James Rainbow was born to William and Elizabeth Rainbow at the end of 1769 in Great Berrington, Oxfordshire and baptised there in August 1770. He was an employee of James Henry Leigh in 1784, presumably at Adlestrop Park, when he was paid 22 guineas a year - a basic wage of 12 guineas and the rest to pay for his livery. He was named by the Reverend Thomas Leigh, in a list of servants resident at Adlestrop Rectory in 1805 - he was the vicar's butler.
On 16 June 1808 James was married at Adlestrop by the Rev. Thomas to another Rectory servant, Sarah Ryman (who had been born at Little Berrington), though he appears to have moved to Stoneleigh at some point. Perhaps he came with the Rev. Thomas when he took over the Stoneleigh estate, or perhaps later, when James Henry inherited from his uncle/guardian in 1813.
Although the headstone is badly worn and the lower section has flaked away entirely, it is just possible to read that James died on 19 May 1821. He was buried on 22 May aged 52 and is recorded in the burial register as "of Stareton." The following year, James Henry Leigh redeemed a bond James had taken out, in order to settle the money on James' widow, Sarah. James seems to have begun and ended his working life in the employ of James Henry Leigh - first at Adlestrop and finally at Stoneleigh.
