James Buchanan was born in Glasgow, Scotland on 11 August 1845. His parents were Peter Buchanan and Jane Liddle.

He arrived at Durban, Natal on 21 September 1863 on the “Sebastian”. Five days later the ship ran aground and sank.

On his application for passage, he was listed as a Saddler. He was to become a successful blacksmith and wagonmaker.

He married Elizabeth Dow (27 February 1850 Glasgow - 26 Feb 1932 Ramelkop) on 28 July 1868 in Pietermaritzburg. They later settled in Howick.

James and Elizabeth had 11 children together.

b1 Jane (8 June 1870 Bushmans river - 19 September 1938 Pretoria) married William Joseph Remfry Harvard (1852 Worthing, England - 13 May 1924 Howick) on 5 January 1891.

b2 James (17 January 1872 PMB - 26 March 1948 Ramelkop) married Mary McKellar (13 July 1873 Nottingham Road - 26 March 1953 Roodepoort) on 26 January 1895 in PMB.

b3 Robert Finlayson (15 February 1874 PMB - 30 January 1875 PMB)

b4 George (12 October 1875 Lions River - 15 January 1967 Newcastle) married Margaret Johnson Forsyth (3 September 1881 Edinburgh - 29 July 1957) on 2 March 1904 in PMB.

b5 William (9 September 1877 PMB - 27 February 1971 PMB) married Ellie Marian Thompson (4 June 1883 PMB - 16 June 1964 PMB) on 2 August 1905 in Caversham, Lions River.

b6 John Mclean (12 January 1881 PMB - 19 June 1965 Lions River) married Caroline Henrietta Loose (16 April 1882 Durban  - 11 October 1939 Merrivale, Lions River) on 8 June 1904 in PMB.

Then John Mclean married Grace Edna Lyle (24 October 1912 PMB - 13 August 1983 PMB) on 15 June 1940 PMB.

b7 Allan McGregor (30 April 1883 Howick - 28 September 1971 Hillcrest, Durban)

b8 Archibald Douglas (27 February 1885 Howick  - 22 February 1970 Ladysmith) Married Violet Helen Ball (December 1895 PMB - 20 February 1965 Ladysmith) on 15 February 1922 PMB.

b9 Victoria Elizabeth (7 July 1887 Howick  - 25 April 1971 Benoni) married George Willie Trickett (26 June 1878 England - 17 June 1962 Howick) on 22 February 1911 Howick.

b10 Alexander (23 November 1889 Howick - 28 September France)

b11 Ewan (13 September 1894 Howick  - June 1979 PMB) Married Frieda Anna Lisetta Erfmann (13 September 1892 Howick - October 1979 PMB)