John was born in 1842 Norwich in Norfolk to Robert and Juliana Tillyard. John's Father Robert was a Leather Merchant, Currier and Shoe Manufacturer in Norwich. He started his leather currying business in rooms on Elm Hill Norfolk and later moved to bigger premises in Princes Street, then in Swan Lane and later to St. George's Plain. In 1846, James Howlett invested the then huge sum of £10,000 (approx £600,000 in 2020) in Robert Tillyard's business, which was the start of a shoe making empire (Howlett and White) that would become famous across the world and later become the Norvic Shoe Co.
John's occupation was a Solicitor; he married Mary Ann Frances Wilson on 17th February 1880 at St. Matthews Church, Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich.
They had 4 children-
Robert John Tillyard born 1881 Norwich
Sidney J Tillyard born 1882 Norwich
Godfrey Ebenezer born 1883 Norfolk
Frederick Edward born 1885 Norwich
John's eldest Son Robert John Tillyard (also known as Robin) became an internationally renowned English Australian Entomologist and Geologist.
He was educated at Dover college and intended to enter the army but was rejected on account of having rheumatism. He won a scholarship for classics at Oxford University and another for Mathematics at Cambridge University. Following his graduation in 1903 he migrated to Australia and taught at the Sydney Grammar school for a decade before becoming a fellow in zoology at Sydney University, and then lecturer in zoology in 1917. In 1920 he became Chief Entomologist to the Commonwealth of Australia. He studied insects broadening his interests to Dragonflies, Lacewings, and Scorpionflies.
He wrote the Biology of dragonflies' in 1917. He was awarded a D.Sc in 1918 by the University of Sydney; he also received a Sc.D in 1910 from University of Cambridge. He received many honours and was a member of many scientific bodies. He died on 13th January 1937 from a car accident in Australia.
After the children had left home, John and his Wife Mary Ann went to Eastbourne and were boarding at 16 Willowfield Square, Eastbourne. They then moved to Worthing and were living at 118 Rowlands Road.
John died on 19th April 1922 and probate was granted to Mary Ann Tillyard and his Son Frederick Edward Tillyard. He left an amount of £1144 11s (about £33,000 in 2020)