The birthdate of Dec 1829 is from the 1900 census. I cannot find a record of his death or his parents. If the marital status for Rebecca in the 1920 and 1930 censuses are both correct, then it would imply he died sometime between those two censuses. But census records are not very reliable.

Be careful not to confuse him with James Pennington born 25 Aug 1827 (best fit with census) or 1929 (reported on his death certificate), son of William Pennington and Delilah Caudill, who married first Sarah Sturgill and second Martha A. Holbrook, and died 17 Feb 1913 in Carter Co. That James Pennington was already in Carter Co. in 1850 and 1860, when this James Pennington was still in Johnson Co.

He is also not the James Penington who died 16 Feb 1918 in Leslie Co., Ky, with his birthdate given as 10 Jan 1828, parents Levi Penington born in North Carolina, and Rebeca Lewis born in Virginia. That James Pennington married Polly Estridge, and was recorded in Clay Co. in 1880 and in Leslie Co in 1900 and 1910.

In 1910 he was recorded in Redbush, Johnson Co., Ky, as James Penington, age 80, father-in-law, married, born Ky U.S. U.S., with his daughter Phoebe and her husband Lorenza D. Holbrook.

Children Catherine b. 1850-51 married Benjamin Pratt, Abner b. 17 Dec 1853, William H. b. 2 May 1856, Nathan b. 19 Nov 1858, Charlotta b. 1 Apr 1866 married John Wells, Virginia b. ca 1868; Phebe b. ca 1870 m. Lorenza Holbrook, Ida b. ca 1872.

James and Nancy were in Johnson Co. in 1850 and 1860, and in Elliott Co. in 1870. I have not entered their family or census notes.