His father gave him land on Riders Creek. In the will of his mother in 1771, she willed him "cowes and calves", and to his wife "ann Swain I give one cotton gound". James and his mother were executors of his father's estate.
James named two slaves in his last will and testament, a man and woman, Providence & Hannah. He left Providence to his wife and Hannah to son Abram. These two slaves ended up in the possession of Eliakim Swain and are named in his will in 1812.
