George James was born at Lower Macquarie Street, Hobart on 1 August 1862. He married Emma Cotton Born at Kelvedon, near Swansea on 3 Aug 1889. She was born 5 Jan 1866.;;Their children were Roydon George, 15 Oct 1890, Francis Wilfred born 26 Sep 1893, Winston Victor born 21 May 1897, Adrian Lindsay, born 11 Jun 1901 and Alan Maurice, born 17 Apr 1908. The family lived at 13 Hill Street and later at Browns River Road. ;;George James was a member of various Temperance societies in Hobart.