Aged 25 years at the 1911 census, so born 1885-86.

Named on son Eric Hughes Sistern's marriage certificate and described as a steel forgeman. A father and stepson of the same names appear in the 1911 Ecclesfield census; the father has the same occupation and the son is 4 years old and so born 1906-1907, agreeing with the age given on the marriage certificate. The same census shows John's wife of only two years to be Emily, and that John has another 4 year old stepson, Cecil Hughes Sistern.

A John Sistern died in Ashton-Under-Lyne in 1945 aged 59 years, so born 1885-86.

All of the above point to the family moving from Ecclesfield to Ashton-Under-Lyne between the census in 1911 and Eric's marriage in 1928.

John appears with his widowed mother Emily in the 1901 census and with both of his parents in the 1891 census. The latter shows his father, James, to be 58 years old.