James Alders was born at Little Easton, Essex, the son of James Alders, a clerk. He attended Felsted School under the headmastership of Simon Lydiatt, who held office from 1690 to 1712.
In 1705, Alders went up to St John’s College, Cambridge (then known as the College of St John the Evangelist). He was a sizar for Dr Berry (a sizar was an undergraduate who financed his studies by undertaking menial tasks within the college) and his tutor and surety was Mr Bosville.
In 1720 he was Vicar of Great and Little Easton and then moved to Hempstead in 1726, where he remained until his death in 1735. In his Will, he left two guineas and his “old coat, waistcoat and breeches” to his servant Robert Smith , and 20 shillings to the poor of each of the two parishes.