James was an Assistant Cotton Spinner when he was 12 in 1881 and living at 22 Crossfield Street.
It appears he had several run-ins with the law.
Reported in the Blackburn Standard on 18 Sep 1886: "James Forrest (18), weaver; and John Pomfret (23), spinner, were charged with sleeping at the brick kilns at Brandy House Brow. Forrest was find 5s and costs, and the other two prisoners were sent to gaol for a month."
On 4 Dec 1888 James, 19, and John WOODS, 20, spinner were charged with "burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house, 51 Grimshaw-park, and stealing therefrom five bottles and three pints of whiskey, and three eggs, value 7s 6d, the property of John Shuttleworth, landlord of the Turner's Arms." The landlord stated that Woods came to his house and knocked him up to obtain a bottle of rum, but he was refused. Later on in the night he was aroused by his sister, and on going downstairs found that the house had been broken into, and the bottles etc, stolen. The burglars gained access via a lobby window. The James and John were committed to the Liverpool Assizes for trial.
By 1891 he was a foundry labourer and still living with his mother, brother William, sister Harriet and married sister Nancy BLACKBURN and her daughters Jane and Elizabeth.
He married Barbara in 1891 and in 1911 was living at 3 Smalley Street, Blackburn with his wife, twin daughters Isabella and Barbara, son Thomas and daughter Lilly, and working as a labourer "in Delf" at a stone quarry. Delf may refer to the local sandstone.
In 1939, the extended family were living in Kemp Street. James and Barbara had retired.
James died in 1946.
