In the spring of 1778, he was arrested by order of the committee of public safety, and conveyed to Bedford.

He subsequently accepted the appointment of Lieut. Colonel of the corps of West Chester County Refugees, in the British service ; in this corps he remained till the end of the war. Colonel James Holmes died at New Haven, July, 1824, leaving issue by his wife Tamar, two daughters ; Tamar, who married James Ronalds, father of William R. Ronalds, Esq., of New York; and Sally, the wife of Jeremiah Lounsberry of this town.

The village of Bedford was burnt July 2d, 1779, during the Revolutionary war by a party of British Light Horse under the command of Lieut. Col. Banastre Tarleton0 on their route to Fairfield, Conn., and much valuable property destroyed in its immediate vicinity. But the inhabitants remained firmly attached to the interests of their country. Mrs. Nancy Sarles testified Oct. 12th, 1846 that, in the Revolutionary war, her father lived in Bedford a mile and a half from the village on the road to White Plains. His name was Samuel Lyon and he was an active Whig and Committee man. When the British burnt Bedford they advanced by the upper or West road and entered after daylight. The party consisted of several hundred composed of leathercaps and refugees all of whom were mounted. The refugees did all the mischief, plundering and burning, while the leather-caps kept guard, then finally retreated by the White Plains road. The militia were all out in the direction of Stamford except a picket guard which the enemy attacked and dispersed killing one man. When they arrived at our house they were constantly asking for bread and we gave them all we had, they then set fire to the house and retreated.