Joseph was a joiner by trade, first at Reeth where his son William and daughter Mary were born. At around 1805 the family moved to Gunnerside and seven more children were born.

In 1823 his wife Elizabeth (Betty) gave birth to twins Alice and Jane. One week later Elizabeth and Jane were buried at Gunnerside Methodist Burial Ground and one month later the other twin, Alice, was buried with them.

Not long afterwards Joseph and some of his surviving children moved to Crosby Garrettin Westmorland to join his brothers who had moved there in 1819. He later lived in Kirkby Stephen.