When John Tatham was born on 6 May 1799, in Buncombe, North Carolina, United States, his father, John Thomas Tatham, was 24 and his mother, Ann Murray, was 22. He married Jane Russell on 26 February 1820, in Haywood, North Carolina, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 6 daughters. He lived in Chico Judicial Township, Butte, California, United States in 1860. He died on 2 September 1863, in Chico, Butte, California, United States, at the age of 64, and was buried in Chico, Butte, California, United States.