James Lee

Born in North Shields to parents John & Ann, and baptised on 7 November 1824 in Tynemouth, Northumberland, James was a mariner/seaman.

Age 15 he's listed in the 1841 census as living with his mother Ann in North Shields, Northumberland - perhaps his father was also a mariner, and at sea.

It is not clear how or when he met and married Mary (she was born & lived in Shadwell, London). They married on 13 August 1855. Their first child (William) was born ~1851 in London, first & only daughter (Ann) born ~1858 in South Shields, and the remaining sons born in Shadwell, London.

In the 1861 census he's listed as married, age 36, and one of 6 crew on board the Phoebe, a 225 ton Northumberland coastal collier vessel, on 7 April 1861.

By 1871 he's age 47, living in Shadwell, London with his wife, 4 sons William (20), John (10), Edward (7) and James (4), and daughter Ann (13).