James was civically minded having been a Burgess of Kirkcudbright from 1630 to 1661. He had three sons, Robert, Thomas and David.

Source: Robert Halliday Lidderdale, An Account of the Lowland Scots Family of Lidderdale, 1950.

On the 4th May 1630, Thomas Lidderdaill de Sanct Mary Isle was heir parcener of Magistri Roberti Richardsone, commendatoris de Sanct Mary Ile, avi ex parte Matris. In December 1636, James Lidderdaill had sasine of Torris Grange (Torrs and Grange) and others. In December 1640, we find Thomas Lidderdaill of St Mary's Isle, and James his son. Again, on the 17th August 1652, that Thomas, son of James Lidderdaill of Isle, had retour, as heir of his brother Robert, in the land of Torr.

St. Mary's Isle appears to have been retained by the Lidderdales. On the 23rd June 1668, Robert, son of James Lidderdale, had retour of the two and a-half merk land of the Isle. In July 1668, Thomas Lidderdale of Gerantoun, son of Robert, had sasine of the land of St. Marie Ile; and on the same day Robert Lidderdale, now of St. Marie Ile, had sasine of the same.

Source: P.H. McKerlie, History of the Lands and Their Owners in Galloway, 1878.