John Ainsley married Mary Ann Clayton (widow, née Williamson) on 9/12/1846 in Middlesbrough (Parish Church of St Hilda's). John and his father Joseph are both cited as "draper" on the marriage certificate, John was living in Stokesley, Mary Ann in Middlesbrough.

John and Mary Ann are living in Stokesley at the time of the 1851 British Census. They are shown living together with John Clayton, the only surviving child of Mary Ann's first marriage to George Clayton. John Ainsley is listed as a 'grocer/draper's asistant'.

The two youngest of John and Mary Ann's children died in infancy, these were
Jane Ann bap: 11/4/1849 bur: 21/2/1850 at Stokesley
John Thomas: bap: 2/5/1852 bur: 21/11/1852 at Stokesley

The third child, William John, born 2nd November 1853, was baptised 21/5/1854 also at Stokesley - although born in Bradford the family must have returned to Stokesley for the baptism. William John, a clothier's assistant living in Asquith Street, Leeds, married Mary Riley on the 24th July 1876 at St Mark's church in the parish of Woodhouse, Leeds. In 1901 William John and his family are living at 3 St John's Grove, Leeds.

John and Mary Ann (née Clayton) had a fourth child who died aged 4. She was born on the 26th of January 1856 and was named Emily Ann. At the time of her birth registration in Bradford - 8th March 1856 - her father is a linen draper, and her mother is cited as "Mary Ann Ainsley, formerly Clayton". Her father was deceased when Emily Ann died and the informant of the child's death was her grandfather, Joseph (10).

John and Mary Ann had a fifth child, Francis Joseph, born on the 7th September 1858. John is now cited as a Master Linen Draper and the family are at 66 Leeds Road, Bradford.

At the time of the 1861 British Census, Mary Ann was listed as a widow, aged 43, living with her two sons, William John aged 7 (a scholar) and Francis Joseph aged 2 (a scholar) at 92-94 Leeds Road Bradford.

Francis Joseph married Mary Ann Cook in June quarter of 1894 and by the time of the 1901 British census they had two children, Emily aged 6 born Wakefield, and Frank aged 3, born Leeds.

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