I'm looking for the same information! It is believed that daughter Hephzibar married William Crowden from March, Cambs, and emigrated to the USA in 1853. You're not in touch with Cheryl in Chicago by any chance?
A few clues:
- in the 1841 census James was stated to have been born in Huntingdonshire
- his daughter Naomi by his first wife married Thomas Slade in 1828. In the 1851 and 1861 censuses her birthplace was given as St Neots, Hunts
- his son Richard's (by his first wife) place of birth in the 1851/61/71 censuses was Eynesbury which is now part of St Neots
- in Feb 1819 he received assistance from the parish of Gt Paxton to bury one of his children, John, aged 8, so he must have moved from St Neots/Eynesbury prior to 1819
- daughter Ruth was born c 1824 in Gt Paxton per 1851 census
So my line of attack will be to check the St Neots and Eynesbury parish registers, for both his first marriage, christenings of his children, and his possible baptism
Problem: the registers have not been filmed either by the LDS or by Hunts FHS so the only way to view them is by a visit to Huntingdon Record Office, which I've not yet had the opportunity to do.
There were also a lot of Gaunts in the neighbouring village of Offord Darcy.
I suspect his first wife was named Edith as there is a burial in Gt Paxton on 28 Jan 1826 of Edith Gaunt aged 38.
I'll also send you a direct message.
Regards
David