There is some uncertainly as to James Chaney's place of birth. He is listed in the Salem Vital Records as having been born 9 October 1797, from which one would assume he was born in Salem. However, death records in the Salem City Clerk's Office list his place of birth as both Vermont and New Hampshire. He died in Salem on 16 December 1884 in his 88th year.

Chaney was active in business in Salem in 1820 as evidenced from early bills and receipts in the collection. He appears first to have operated a general store selling dry goods, household items, etc., as well as other commodities such as meat and liquor. On 28 August 1823, he entered into a formal business relationship with Stephen Haraden, which was dissolved by mutual consent on 12 May 1824. They had used the firm name Haraden and Chaney for several months prior to the formal agreement as well as through the period of agreement. The firm dealt in general merchandise, including food, and participated in several small adventures on outward-bound vessels. Once separated from Haraden, Chaney continued to sell general merchandise and also appears to have regularly victualed outward-bound vessels. Gradually Chaney shifted from general merchandise to focus exclusively on the dry goods business. He conducted business at several locations in Salem, including 17 Central Street, 15 Fish Street, and 211 Essex Street. By the early 1850s the business was flourishing, as indicated by the volume of goods purchased. William B. Ashton succeeded Chaney in the business about 1853, having been employed by Chaney at his Essex Street location. After selling his business, Chaney continued to purchase dry goods at wholesale and appears to have continued conducting business in some form, but on a greatly reduced scale.

James Chaney married Harriet Webb (b. 30 January 1803; d. 26 November 1900), the daughter of Henry and Joanna (Burrill) Webb, on 5 August 1827. He was a member of both the First and Second Baptist Societies (which became the Central Baptist Society) in Salem at various times. In 1833 he paid pew tax to both societies. Chaney was also a member of the Salem Charitable Mechanic Association.

James and Harriet Chaney had four children: Harriet Webb Chaney (b. 25 August 1828; d. 18 November 1896), Mary Webb Chaney (b. 26 March 1830, married Edward Read on 16 June 1859), James Henry Chaney (b. 2 June 1832), and George Leonard Chaney (b. 24 December 1836, married Caroline I. Carter, d. 19 April 1922). See additional genealogical information on the attached chart.

In 1837 James Chaney had a brick house constructed at 14 Liberty Street, Salem, on the northwest corner of the intersection of Liberty and Charter Streets. James and Harriet Chaney occupied the house until he died in 1884, and Mrs. Chaney remained in the house until her death in 1900. Subsequently the Reverend George Leonard Chaney and his wife, Caroline I. Carter Chaney, occupied the house. Their son George Carter Chaney (Harvard College and Law School 1894) joined them about 1904; he lived with his parents until 1910. The Chaneys continued in residence until George Leonard Chaney died in 1922. His widow remained in the house until about 1925 when the house was vacant. George Carter and W. Evande Jewett Chaney then occupied the house until she died in 1952. George remained in the family house until his death in July 1953. The house remained vacant for a few years and the address disappears from the city directories in 1956; it was probably razed at about that time as part of Salem's Downtown Urban Renewal Program.

Stephen Haraden was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, on 18 January 1785, the son of Joseph and Lydia (Haraden) Haraden. He moved to Salem in 1799. He first married Rachel Bancroft on 11 June 1811 (d. 6 Nov 1842). After her death, he married Ann Rose, daughter of Brackley and Rachel C. Rose, on 25 December 1844 (d. 18 January 1862). Little is known beyond his relationship with James Chaney, except that he was a master mariner and a member of Essex Lodge AF & AM, having served as Master in 1834. Haraden died in Waltham, Massachusetts, on 13 October 1871.

George Leonard Chaney, the fourth of James Chaney's children, graduated from Harvard College in 1859 and then Meadville Theological School. He served as minister of the Hollis Street Church (Unitarian) in Boston from 1862 to 1878. During his stay in Boston he served as a member of the Boston School Committee. Subsequently he was appointed southern superintendent of the American Unitarian Association and founded a number of churches in the south. Mr. Chaney also wrote extensively, including several juvenile books (see Phillips Library catalog).

James Henry Chaney, the third of James Chaney's children, was a mariner and served as an agent or factor for Salem merchant Charles H. Miller in the West African palm oil trade in the early 1860s. Nothing further is known regarding him.

William Green was chief mate aboard the brig Susan, owned by Robert Brookhouse and Nathan Robinson. He died at St. Helena on 28 July 1830 at age 23.