James married Many NICHOLSON in Askrigg in 1731. She bore him five children, although many are thought to have died in infancy. Following her last child was born in late 1743, Mary was admitted to the Hospital of Saint John the Baptist in Kirkby Ravensworth where she died and was buried in Kirkby Ravensworth on 27 Dec 1743.
James had a second family with Phoebe COULTON who he married in Aysgarth in 1748. They had two children baptized in Askrigg, suggesting that the previous two James and the John had died in infancy. The youngest James also died in infancy.