James Wortham moved to Brunswick County sometime before 6 March 1739 for on that date he was appointed to assist John Duke in clearing a road from John Duke's "Race Paths" (horse racing) to the "lower Cut bank Bridge". However, James also owned land in Prince George County, Virginia. This is shown by a deed dated February 12, 1760, from Joseph Wilkins of Martins Brandon Parish, Prince George County, to James Wortham "of same," conveyed 139 acres bounded by Joshua Poythress, John Limbrey Wilkins, now deceased, and Snow's Creek. James and wife Elizabeth had at least one child, Mary, baptised at Bristol Parish Church in Prince George County.

In his will, 8 Jan 1770, he left 546 acres in Brunswick Co., VA, on both sides of Little Shocco Creek to "my beloved son William Wortham." He also left William a slave named Sauney "now in his possession." He gave to his "beloved daughter Lucy Wortham a slave named Pat and her child. To "beloved daughter Mary Minutree" a slave named Marmadee along with his "lot of lands in the town of Edinburgh, Prince George County on the James River." To "beloved son Charles fifty pounds current money," the same inheritance also bequeathed to son John and daughter Elizabeth. Daughter Ann received a slave named Cate. James also left to his "beloved friend and neighbor, Elizabeth Baird, relict and widow of Rook Baird, twenty-five pounds for her attendance on me in time of sickness and services during my extremetries." He ordered his executors to "...sell all my lands in Virgina and North Carolina as also my stock, hogs, household furniture..(after debts are paid) to be equally divided between my children." The Executors were William Wortham and son-in-law Archibald Minutree. The witnesses were William Huff, Christopher Mason and William Myrick. (Brunswick Co. Virginia Will Book 4, p. 3) LDS Source: Batch #: C504721, Source Call #: Not Available592