James AKA "William Chalmers" Anderson was born in 1828 in Warkworth, Northumberland, England as the first child of John Anderson and Ann Taylor. He had two siblings, namely: John, and Mary Anne. He died on 7 May 1867 in Toodyay, Western Australia, Australia. When he was 31, he married Sarah Ann Kennedy, daughter of Frederick George Kennedy and Mary Ann Burke, in 1859 in Greenough, Western Australia, Australia.

Crime: 23 October 1848 (Tried at Old Bailey, London. Accused of housebreaking (feloniosly breaking and entering the dwelling of John Holland Ray, and stealing 1 shawl and other articles, value 11s; his goods to which). Found guilty.) He was employed as a Portmanteau Maker (luggage) before 1851.

James Anderson and Sarah Ann Kennedy had the following children:

1. Emma Jane Anderson was born in 1859 in Toodyay, Western Australia, Australia. She died about 1908. She married Hermanus Lambertus "Henry John; Herman Henri Looke" Look on 19 January 1877 in Greenough, Western Australia, Australia (Wesleyan Church). She married Thomas Phillip Grant in 1905 in Dongara, Western Australia, Australia.
2. Frederick William Anderson was born in 1861 in Toodyay, Western Australia, Australia. He died on 23 February 1925 in Guildford, Western Australia, Australia (5 Scott Street). He married Harriet Branson on 24 May 1890 in New Norcia, Western Australia, Australia.
3. Mary Anne Anderson was born on 22 May 1863 in Toodyay, Western Australia, Australia. She died on 17 October 1940 in Midland Junction, Western Australia, Australia. She married Alfred Browning on 24 May 1881 in Greenough, Western Australia, Australia (St James Church).
4. Sarah Ann Anderson was born on 26 June 1864 in Newcastle, Western Australia, Australia. She died on 19 November 1905 in Sawyers Valley, Western Australia, Australia. She married George Walter Trew on 20 March 1882 in Guildford, Western Australia, Australia (Registry Office).
5. Henrietta Anderson was born in 1867 in Toodyay, Western Australia, Australia. She died in 1886 in Dongara, Western Australia, Australia.