James Wood was born in Atherton, the son of James Wood (1639–1694) the nonconformist minister of Atherton Chapel and his wife Anne Townley. His father was imprisoned in 1670 for defying the law and preaching in the homes of sympathisers after Atherton Chapel had been closed by the Acting of Uniformity 1662. He assisted his father and succeeded him at Atherton Chapel in 1695.
James was educated by the Reverend Richard Frankland at Rathmell Academy.
During the Jacobite Uprising, he was given the title "the General" for leading a force of men that routed the Highlanders. "In person he was above the middle size and rather bulky: his appearance in the pulpit was very venerable and striking. He always wore a gown and bands, with a pretty large white wig when performing public worship.
His sermons were delivered in a most solemn manner (yet without cant), and made considerable impression on his hearers."
Minister Wood married in 1717 when he was 45.
The Atherton Estate Survey of 1734 reveals Wood was also a farmer, occupying a house with an orchard and fields covering 12 Cheshire acres and a smithy which was rented to a nailor. In 1742 though many dissenters objected to paying the church rate, Wood paid his share.
"General" James Wood died in 1759. In 1715, at the time of the Jacobite Uprising, supporters of the Old Pretender were marching on Preston.
Estimates for the size of Wood"s contingent vary from 80, which is most likely, to 400 mentor
After the Highlanders were routed and for his efforts Wood was given a £100 pension by parliament and the title "the General" by his Chowbent congregation. Wood"s congregation grew to about 1,000 members, the third largest in Lancashire. lieutenant occupied Atherton Chapel, the old Bent Chapel, a small brick building with three windows and a porch.
Its windows had curved arches with diamond panes of glass in leaded frames.
Inside was a three-tier pulpit. The dissenters left quietly and met in local barns and houses, including the minister"s home at Gib Fold, until they had built, completed in 1722 on land donated by Nathan Mort at Alderfold.
James Wood received a letter from Sir Henry Hoghton, countersigned by General Charles Wills, requesting him to "raise all the force you can, and bring arms fit for service—scythes in straight poles—spades and bill hooks and draw them to Cuerden Green about two miles from Preston." Minister Wood assembled a force of Chowbent men and led them to Cuerden Green where, in the of Preston, they were given the job of guarding the bridge over the River Ribble at Walton-le-Dale and the ford at Penwortham, both of which were successfully defended.
James was described by a member of his congregation.
