He is supposed to have lived in pennsylvania for a short period of time, then moved to Burke County, North Carolina.

From Dr. James Benton Collier Birmingham Alabama: James Collier first appears in the census of Burke County, North Carolina in 1790. He is married and has one son. On August 26, 1794 he bought 400 acres of land on the head of "Gunpowder Creek on the waters of lower creek". In April 1798, he bought 50 adjacent acres.

James was a farmer and a very active Methodist. At Collier’s Methodist Church in Lenoir, Caldwell County, North Carolina was named after him and built on land given to the church by him.

He died March 07, 1820 and was probably buried in the cemetery at Collier Methodist church The church site, is on part of the original 450 acre farm. And is in that part of old Burke County, which became Cadwell County, in 1841.

James is listed as serving as a juiror twice in 1797 & 1798. Bennet Bradford is listed as witness to the will of James Collier. The original will was destroyed by Union troops of gen. Stonemans command. in april 1865, when they threw the records from the Burke County, court house and burned them.