In 1852 Jabez was married to Jane Chettle, daughter of Thomas and Maria, and by 1861 they were living in Ebenezer Terrace with their children, John Thomas aged 8, Joseph S aged 5, Jabez aged 3, Sarah Jane aged 2, and baby Elizabeth 7 months old. Ten years later Abner aged 8, Louisa aged 6 and George H aged 3 had joined the family, and they were now living in High Street. John Thomas was a sewing machinist, Joseph and Sarah were working in the shoetrade.

In 1881 Jabez was working as a shoe riveter, William was a shoe manufacturer and married, John Thomas was a clicker and now married, Jabez junior was not in Rushden. In April 1877 Abner became a pupil teacher at the newly opened General School.

William Colson died aged 58 in 1878 and was buried at the Baptist burial ground. His brother Jabez died on the 21st December 1895 aged 68 and he was buried in Rushden cemetery in Grave B846. From the inscription on the grave, Jane was interred in the Old Baptist burial ground at the end of March 1883. When their son John Thomas died in 1922, he was deemed one of Rushden's leading citizens.

The photograph above must have been taken shortly before Jabez died.