James Henry Stubbs was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England in 1884 and his birth was registered in the first quarter of that year. He was the son of Joseph Bradley Stubbs (1858-1892) and Ellen Collett (1860-1930), both natives of Hampshire who married in Southampton in 1878.

James had two known siblings: Joseph William (b. 1880) and Fanny Ellen (b. 1890).

James appears with his family on the 1891 census loving at 12 St John's Buildings (?), St Michael, Southampton and his father was described as a labourer. His father would pass away in 1892 and his mother was remarried in Southampton in 1898 to Thomas Moran, a ship's cook (b. 1862 in Ireland). On the 1901 census James and his family are living at 11 Mortimer Road, Southampton and he is described as a labourer in a brewery. James was not present for the 1911 census, but his family were living at 98 French Street, Southampton.

When James signed-on to the Titanic, on 6 April 1912 he gave his local address as 11 Spa Road, (Southampton). His last ship had been the Olympic. As a fireman he received monthly wages of £6.

James Stubbs, who was unmarried, died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified. The following death notice appeared in the Southern Dailey Echo (29 April 1912):

STUBBS-April 15th, on the s.s. Titanic, James Henry Stubbs, age 28, the dearly loved son of Ellen Moran, 98 French Street, Southampton. Gone from our sight, but to memory ever dear.

James' mother Ellen continued to live in Southampton and died there in 1930.