Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Briggs a general labourer, born 1874 in Wardley, Rutland and his wife Martha Emily, born 1875 in Uppingham, Rutland. James was born in 1899 in Stilton, Hunts., his siblings were Ellen, born 1894 in Alconbury, Hunts., John, born 1897 in Leicester and Emily, born 1898 in Peterborough, Northants., in March 1901 the family home was at Gambells Yard, Uppingham, Rutland. In April 1911 James was a scholar and was residing in the family home at Stretton Parva, Leics., together with his father, now a farm shepherd, his mother and siblings, John, Ada, born 1902 and Hilda, born 1904, the latter two siblings were both born in Ilkeston, Derbys., Edith Lily, born 1905 in North Kilworth, Leics., Charles, born 1907 in Uppingham, Rutland and Florence, born 1909 in Loddington, Leics.