James JOY born in Craven Kell, near Pateley Bridge in early 1773. Craven Kell is 0.5 miles west of Greenhow Hill on the pack track. The first building here was a two-roomed cottage in which two monks used to live tending sheep and discouraging lead ore poaching.
James was originally a lead miner, but later mined coal.
He married Elizabeth SIMPSON on 5 Feb 1794 in Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire, at which time he was described as a lead miner. The baptized one child, Patty on 23 Dec 1795, which is consistent with the family moving the 30 miles south to Lofthouse in about 1796.
Elizabeth and James JOY baptized at least seven children in Rothwell between 1797 and 1817. There may have been other children as there are some gaps, but they may not have survived.
When James moved his family to Lofthouse, he was not alone. William NEWBOULD and his family also made the move to Lofthouse at the same time. They were undoubtedly close friends and he would have been pleased that his daughter Hannah JOY married William's son John NEWBOULD in 1820.
James appears to have died before 1841, as his wife was living near his daughter Hannah NEWBOULD in Stanley Lane Ends.