James served as a member of the Town Council almost continuously from1705 to 1725 and from 1714 to 1718 as town treasurer. He was for severalyears pastor of the Baptist Church of Providence. He was first acolleague of Rev. Pardon Tillinghast, at whose death he associatedhimself to the pastoate with Rev. Ebenezer Jenckes, whom he succeeded aspastor in 1726, filling the ministerial office until his death. Jameswas an example of piety and meekness worthy of all admiration.