James Brewer was the son of Sackfield Brewer and Elinor Barrett. He was born in Charles City County, Virginia ("The Brewer Families of Colonial Virginia 1626-1776", by Marvin T. Broyhill III). He died before his estate was administered on June 26, 1759 in Louisa County, Virginia.

James married Elizabeth and had the following children:

William (bef 1733 - ) m. Susannah Ragland
Sackville (bef 6 Jul 1737 - 1795) m. Martha White
Philip (bef 6 Jul 1737 - )
Edmund B. (bef 6 Jul 1737 - bef 11 Oct 1793) m. Sarah Ragland
James ( ~1741 - bef 5 Apr 1819) m. Temperance Hundley

In 1725, James owned property next to his father in James City County, Virginia. He had moved from there to Hanover County, Virginia sometime before 1731. In 1742, Louisa County was formed from Hanover County. In 1743, "James Brewer of Hanover" bought 360 acres on the north side of Simon's Branch in Brunswick County, Virginia. No records of the sale of this land can be found through 1800 (Broyhill). He may not have ever moved to Brunswick because he is referred to later records as "James Brewer of Hanover". His two eldest sons, Edmund and Sackville, signed a bond as adminstrators of his estate in Louisa County, Virgiana on 26 June 1759. James was also mentioned in the will of his brother Sackville.