James Fraser was born in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1882 but his exact background is uncertain 1.
He served his apprenticeship with Barry, Henry & Co. of Aberdeen and upon completion served for two years on ships operated by Langlands & Sons, following which he joined the White Star Line as sixth engineer aboard the Adriatic in October 1907. He held a first class Engineer's Certificate.
He was married around 1906 to Florence Jane Stephen (b. 1882), a native of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland. The couple would have two children, a daughter named Florence Stephen (b. 1910) and a son named James (b. 1912). The family appear on the 1911 census living at 54 Tennyson Road, Portswood, Southampton and James was described as a marine engineer.
When he signed on to the Titanic¸ on 6 April 1912, James gave his address as 54 Tennyson Road, (Southampton) and his previous ship as the Adriatic. As junior assistant 3rd engineer he could expect monthly wages of £11, 10s.
James Fraser died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.
His widow Florence never remarried and remained living in Southampton, later at 14 Southcliff Road. She died on 5 February 1933.
His daughter Florence never married and remained in Southampton for the rest of her life. She died in 2002.
His son James later became a clerk. Following the outbreak of WWII he served in the Navy, training at HMS Collingwood. In a curious twist of fate he was on board the HMS Belmont, a British destroyer, when that ship was torpedoed off the coast of Newfoundland and sunk on 31 January 1942, resulting in the loss of her entire crew of 138 persons. He was 29, the same age as his father had been when he died, also off the coast of Newfoundland.