James was born before 1772 because he was married in 1788.
Research notes: James was married in 1788 to Isabella in Whixley. There is a death record in 1829 in Whixley for James, presumed to be this incumbent. The birth date on the death record is 1771, which would make him age 17 at marriage. Four candidate birth records have been found for a James Pawson in this county in the around 1771. Births in Bramham and Barwick are ruled out because later records for these individuals are robust. Births in Wakefield and Rastrick are far distant from Whixley. James died before the first British census. 23&me evidence links James to another James, (Pawson-242) 2 generations later, via 3 men now living in Ontario. The latter Pawson is perhaps a grandson, but his putative father Robert cannot yet be found in this incumbent's kindred.
Marriage, 8 Sept 1788, Whixley, North Yorkshire County Record Office, Archive Ref N-PR-WHX1-4, Yorkshire Banns:<https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBPRS%2FYORKSHIRE%2FBAN%2F300214877%2F1>
Burial of likely candidate, Whixley Parish Oct 12, 1829, age 58, abode Green Hammerton Archive Ref N-PR-WHX1-11, page 23, North Yorkshire County Record Office:<https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBPRS%2FYORKSHIRE%2F13-0743_GB-YOR_PARISH-REGISTERS-N-PR-WHX-1-11-1537-1900%2F00015&parentid=GBPRS%2FYORKSHIRE%2FBUR%2F304068678>
and "England, Yorkshire, Parish Registers, 1538-2016", <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6618-WKW1> Entry for James Pawson, 1829.
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