James emigrated to America from Ireland about 1730. He received a land grant of 400 acres in Patrick County, Virginia.

The southern branch of the family are greatly indebted to Miss Sarah D. Hubert for her complete genealogical record, compiled during many years and published in 1902. 

She commences with the time when James Cody and his wife Sarah Womack landed in Virginia, about 1735 or 1740. 

She says they were from County Kilkenny, Ireland, and makes this note: "Tradition says that the father of James was an Archdeacon in Ireland." There was curiosity on the part of some, to know the reality of this tradition, and one member of the family who spent much time in Europe, vis- ited Dublin Castle, where the public records are kept, and had a synopsis of the family history made, and also a copy of the coat of arms.

It will be apparent to the reader that "Archdeacon" is not an official title, as here used, but the name of a family, or clan. 

They were of Norman origin, and as such were called "MacOdo L' Ercedekne," translated "Archdeacon," afterward "McCody," and finally "Cody."

Note: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Cuidighthigh (see Cuddihy). Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Óda ‘son of Óda’, a personal name of Germanic origin, introduced into Ireland by the Normans. This name was taken by a family in Kilkenny formerly known as Archdeacon.