Apologies if you already know but it's possible they had 2 further children - James Henry Albert b1900 and Ivy Hilda b1903 - who both died young.
Thanks for reply and sorry I've taken so long to reply.
Although I have quite a lot about James' first wife, Alice's origins seem a bit more vague. I don't have the marriage certificate as I'm trying to get as far as I can without spending money! But it's rapidly approaching that point.
I have a marriage recorded on 21/9/1897 at St James, Handsworth, which does fit with the family history and addresses on census records until 1911, when the family move to Boldmere. My grandmother, Elsie, told me about growing up there with her sisters, but no brother is ever mentioned, so I'm not too sure about James Henry and Ivy. However Elsie was only born in 1898 and may not have been told about siblings born and died when she was young. Neither are on the 1901 and 1911 censuses.
I'd also tracked down the 2 Alices, daughters of Williams so I'm going to have to look for marriage certificates to decide upon which one to choose!
James Henry Alexander was obviously quite an interesting character as his fortunes seemed to have improved during his working career. Family history remembers him working at the Birmingham Mint as a medallist in the masonic jewellery trade. I have in my possession a box full of about 200 commemorative medals: a few completed, but many being seconds or only practice stamps which are one-sided. It looks as if he saved copies of some of his (or someone else's work) I also have a small box of what I have always understood to be his engraving tools. About 25 years ago I took a few of these to Christies' office in York to find out what I could for my mother. The lady I saw was not a specialist and offered to find out more if I wished to sell them. As I did not, I took it no further, and she considered them interesting but of relatively low value. Her idea of worthless and mine differed, especially when I multiplied out the value by the total number of medals! However they are family history and have been hidden away again. One of these days I shall have to contact the Birmingham museums about them.
Thanks again for your efforts