James Urwin was the son of Anthony Urwin. Anthony was born c1835 in Bradford, He married Ether Bennett 24 July 1854 at Bradford Cathedral.

James, the third of six children, was born in 1860 in Esholt. In 1871 the family were living at 25 Mary Street in Saltaire with Anthony working as a mill labourer and eleven year old James working as a spinner. In 1881 James was a wool comber living with his parents at 20 Constance Street in Saltaire.

James married Jane Murgatroyd 13 October 1886 at Bradford Cathedral. They had five children: - Fred (b1890), Lizzie (1892), Annie (1894), George (1897) and Willie (1900). Both Fred and George served in WW1.

In 1890 James lived with his family at 4 Cowling Street in Shipley. By 1901 they had moved to 1 Mary Street in Saltaire with James working as labourer in an iron foundry. From 1907 to 1920 they lived at 35 Dove Street in Saltaire. From 1921 until their deaths, home was 6 Merton Street in Shipley.

James died 3 October 1926 and Jane died 4 February 1934.
James was an Oddfellow, having been instituted as a member of the Loyal Tree of Life Lodge in 1887. He was appointed the Grand Master of the Shipley District of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows.