John Freeland Fergus Common
1839 Born in Newcastle, son of Thomas Common, a surgeon, and his wife Mary (nee Hall)[1]
1851 his father died
1851 Living in Morpeth with his mother Mary Common 42, an annuitant, Andrew A Common 9, Mary F Common 9[2]
Apprenticed with T. and W. Smith of Newcastle and North Shields, shipbuilders and graving dock owners
1861 An iron ship builder, living in Newcastle upon Tyne with his uncle George Hall, manager of a lead works[3]
Worked in the drawing office of A. Leslie and Co, Hebburn
In charge of the works of T and W Smith for a short time.
For about 4 years was Surveyor for the Underwriters' Registry for Iron Vessels in London
Went into business on his own account with a graving dock and ship repairers on the Tyne
1871 Lessee of a graving dock and ship repairer, living in Tynemouth, with Mary L Common 29, Laura A Common 4, John B D Common 1[4]
After an "unfortunate" investment in electric lighting, he had to give up his business and became a consulting engineer and naval architect at Cardiff
1881 An iron merchant, in the house of his brother A. A. Common in Ealing[5]
1889 Naval architect and engineer surveyor, of Cardiff, joined Inst of Mech Engineers[6]
1891 Naval architect, engineer and technical referee, living in Cardiff with Mary L Common 49, Laura A Common 24, John B A Common 21, Hilda A Common 19, Louisa A Common 18, Robert H Common 16, Haddon E Common 14, Ainslie A Common 12, George O Common 10[7]
1896 of 4 Bute Crescent, Cardiff
1911 Marine Surveyor, living in Penarth with Mary and Louisa[8]
1916 Died in Newport, Mons[9]