James married Elizabeth Fisher (1859-1952) in Bunbury. Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry and Mary Ann. James' children were Jack (1880- ), Patrick, Henry, George (1890- ), Thomas (1892- ), Bertha (1873- ), Maud (1888- ), Rachel, Louisa, Kate, William and Ivy. Elizabeth remarried to Hartnett of Picton. James worked as the Overseer at the Henty Estates, as a Farmer at Brunswick, and the Collie sawmills between 1879-1884. A horse accidentally killed James.