James Elder was born in 1712 in Lough Neagh, Antrim, Ulster, Ireland to Robert Elder and Eleanor Gillespie. He immigrated to America in 1730 with his parents and siblings. They settled in Path Valley. James married Unknown Cole about 1730 in Pennsylvania. James obtained a warrant for a tract of land on April 16, 1763. He married secondly to Elizabeth Maipes on March 5, 1759 in Swede's Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. James died on September 13, 1818 in Fannett, Pennsylvania.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Robert Elder (1730-1807) | 1730 Perth, Scotland, United Kingdom | April 1807 Path Valley, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States | Elizabeth Watt (1735-?) Mary Lowry (?-?) |
| David Elder (?-?) | |||
| Rosanah Elder (?-?) | |||
| Martha Elder (?-?) | |||
| John Elder (?-?) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Martha Elder (?-?) | |||
| Agnes Elder (?-?) | |||
| Nancy Elder (?-?) | |||
| James Elder, Jr. (?-?) | |||