Schacklady).
His father John Robert was born in Manchester in about 1858, the son of Robert Williams, a draper, who had died before his son's marriage to Lydia in 1883.
His mother Lydia Clarke was born in Liverpool on 17 September 1859, the daughter of Thomas Clarke, a boot maker. Lydia married first Richard Shacklady in 1878 (O/N/D West Derby Lancashire); her husband probably died in 1880 (O/N/D West Derby) aged about 22.
Lydia married John Robert Williams at St James' church, West Derby, on 7 October 1883 (O/N/D West Derby). John Robert (25) was a warehouseman and living with Lydia (23) at 47 Childers Street.
John and Lydia had at least three children, all born in Bootle: John Albert birth registered 1888 (J/F/M West Derby), Amy birth registered 1890 (J/F/M West Derby) and Arthur Acquila b. 24 September 1891 (O/N/D West Derby).
By 1891 John was the manager of the North Shore Vaults public house, 118 Lyons Street, Bootle. In the home on the night of the census were his wife Lydia (29), their two children John (3) and Amy (1), and a general domestic servant, Jane McCarthy (16). There was also a visitor, Jane McKnight (60), a laundress. Their second son Arthur was born later that year.
John Robert Williams died the year following Arthur's birth. He was buried on 27 June 1892 in the churchyard of St Mary, Bootle. The burial register included John's home address: 118 Lyons Street, Bootle.
Less than two years later Lydia married John William Vert at St Augustine's church, Everton, Liverpool, on 14 January 1894 (J/F/M West Derby). John William (38) of 10 Gregson Street, Liverpool, was a widower and working as a warehouseman. Lydia (32) was living at 52 China Street.
In 1901 John Vert, a gas fitter (labourer) and Lydia were living at 9 Margaret Road, Walton, Liverpool, with her three children, John (13), Amy (11) and Arthur (9). Also in the household was a boarder, Thomas Harvey (60), a widower, who was a mariner.
The family was at the same address in 1911 but only John Albert (23) a butcher's assistant, and Amy (21) a dressmaker, were still at home. Arthur was working away from home as a domestic gardener at The Bothies, Warter Priory, York, where he was was accommodated with six other gardeners.
Shortly after, Arthur used his horticultural skills to secure employment at the Welbeck estate, Nottinghamshire. He enlisted into the Sherwood Foresters at Welbeck along with other colleagues.
His stepfather John William Vert died in 1925 (J/F/M West Derby) but his mother was still living at 9 Margaret Road, Liverpool, in 1939 when the England and Wales Register was compiled. She was described as a housekeeper, probably because there were two other people in the house who may have been lodgers or boarders, a married couple Albert Roberts (b. 25 February 1913) a grocer's manager and member of the Liverpool Auxiliary Fire Service, and Elizabeth Robert (b. 20 December 1912).
Lydia died in 1941 (O/N/D Liverpool South Lancs) aged 82.