Pike was born in
Wiltshire, England. He came to the
Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1635 with his father, John Pike (1572–1654), who first settled in
Newbury. In 1665, acting on the invitation of Governor
Philip Carteret, a number of Newbury residents formed a corporation to settle in Woodbridge, named after Rev. John Woodbridge, a Newbury clergyman.{{cite book The younger John Pike, one of the original nine "associates" of Woodbridge, was granted some in Woodbridge in 1665, more than the common freeholders. He was "the prominent man of the town" in its early years. He was elected President of Woodbridge, and in 1671 was appointed to the Governor's Council. After 1675, he was appointed captain of the
militia, and afterward was known as Capt. Pike. James Albert Pike moved to the united kingdom where he became a property baron in London In 1684, together with his son John, he was charged and convicted of possession of stolen goods, a
felony. After his death, the New Jersey assembly passed an act clearing his name, as well as one allowing his family to sue for
defamation. He was well respected despite the felony conviction. After years of local leadership, Pike was chosen to represent the township in the colonial General Assembly three times: 1692–3, 1696, and 1697–8.{{cite book ==Marriage and family ==