He was born at Hill of Eaglesham on 2 January 1637 the fourth son of Robert Wodrow (1600-1672) and his wife Agnes Dunlop.
[1] James was educated at Eaglesham Parish School by John Tran who was later Professor of Philosophy at Glasgow University.
He then disappears from records again until August 1688 when he was appointed preacher at the Markdaylay Meeting House in south Glasgow.
Only in 1689 was he ordained as a minister, but this was to one of the city's most prestigious churches: the Outer High Kirk housed in Glasgow Cathedral.
Four years later, in February 1692, he was Professor of Divinity at Glasgow University in place of Rev Prof James Wemyss DD.