When John Tilton was born on 27 October 1756, in Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey, United States, his father, Samuel Tilton Jr., was 31 and his mother, Mary Passel, was 30. He married Mariah "Marya" Sutphen on 15 September 1784, in Burlington, New Jersey, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 5 daughters. He lived in Shrewsbury Township, Monmouth, New Jersey, United States in 1784. He died on 12 August 1849, in Orange Township, Ashland, Ohio, United States, at the age of 92, and was buried in Nankin, Ashland, Ohio, United States.