His exact date of birth is uncertain. The 1851 and 1861 Censuses which were carried out early in the year give his age as 53 and 63 respectively. His death registration in the 4th quarter of 1872 gives his age as 75. These would place his birth date in either the 2nd or 3rd quarter of 1797. However, his Army record shows that although he enlisted on 29 October 1816 his time for pension only commenced on 27 November 1817 when he was 18. This would give a birth date of 27 November 1799. Both census records and his Army record show that he was born in Hockworthy. However, no trace of a baptismal record has been found and this requires further research as it would also provide his parent's names.

His army discharge record says that he was employed as a labourer prior to his enlistment. The date that he started working is uncertain but it is known from discharge record that he was illiterate as he signed with his mark (X). This would indicate that his eduction was minimal and he probably started work around the the age of 12 or even earlier. As he was born in Hockworthy it is assumed that he worked there or in the immediate area.

Why he travelled to Taunton, a distance of about 20 miles from where he was born and was thought to be working, to enlist is not known.

At the time of his enlistment the Regiment was moving from New South Wales to India where it arrived on the 16th December 1817 so it is assumed that he sailed for India shortly after joining. On the 29th December 1816 the regiment marched for Vellore. The regiment arrived at Vellore on the 8th of January, 1818, and on the 26th of September following proceeded from thence en route to the Presidency of Madras, and arrived at Fort Saint George on the 12th of October.

Previously to the 46th quitting Vellore an Order was issued by Colonel Hall, commanding the troops at that garrison, in which he stated, 'that during the period the regiment had been in the garrison, he had not had occasion to confine or pass a censure on any rank,' and then added, 'that a stronger proof cannot be offered of the excellent interior arrangement and discipline of the corps.'

On the 1st of July, 1820, the regiment commenced its march from Fort Saint George for Bellary, in the Ceded Districts, and arrived at that station on the 10th of August following.

During the years 1821, 1822, and 1823, the head-quarters of the regiment continued to be stationed at Bellary and detachments of the regiment were sent out on field duties. Whether James was part of the headquarters or was sent out on detached duty is not known. James was promoted to Corporal from 15 April 1822 to 17 October 1822. Why he promoted and then reduced is not known. Possibly it was for the duration of detached duty.

The detached wing of the regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Willshire, marched from Bellary on the 22nd of July, 1826, and arrived at Secunderabad on the 21st of August following. The head-quarters, under the command of Captain William Mallet, marched from Cannanore on the 2nd of November, 1826, and arrived at Secunderabad on the 12th of January, 1827. The regiment remained at Secunderabad during 1827 and the five following years.

On the 24th of June, 1829, instructions were received for reducing the establishment of the regiment to the following numbers; namely, forty-five serjeants, fourteen drummers, and seven hundred and forty rank and file.

Arrangements having been made for the relief of the 46th regiment, a General Order was issued permitting the soldiers to volunteer to other corps serving in India. The volunteering was opened at Secunderabad on the 9th of November, and was finally closed on the 17th of December, 1832, when two hundred and thirty-seven men had volunteered their services to other regiments of His Majesty's service stationed in the Madras Presidency. James did not voutenteer for further service in India and sailed back to England with the Regiment.

On the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of April, 1834, the regiment proceeded from Canterbury to Weedon, where it arrived in the beginning of May. In September following, the regiment marched from Weedon to Liverpool for embarkation to Ireland, and arrived at Dublin on the 3rd of October. The regiment subsequently proceeded to Newry.

The head-quarters marched on the 30th January 1835, from Newry for Belfast, where they arrived on the 2nd of February. While stationed at Belfast, the regiment furnished several detachments to aid the civil power.

On the 8th of September, 1817, the regiment embarked in three divisions at Sydney Cove on board the 'Matilda', 'Lloyd', and 'Dick' transports, and arrived at Madras on the 16th of December following. On the 29th of that month the regiment marched for Vellore.

The regiment arrived at Vellore on the 8th of January, 1818, and on the 26th of September following proceeded from thence en route to the Presidency of Madras, and arrived at Fort Saint George on the 12th of October.

Previously to the 46th quitting Vellore an Order was issued by Colonel Hall, commanding the troops at that garrison, in which he stated, 'that during the period the regiment had been in the garrison, he had not had occasion to confine or pass a censure on any rank,' and then added, 'that a stronger proof cannot be offered of the excellent interior arrangement and discipline of the corps.'

On the 1st of July, 1820, the regiment commenced its march from Fort Saint George for Bellary, in the Ceded Districts, and arrived at that station on the 10th of August following.

During the years 1821, 1822, and 1823, the head-quarters of the regiment continued to be stationed at Bellary and detachments of the regiment were sent out on field duties. Whether James was part of the headquarters or was sent out on detached duty is not known. James was promoted to Corporal from 15 April 1822 to 17 October1822. Why he promoted and then reduced is not known. Possibly it was for the duration of detached duty.

The detached wing of the regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Willshire, marched from Bellary on the 22nd of July, 1826, and arrived at Secunderabad on the 21st of August following. The head-quarters, under the command of Captain William Mallet, marched from Cannanore on the 2nd of November, 1826, and arrived at Secunderabad on the 12th of January, 1827. The regiment remained at Secunderabad during 1827, and the five following years.

On the 24th of June, 1829, instructions were received for reducing the establishment of the regiment, from the 25th of the previous December, to the following numbers; namely, forty-five serjeants, fourteen drummers, and seven hundred and forty rank and file.

Arrangements having been made for the relief of the 46th regiment, a General Order was issued permitting the soldiers to volunteer to other corps serving in India. The volunteering was opened at Secunderabad on the 9th of November, and was finally closed on the 17th of December, 1832, when two hundred and thirty-seven men had volunteered their services to other regiments of His Majesty's service stationed in the Madras Presidency. James did not voutenteer for further service in India and sailed back to England with the Regiment.

On the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of April, 1834, the regiment proceeded from Canterbury to Weedon, where it arrived in the beginning of May. In September following, the regiment marched from Weedon to Liverpool for embarkation to Ireland, and arrived at Dublin on the 3rd of October. The regiment subsequently proceeded to Newry.

The head-quarters marched on the 30th January 1835, from Newry for Belfast, where they arrived on the 2nd of February. While stationed at Belfast, the regiment furnished several detachments to aid the civil power.

James married whilst he was in Ireland and his two oldest children were born there.

Address: Dublin, Ireland

He was discharged on medical grounds after serving for just over 20 years and was awarded a pension. Unfortunately the medical report detailing his injuries is not available. After his discharge he returned to Tiverton (where he had lived before he enlisted) with his family. Whether the Army paid for his journey is not known. The fact that he was a Chelsea Pensioner was picked up from the 1851 Census. At that time Army pensions were administered from Chelsea and as he was living in Tiverton he would have been known as an 'Out Pensioner', i.e. not living in Chelsea Hospital. As all the other Censuses show him as a labourer it is highly probable his pension was insufficient to live on but that at the time of the 1851 Census he was out of work.

The 1841 Census gives his occupation as an agricultural labourer and the 1871 Census and the marriage certificate of his son Daniel as a labourer. The 1851 and 1861 Censuses, and his Death Certificate say that he is a pensioner so it is assumed that he worked as a labourer whenever he could to supplement his Army pension.

Cause: old age

Address: Gold Street, Tiverton, Devon

The cause of death indicates that he probably died in sleep. His death certificate says that John Williams who lived in Twyford Place and reported his death was with him when he died. Twyford Place is just under half a mile from James' home so John Williams was not a close neighbour and it is just possible that he was a doctor.