Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Albert Kenney, a stone quarry worker, born 1856 in Cosby, Leicestershire and his wife Ann Kenney (nee Bingley, married in the 1st quarter of 1878 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), born 1859 in Cosby, Leicestershire. Joseph was born in the 3rd quarter of 1878 in Cosby, Leicestershire his siblings were, Lucy Elizabeth, born 1880 and Mary, born 1881, both his siblings were born in Cosby, Leicestershire, in April 1881 the family home was in Cosby, Leicestershire. In April 1891 Joseph was employed as a shoe trade riveter and was residing in the family home at South View, Cosby, Leicestershire, together with his father, a stone quarry worker, his mother and siblings, Lucy, a shoe trade worker, born 1879, Mary, a schoolgirl, born 1881, Ada, a schoolgirl, born 1885, James Albert, a schoolboy, born in the 2nd quarter of 1887 and Ernest, born in the 1st quarter of 1890 all his siblings were born in Cosby, Leicestershire. In March 1901 Joseph was employed as a boot trade machine laster and was residing in the family home at New Grounds, Cosby, Leicestershire, together with his father a stone quarry worker, his mother and siblings, Lucy, a shoe trade machinist, Mary, a shoe trade fitter, Ada, a hosiery trade winder, James, a shoe trade riveter, Ernest, Walter, born 1892, Fred, born 1894 and Herbert, born 1901, the latter three siblings were all born in Cosby, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Joseph was employed as a boot trade riveter and was residing in the family home in Cosby, Leicestershire together with his wife, Sarah Elizabeth Kenney (nee Ward, married in the 4th quarter of 1902 in the Leicester district), born 1881 in Leicester and their children, Lilian Mary, born 1904, Elsie Clare, born 1905, Winifred Florence, born 1907 and Edith Elizabeth, born 1911, all the children were born in Cosby, Leicestershire. Joseph’s wife died aged 33 in the 2nd quarter of 1914 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district. Joseph married Emily Annie Ward in the 3rd quarter of 1915 in the Leicester district. Emily Annie was born in the 4th quarter of 1880 in Leicester. His younger brother’s James and Ernest both fell in action.