James McClain was a loyalist who refused to sign the oath of allegiance to the state of North Carolina, opting to leave the state instead. In July 1777, his name along with the names of six other loyalists appeared in a letter to Governor Richard Caswell, requesting permission for them all to leave the state. Any evidence of Caswell issuing such a permission has not been located, but given McClain's absence from further state records, it seems likely that Caswell granted their request and that McClain left the state.