Joseph Henry Bevis was born in mid-1890 in Hastings, Sussex, England. He was the second of two children born to Albert Bevis (b. 1866) and Julia Prout (b. 1859), who had been married in Hastings in 1886.

Joseph first appears with the family on the 1891 census living at 37 St Mary Street, Hastings, Sussex. His father is described as a bank clerk. Also present was his elder brother Percival Albert, born in Hasting in 1889. On the 1901 census the family are still resident in Hastings, albeit at a different address. By the time of the 1911 census the family have moved to Hampshire and are living at 70 Empress Road, Southampton. Joseph is listed as a labourer.

When he signed on to the Titanic on April 6, 1912, he gave his address as 171 Empress Road, Southampton. As a trimmer he received £5 10s per month. The Titanic was Joseph's first ship.

Joseph Bevis died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

Both Joseph's parents died in Southampton; his father in 1935 and his mother in 1931. His brother Percival was married around April 1912 and would have six children before his death in Southampton in 1976.