Born in Sheffield, James Buxton may have been the brother of George Buxton.  If so, his birth was on 16 December 1811 and he was the son of George, a cutler, and his wife, Ann. James lived in Tudor Street by 1841 and worked as a table knife cutler.  During the 1840s, he moved to Thomas Street and was listed as a table knife manufacturer.  The 1851 census enumerated him in Thomas Street, employing a dozen men, and living with his wife Mary.  His daughter Ann assisted in the warehouse.  He remained in Thomas Street, variously described as a table knife cutler or blade grinder, until his death.  He died on 22 May 1874, aged 62, and was buried in the General Cemetery.