Little is known of James Pelling prior to his marriage in 1809 to Jane Belchambers in Maidstone, Kent County, England. They were in Frindsbury in 1810 when their first son was born. He immigrated to America in 1843 with his wife, Jane, four of their children and a granddaughter, Jane Pelling. The oldest son, John remained in England in the parish of St. Mary's Hoo. The family settled in Lisle, Illinois, on North Chicago Road (now Ogden Avenue). A son, James, moved on to LaSalle County, Illinois. The other members of the family established farms in the Lisle area.
The burial place of James has never been verified. It is thought that he may be buried in Lisle Cemetery where his wife and son are buried.
Jane Belchambers had a brother, William, who also immigrated to America. He was killed by a team of horses "running away with him". When Jane's husband died, the property was sold and she moved in with her daughter, Jane (Pelling) Hammond, until her death in 1865. She is buried in Lisle Cemetery. There is no monument marking her grave now, however the D.A.R. had recorded inscriptions years ago
and Jane's was still standing then.