James Holmes volunteered in the service of his country, and was in the great and destructive battle under the command of General Abercrombie, in which were nineteen hundred men killed and wounded. After the conquest of Canada he returned to Bedford.

Upon the commencement of hostilities between America and Great Britain, he was appointed by the New York Convention one of a committee of three, viz : Col. James Van Courtland, Capt. Montgomery, (afterwards Gen. Montgomery,) and himself, to proceed to examine the heights about Kingsbridge, and report where it wonld be advisable to fortify. They performed this duty and reported satisfactory. The same convention ordered four regi-

28 HISTORY OF THE

ments to be raised. The first was given to Alexander M'Doiigal, the second to G. Van Schaick, the third to James Clinton, and the fourth to James Holmes. Tliese regiments were immediately advanced to the northward. In 1777, he retired from the service of his country, owing to certain circumstances which had tended to dampen his military ambition, and returned to his farm. 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. a