James was born in Lyttelton but appears to have spent a good part of his early life in Australia.

He married Janet Whyte in Balaclava, Victoria, Australia in 1889
He was a hairdresser there

They moved to Hobart, then Sydney and in 1896 they moved to New Zealand, settling in Christchurch.

They had one child, Lynda Duke.

James left the house prior to 1905, leaving Janet in possession of everything, including the child Lynda.

They were divorced in 1907 and Janet remarried and had another 4 children.
She died in a rail-crossing accident with one of her grandchildren, daughter of their daughter Lynda

James remarried to Annie Barber-Smith in 1907

Nothing else is known about him after that EXCEPT he is buried alone in the Old Gorge Cemetery in Woodville.
He died on the 9th December 1937 aged 71.

Do you know what he was doing in Woodville, when he was there etc etc and why he is buried alone. What happened to his 2nd wife Annie ??