Born on May 4, 1804 at Fenwick, Ayrshire, Scotland. Lived in the county of Lanarkshire. In a 1851 census he was 47 and married to Sybe Wylie, 53, with 3 children, Charlote 14, William 12, and Janet 10. They lived on 2 Murray Place 323 G E RD. He was a cotton weaver with 3 apprentices, his daugther Charlote, son William, and lodger James Whyte age 11. Had a brother, James Thomson that was also a cotton weaver. Later in a 1861 James was remarried to Lillias Wylie, she was 64. They lived on 19 Baird St with James' 3rd daughter Janet. Janet work with her father as a weaver. Finally James Wylie's life came to an end on January 12, 1862.