Welcome to our James from Stratford, Essex, Middlesex, Hackney, London and all  over!

James Frederick James and Gladys James_________as the story goes_____

James (Jim) Frederick JAMES was born in 1897 to Benjamin JAMES and Helen HARPER Gladys James was born in 1900 to Richard and Harriett Louisa BISHOP.

Gladys had fallen for her cousin James (Jim) Frederick JAMES whom she wished to  marry, this of course caused a family stir which apparently ended in a court  case trying to prevent this marriage. Gladys was with child and she and Jim  soon married in St Lukes Church, Hackney 20th May 1922.

Jim JAMES immigrated to Western Australia in 1923 leaving Gladys with their  first born son James Jr (Jimmy) and again pregnant, she later followed Jim to  their new home in Western Australia with James now 1 year old and new daughter  Gladys 3 months. They settled in East Rockingham Gladys having a total of 12  children, 
 8 still alive today.

Although Gladys?s father wrote to her until his death in 1953, keeping her  informed about her siblings and his new marriage to Ada, along with Gladys?s  new step brothers and sisters, Gladys choosing not to share to much of her  English family with her new Australian family.

Gladys kept a few things from her past, things that were special to her, a  letter from her dear father Richard, a letter from her step sister Maud and one  from Sid informing her of her fathers death in 1953.
 A hand full of photos most without names and none with dates____why?

Eric Dean, a adopted son of Richard and Harriet JAMES, adopted brother to  Gladys made news in 1944 when his ship Exeter was sunk by the Japanese and Eric  had been taken POW. Eric later recovered in Hollywood Hospital in Western  Australia where his ship the HMS Maidstone was docked at Fremantle Port which  caught Gladys?s eye while she was browsing the local Australian Newspaper. A  brief reunion were Eric came to visit his sister Gladys before heading back to  London.

Jim passed away in 1966 aged 71, and Gladys died in 1998 aged 98, Both laid to  rest in Fremantle Cemetery together again, with their secrets______________

~~~~~ so now our search begins ~~~~~ who are we ~~~~~ where do we belong ~~~~~

We are one small branch of a large tree_____a tree without roots.

I hope after reading this and browsing through this site you may be able to  connect us with our `Mystery` James?s. Maybe you remember a tale told to you a  long time ago.

Thank you for your time - James family ~ Australia.

Please note: some photographs displayed were part of Gladys?s personal  collection left to her family; they may not necessarily be associated directly  with the surname JAMES. Photos that are in question will be marked with a  question mark (?)