James W. Marland was born on November 18, 1888, to Caleb and Elizabeth Marland, in Preston, Lancashire. A 1919 ship's passenger manifest in shows that he arrived in the U.S.A. with Morristown, New Jersey, as his destination, but that he had been previously in America for seven years prior to April, 1916. He lived in Morristown until 1933 but also owned a home and property in Budd Lake, Mt Olive. His occupation was listed as artist, or in the town directory as painter. He both decorated and painted houses, most notably the four murals depicting a pastoral North England scene in the dining room of the home of the store owner Theodore King. In 1942 James Marland registered for the US draft, and finally returned to Preston, where he died on December 22, 1972.

The King Homestead is now a museum run by The Roxbury Historic Trust, which is looking for more information on the life and works of James Marland; if you can help them, please make contact as explained on http://www.roxburynewjersey.com/trust-marland.htm.

Edited: 18 December 2015