[1][2][3] In January 1848, his father Joseph emigrated to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) as an agent of the Van Dieman's Land Colonial Mission Society and was appointed the resident Independent minister at Richmond within a few weeks of his arrival.

[4][5] He immigrated with his mother, three sisters, his brother John Clarke Foote and his sister-in-law on the Emigrant arriving in Moreton Bay on 12 August 1850.

[13] However, on 13 March 1888, he broke his leg when he stood up in his buggy and the horse suddenly moved forward, throwing him backwards.

[12] James Foote died on 4 September 1895 at his residence in Ipswich;[1] He had been ill for some months prior to his death.

The Old Ipswich Town Hall had its flag at half-mast, many businesses with which James Foote was associated closed for the day, and there was a very large funeral cortege.

Young, the hearse was followed by all of James Foote's employees walking, James Foote's favourite buggy bearing a pet dog, then 60 to 70 vehicles and a considerable number of horsemen, while many citizens lined the route to the Ipswich General Cemetery, where a graveside service was conducted.