Descended from a Norman family of Huguenots who were successful in the silk industry before falling on hard times, James emigrated to Australia with his family when he was 5. His second name derives from his paternal grandmother’s family. He was educated at Bathurst, N.S.W., where his father opened an academy and served as the district registrar. James served his apprenticeship in the pastoral industry as a "jackeroo". He was initially employed by Mr. Thom of Bathurst, on one of his stations, his remuneration being his keep, clothes, and a heifer per year. He later managed properties in the Molong district, and on the Lachlan. At some time in the 1860's he joined the staff of the Aust. Joint Stock Bank, and it is believed that the Bank sent him to Gympie. While in the Cape River district, he gathered a Vocabulary of One Hundred and Fifty-Four Words of the Yuckaburra Dialect spoken by the Munkeeburra, South Kennedy District. He died young, possibly of flu in 1891.

Descended from a Norman family of Huguenots who were successful in the silk industry before falling on hard times, James emigrated to Australia with his family when he was 5. His second name derives from his paternal grandmother’s family. He was educated at Bathurst, N.S.W., where his father opened an academy and served as the district registrar. James served his apprenticeship in the pastoral industry as a "jackeroo". He was initially employed by Mr. Thom of Bathurst, on one of his stations, his remuneration being his keep, clothes, and a heifer per year. He later managed properties in the Molong district, and on the Lachlan. At some time in the 1860's he joined the staff of the Aust. Joint Stock Bank, and it is believed that the Bank sent him to Gympie. While in the Cape River district, he gathered a Vocabulary of One Hundred and Fifty-Four Words of the Yuckaburra Dialect spoken by the Munkeeburra, South Kennedy District. He died young, possibly of flu in 1891.