Moran was one of the two leading families in the shipbuilding era of St. Martins from 1803 to 1919.
In order for a shipbuilding family to function the support of a wife was needed.
[2] In 1805 James, at the age of 24, built and launched his first small ship, a 59-ton schooner named Thistle.
[3] Between 1840 and the late 1850s James was one of the leading shipbuilders in the Fundy area.
In 1856 his son James H. took over the shipyard, which later expanded to Saint John, New Brunswick.