John James

John James (16 February 1772 John was the son of Captain John James (1725 - 1803) of St Michael's Mount, Cornwall, a liquor merchant and sometime privateer Captain. His mother, Elizabeth Millett, was the daughter of a prominent local merchant.

Personal life On 6 February 1797 John James was married to Elizabeth Wingfield at St Hilary, Cornwall. John and Elizabeth had three children together including: Elizabeth Prideaux James (b.1798) John Wingfield James (b.1800) Mary James (b.1801)

Career at Barbuda

John James left England on 20 May 1804 and arrived in Antigua on 5 July, but was unable to get to Barbuda until 21 July 1804. He was appointed by Christopher Bethell Codrington to the position of Attorney for Barbuda in a letter to his superior, Samuel Byam Athill, dated 5 June 1805. Barbuda, at the time of John James’ arrival, consisted of 314 slaves about 500 head of cattle and 20,000 – 25,000 sheep. Yellow fever was also prevalent in the Caribbean at this time.