His mother was Dowager Duchess of Lennox from her previous marriage and Baroness Clifton of Leighton Bromswold, England, in her own right.
[3] As heir apparent of the Earl of Abercorn, James was styled Lord Paisley, which was at that time the courtesy title for the heir apparent in the family according to the Scottish manner.
The rank of this title is a Lord of Parliament and is equivalent to an English or Irish baron.
By 1646 Lord Paisley had become a good Presbyterian as is asserted in the proceedings of the General Assembly of the kirk of that year.
At the Restoration Lord Paisley tried to obtain some preferment through the intermediate of his uncle Sir George Hamilton, 1st Baronet (see Family tree), who was now well connected at the court as he had been in exile with the King.