John Percy Common was the son of Robert Common, Tea Dealer and Grocer, and his wife Elizabeth Ann.

He joined the High School in 1887 at the age of 8, leaving in 1894 to go into "business", according to the school's records. In fact he became a mechanical engineer.

The records also show that he served as 3rd Engineer with the Merchant Navy, but little else is known other than he died towards the end of 1927 at the age of 49.