Married 1808 in England. Eldest son John born 1811 arrived on Egyptian 28 December 1831. James brought six servants in with him. Allocated 4,666 acres and took 693 acres in the Canning District and the rest in the Avon district. Land at Fremantle - Lot 185 in 1834 and also Lot 107 in Guildford in 1831. Perth Lot L6 in 1830. He was appointed Postmaster soon after his arrival and was the first Postmaster. Elizabeth Purkis died in 1849. James married a second time to Mary Ann Martin 8 November 1851 (widow of George Martin). Eldest son John went to New South Wales. James died in 1853 and his second wife Mary Ann died in 1893 aged 94 years.