James Ashworth worked in the shoe industry, cutting out shoe uppers from leather, and was on the local executive of the Boot, Shoe & Slipper Operatives Union. His tribunal allowed him CO exemption from military service conditional on doing farm work at least 20 miles from home, and he found work at a farm near Clitheroe, Lancs. In January 1917 he acted as agent for imprisoned fellow CO, Albert Taylor, standing in a Parliamentary by-election as a 'Peace by Negotiation’ candidate and receiving 1800 votes.
After WW1 he set up a company making packing cases for exporting locally produced goods.