This James and his wife were first from Lincoln Co., NC, and then Wilkes Co., NC. When John's family left Washington Co., they went back to North Carolina and settled in Watagua County. There are descendents still in the Boone, North Carolina area. Willis went back to Wilkes Co., and later to Caldwell Co., NC.

One researcher thought that there might be a connection between this James and the early John McGinnis of Washington Co., TN -some type of relation; however, she also said that her thoughts were pure speculation without a bit of evidence.