James, known as Jimmy or in dialect "Jimma" first appeared in the saga as a lad, living and working from Home Farm. At that time he was an apprentice teamster, team-man or carter articled to Farmer Dawson, (dialect "Dorsen"). Although both his parents are dead, he has several close relatives living in the nearby village of Great Mardlingham and is distantly connected to Farmer Dawson's wife. Age-wise he has only recently passed his twenty-first birthday, but being a well build lad, he has always looked more mature than he actually is.
As an apprentice, Jimmy lived-in at Home Farm, as part of the extended household, which also includes young Virginia (aka Ginny) and her dog Raggs. Jimma and Ginny have always had a little sister - big brother relationship, but Jimma has never got on well with Raggs, Ginny's dog.
Romantically Jimma is enamoured of Bea, the landlord's daughter at the Crossed Arms, Little Mardlingham's only Inn. One evening in the taproom, after watching Bea flirting with a corporal of militia, Jimma conspires with Jarge to frame the corporal for poaching. Unfortunately, the scam goes wrong and brings him to within a hairsbreadth of a charge for insurrection against the person and authority of Sir Marcus, the local magistrate and landowner.
Fortunately, a real, if rather minor, insurrection arises involving an entire company of Mardlingham Militia and Jimma escapes during the ensuing chaos. With the metaphorical egg on everyone's faces, things could have gone very wrong for young Jimma. However Cupid's sudden intervention in the form of a loud noise and the vicar's sister, Rosamunda, bring things to a conclusion with Sir Marcus attention being pleasurably diverted from matters judicial to those of romance.
On the principle that out of sight is out of mind, Jimma leaves the village and finishes up in Norwich, where he finds himself a job as a brewer's dray-man. After growing a beard as a superficial disguise and coming to terms with Farmer Dorsen over the broken apprenticeship, Jimma feels safe enough to include Mardlingham in his delivery rounds, thus maintaining his liaison with Bea.
As can be seen from the picture of somebody resembling the hirsute Jimma, the young fellow has a mature and assured air about him.
(Anyone recognise this photo?)
