Memories of the James family.

An old photo

By Irene Lee (nee James)

I was very interested to see a reference to the James family. My great-grandfather was John Thomas James, younger son of Edward James (1810-1903) farmer, and his wife Hannah. John Thomas James was station master of Bottesford in the last few years of the 19th century, leaving for Eastwood in 1902.

I believe that the attached photo is the family, as I'm sure that on the back row John Thomas James is the third male from the right, his son George James second, and my grand father, Albert Mark James, the eldest son, first. The lady next to them is probably John Thomas' wife Sarah Jane. The photo must have been taken after Hannah died in March 1899, so perhaps for Edward's 90th birthday? Sadly, the photo has seen better days but may jog someone's memory.

Francis James was publican at the Red Lion, the pub having been run by various members of the family for about 50 years.

The family can be traced back via Granby, to Hickling in Nottinghamshire and to a Henry James born about 1645. I would be interested to find out if there are any James's still in the area as I did hear that there was a Mrs. James, pig farmer, there about ten years ago.