“James C. Roy was born the 28th day April 1807 — His mother died the 30th April 1807” [Campbell Family Bible Record, Library of Virginia, Accession 23321.]

James Campbell Roy had a grandmother Judith Matthews and apparently had siblings Thomas M. B. Roy and Frances E. B. Roy. See Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 34, item 34-F-35.

James Roy was mentioned in the 1809 will of his grandmother Sally Campbell. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 17, pages 172–174.]

In 1817, land was divided (whose is not stated) between James C. Roy (James Roy, guardian) and Hugh Campbell. Done by Reuben M. Garnett, Archibald Ritchie, William M. Hutchason and Edward Wright. Recorded 17 June 1817. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 18, pages 417–418.]

In a chancery court case from 1840–1841, Telemachus B. Littlepage and Willy Ann his wife who was Willy Ann Dix, daughter of Thomas E. Dix deceased; James C. Roy and Mary E. his wife who was Mary E. Dix, daughter of Thomas E. Dix, deceased, stated that Thos. E. Dix, dead for many years, was the only child of Capt. Thomas Dix. Thomas E. Dix left a widow Sarah. Thomas E. Dix left a daughter Sarah, now deceased, who married a Mill and had a daughter Lucy Ann Mill, now an infant. Case from 1840–1841, Littlepage vs. Mill. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery 39, Item 39-O-22.]