James was an African American man residing in Perquimans County, North Carolina. In 1776 Thomas Newby, a Quaker, manumitted James due to Newby's religious beliefs. Upon gaining his freedom, James became a sailor and served the Patriot cause during the Revolutionary War. He made several voyages from North Carolinian and Virginia ports, and was captured by the British twice during the war. After the war, James risked re-enslavement if he returned to North Carolina, as the General Assembly had retroactively determined in about 1777 that any enslaved individuals freed in 1776 were in violation of the law. James, however, still wanted to return to North Carolina to see his wife and children. Consequently, following the war, a group of Quakers petitioned the North Carolina General Assembly asking that a special exception be made for James and that he be allowed to remain in North Carolina as a free man due to his meritorious service during the Revolution. Any further records regarding this individual have not been located.