James, born about 1829, was the son of Angus MacCuish and Catherine Paterson of Harris, then, by 1830, in old Borve, Berneray. However, in 1854 tenants in Borve were cleared from their land in order to make way for Borve Farm.  The family became cottars in Backhill, with James working as a fisherman.

He was tragically drowned together with John MacCusbic, Alexander MacLeod and Duncan MacLeod when the boat struck Lochran Dubh in the Sound of Harris and capsized in a storm.