Jenny,
I have a fair amount of info on the White Deer Mills family, although I do not have all the answers. Some of the gaps can be filled in only because my great aunts (granddaughters of John Shannon Huff) were very interested in family folklore.
I have noticed that no one seems to have a correct family tree for James' family, and it seems that there is no established father for him that I have found on the internet. I believe I can provide some information to help fill in the gaps.
I am also in awe over the Shannon connections.
Message me and we can trade some info.
Ashley