This page is a summary of known facts about James’ life and speculation from other evidence. The majority of this work is the product of research by Ronald Barham. The documented facts carry links to the evidence whilst other speculation is discussed in the following pages:
James Barham was born in about 1721, the son of a cordwainer from East Kent. His mother had died by 1732 as his father then married Martha Young at St Dunstans in the East.
Some time between 1745 and 1747 James joined the 3rd Regiment of Foot (“The Buffs”), which was raised in East Kent. On 18th April 1747 he married Ann Garnham, of Whitechapel, at Fleet. They had one child called James who was born in about 1748.
In 1749 the two companies of The Buffs were disbanded and James reverted to his previous occupation of Shoemaker.
By 1750 Ann must have died as James, now a widower, married Elizabeth Cock at Chislet in East Kent. They had at least one child, a daughter Elizabeth, who was born in 1751.
James was widowed again by 1755 when he married Mary Durant (herself a widow) in Deptford.
In 1766 he was trading as a cordwainer in Three Colts Street, Limehouse. The following year was engaged to take charge of the Country House of the Aldgate Workhouse in Epping. He remained there as Master until at least 1769.
In 1772 he was appointed Master of the workhouse in Hastings where he remained for a year. He then may have taken other workhouse appointments before his last one at Darenth, Kent in 1784.
His wife Mary died in 1785 as he himself did the following year at the age of 65.
