The son of James Da Shiell, Sr. “The Scotchman” (1603-1645) and Margaret Inglis (1604-1650), James Dashiell was born in 1634 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland (25), and he died before August 31, 1697 in Somerset County, Maryland. His will was entered for probate August 31, 1697 (26). At the age of nineteen in 1653, he traveled from Yorkshire, England to Northumberland County, Virginia (27) and in 1659, he married Ann Cannon (1639-1698) (28). She was the daughter of Edward Cannon (1618-1660) and his wife Ann (1620-1660), and she was transported to Virginia by her father. Their children were:

1. Captain James Dashiell, Jr. “Gentleman” (1660-1708)
2. Thomas Dashiell (1666-1755)
3. George Dashiell (1669-1733)
4. Katherine Dashiell (1672-1696)
5. Jane Dashiell (1675-1714
6. Robert Dashiell (1677-1718)
A niece, Elizabeth Dashiell (1655-1724) lived with them.

In 1663, the James Dashiell family relocated to Somerset County, Maryland; however–like David Spence—James Dashiell may have traveled back and forth between Northumberland County, Virginia and Somerset County for several years. His name appears on a transportation list to Maryland in 1665 (29). And he registered cattle marks in Maryland that same year (30). In 1680, his name appears on a list of signers on a Memorial stating that Lord Calvert was not partial to Catholics (31), and in 1690, he served as Customs Officer in Somerset County (32). Among his other activities:

1. Record of Transportation into Maryland-Land office index for 1663. February 1663. Patent for 1000 Acres called “DESPENSE” for transporting twenty persons into this Province to inhabit it, lying on the southernmost side of the Wicomico River at the mouth of a little creek called, “DECELLS” running up said river and part of the southernmost branch-James Dashiell, Ann Dashiell, James Dashiell and Elizabeth Dashiell appear as well as seven others. (Vol. 1, p. 22)
2. James Dashiell, Surveyor of Highways-Appointed by Court 27th November 1666 one of the surveyors of highways. (Vol. 1, p. 27)
3. August 10, 1668, Long Hill, was granted to Samuel Jackson by Caecilius Calvert, Lord Baron of Baltimore, Liber 12, folio 124. March 12, 1671, Samuel Jackson, Deed to James Dashiell Long Hill, on Nanticoke River and on Wetipquin Creek, 300 Acres, Liber S. C. 9, folio 80, Somerset County. (Vol. 1, p. 27)
4. Patent, September 2, 1675, Warrant to James Dashiell from Cecilius, Lord Baltimore, Whereas, James Dashiell of Somerset County, hath due unto him 50 Acres of land within our said Province, for transporting William Davis into our said province to inhabit as appears upon record and upon such “Conditions of Plantation” of date at London July 2, 1649,… Do hereby grant to James Dashiell all that parcel of land called “Wolf Trap Neck”, Liber 19, folio 148. (Vol. 1, p. 29)
5. BECKNAM. April 23, 1677, Leonard Jones made an Assignment for James Dashiell of 150 Acres of Land, which was to be taken out of 850 acres granted Leonard Jones by a Warrant dated April 6, 1675. (Vol. 1, p. 29)
6. JAMES DASHIELL. JUDGE. Commission dated March 8, 1678 to JAMES DASHIELL, Justice of Somerset County. (Vol. 1, p. 31)
7. ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND. August 1681, James Dashiell, member of Lower House of Assembly-Maryland Archives, Volume 7, page 125. (Vol. 1, p. 31)
8. MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF BURGESSES-1682 was a member from Somerset County in the Maryland House of Burgesses. (Vol.1, p. 32)
9. RELIGIOUS TOLERATION IN MARYLAND-“Lord Baltimore Declaration” dated Maryland 13 May 1682 and which is “signed by twenty five of the leading members of the Church of England in the Province of Maryland, in testimony of his impartiality in administering the Government of the Province to Protestants as well as Roman Catholics.” James Dashiell was the twelfth person of the 25 that signed the above mentioned memorial. (Vol. 1, p. 32) (32)