Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Chesterton a coal miner, born 1853 in Newbold Verdon, Leics., and his wife Fanny, born 1855 in Barlestone, Leics. James Edwin was born in 1877 in Barlestone, Leics., he had one sibling, a sister Mary A., born 1880 in Barlestone, Leics., in April 1881 the family home was at The Manor House, Main Street, Barlestone, Leics. In April 1891 James was employed as a brickyard labourer and was residing in the family home at Main Street, Barlestone, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Eleanor E., born 1876 in Church Gresley, Derbys., Mary, William P., born 1885 and Thomas, born 1889, the latter three siblings were all born in Barlestone, Leics. His younger brother Francis also fell in action.