Joseph Stanley Gill was born on 11 September 1873. In later years he would claim to have been born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland but this does not appear to be the case. He was born on West Derby Road in Liverpool and baptised on 1 December 1873 in St Peter's Church.

He was the son of Joseph Gill (b. 1828) and Ann Challoner (b. 1837). His father Joseph, a chemist, was native to Liverpool and his mother to Shropshire. The couple had married on 27 December 1858 in St Nicholas' Church, Liverpool.

Joseph had five known siblings: Walter Rothwell (b. 1860), Ellen (b. 1865), Margaret (b. 1867), Annie (b. 1870) and George (b. 1876).

He appears on the 1881 census of England living at 3 Russell Street, Liverpool. By the time Joseph appeared on the 1891 census he had already left school and was working as a printer's apprentice, still living with his family at 399 Stanley Road, Kirkdale, Liverpool. His mother died in 1895 and his father in 1899.

Joseph was married near Liverpool in late 1899 to Edith Alice Hunt, née Marsh (b. 1873 in Walton, Liverpool).

Edith had first been married in 1896 to William Charles Hunt, a clerk, and had a daughter, Doris Harrison (b. 13 February 1897). William Charles Hunt appears to have died before the end of 1896 aged 26, not living to see the birth of his daughter.

Joseph Gill and Edith would have one child of their own, Mabel Marsh (b. 23 July 1900).

Joseph was absent from the 1901 census, perhaps at sea, but his family are living at 36 Crosketh (?) Road, Bootle. The family had moved southward to Southampton by the time of the 1911 census, living at 17 Suffolk Avenue, Shirley with Joseph describing himself as a ship's steward for the White Star Line. He gave his birthplace as Paisley, Scotland.

He was on board the Titanic for her delivery trip from Belfast to Southampton. When he signed-on again, in Southampton, on 4 April 1912, he gave his address as 17 Suffolk Avenue, (Southampton). His last ship had been the Olympic. As a bedroom steward he received monthly wages of £3, 15s.

Gill died in the sinking. His body was later recovered by the Mackay-Bennett (#49) and buried at sea on 21 April 1912.

His estate, valued at £130, 15s, was administered to his widow on 5 June 1912.

His widow Edith and his daughter may have returned to their native Liverpool but their subsequent whereabouts are uncertain.