 Felix, James Jr. and Rolinda joined the family enterprise at ages 17, 15, and 13 respectively.Before marrying Ellen Wallace, James had been active in Bristol, Liverpool and Bath, where he taught drawing.The family left for the United States in 1796, but, according to Ellen's diaries, their ship fell into the hands of the French, and for seven months the family spent time in Brest, near Cherbourg.