Details of James's birth are not known.

James married Florence Critchley in 1918 in Prescot, Lancashire.

He had the following children from his marriage to Florence Critchley:

- Bessie Dutton	born in 1920 at Prescot, Lancashire.
- Frank Dutton	born in 1922 at Prescot, Lancashire.
- Florence Eileen Dutton	born in 1924 at Prescot, Lancashire.

Details of James's occupation are not known.