James Thornber was the son of Thomas Riley Chew and Alice Thornber.

James was born on Saturday 29 May 1847 in Gisburn, Yorkshire.

He was christened on Friday 4 June 1847 at Gisburn, Yorkshire.

He was christened James Thornber Chew, although his parents did not marry until 1849. However, he seemed to go by the surname of Thornber (see his children).

James married Ann French on Saturday 30 September 1871 in St John's Church, Langcliffe, Settle.
The witnesses at the marriage were Thomas Bosley and Alice French.
James was 24 years old and Ann was 20 years old when they married.

He had the following children from his marriage to Ann French:

- Alice Thornber	born around 1873 in Stainforth by Settle, Yorkshire.
- Jane Thornber	born around 1875 in Settle, Yorkshire.
- Mary Thornber	born around 1877 in Settle, Yorkshire.
- James Thornber	born around 1880 in Bolton by Bowland, near Clitheroe, Lancashire.
- Elizabeth Thornber	born around 1883 in Bolton by Bowland, near Clitheroe, Lancashire.

The places where he lived have been identified as:

From	To	Place	Source of Information
1847	1851	Gisburn, Yorkshire.	Notes 1 & 2.
1861		Poultry House, Horton in Gisburn, Yorkshire.	Note 3.
1871		Spring Heads, Bolton by Bowland, near Clitheroe, Yorkshire.	Note 4.
1881		Bolton Mill, Bolton by Bowland, Yorkshire.	Note 5.

James was an Agricultural Labourer.

Details of James's death are not known.

Notes - Sources of information:

1.	See 1851 Census. James's birthplace.
2.	See 1851 Census.
3.	See 1861 Census.
4.	See 1871 Census.
5.	See 1881 Census.

Parish Registers:
Details.

Census Data:

Year	Address
1851	Gisburn Coates, Gisburn, Yorkshire.
1861	Poultry House, Horton, Gisburn, Yorkshire.
1871	Spring Heads, Bolton by Bowland.
1881	Bolton Mill, Bolton by Bowland, Yorkshire.