James Pendleton, the son of Brian Pendleton, was born in London, England, in 1627 or 1628. His parents emigrated to New England before he was six years old, settling in Watertown, Massachusetts, before 1634. They lived in Sudbury, Massachusetts, from 1639 to 1646. James was the only son of Brian Pendleton to leave descendents. His parents deeded their homestead in Sudbury plus 140 acres to James in 1656-1657. James Pendleton married Mary Palmer in 1647. She died in 1655 after bearing three children: James (1650), Mary (1653) and Hannah (1655). They all lived in Sudbury, Massachusetts. In 1656 James married Hannah Goodenow (age 16) who bore him eight children: Brian (1659), Joseph (1661), Edmund (1665), Ann (1667), Caleb (1669), Sarah (1675), Eleanor (1679), and Dorothy (1686). James and Hannah lived in Portsmouth after their marriage. James served as grand juryman of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1659; constable in 1661; town clerk 1663 and 1664; Selectman 1663 to 1668; local magistrate (Commissioner) 1667-1671; Captain of the military company 1666 to 1674 and was one of nine men to establish the first Congregational Church in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in 1671.
He moved his family in 1674 to 700 acres in Westerly, Rhode Island (or Stonington, Connecticut), east or the Pawcatuck River, which his father had deeded him in 1666. Whether this land belonged to Rhode Island or to Connecticut was under dispute for many years.
War with the Indians (King Philip's War) against the Pequots erupted soon after James and his family arrived. The war lasted two years and involved the Wampanoags and Narragansetts as well as the Pequots. There were many captives, including women and children, being sold as slaves.
James was active in the first Congregational Church in Stonington, Connecticut. He was elected Selectman of Stonington from 1677 to 1679. Since his property was east of the Pawcatuck River he was required in 1679 as a resident of Rhode Island to swear to a loyalty oath to the King of England and the Colony of Rhode Island. In 1686 James became a Freeman of Westerly, Rhode Island, and also was elected Selectman in 1686. He was appointed Justice in the Court of Kingstown in 1686 and of the King's Province in 1688 at Newport, Rhode Island.
James was clearly following in his father's footsteps in assuming numerous civil responsibilities. While living on his 700 acres in Westerly, Rhode Island, as Freeman he was elected Selectman in 1686 and 1691; moderator of Town Meeting 1687, 1688 and 1700; purchased 1000 acres at Watch Hill (Pawcatuck Neck also known as Squomacutt) in 1689; tax assessor 1699; town councilman 1699, 1701, 1704 and 1705 to 1710. He gave thirty acres of Watch Hill estate to his daughter Eleanor in April 1709 for her love and kindness during his sickness. He died in Westerly in 1709 at the age of 81 or 82. He was buried in the old cemetery on the point of land running into Pawcatuck River known as "Graves Neck", south of Lottery Village (now Avondale).