James Rogers was a resident of Edenton District. Thomas Best made a deposition stating that James Rogers was a member of the Gourd Patch Conspiracy and that Rogers along with three others went to confront or spy on Nathan Mayo, a man the plot's ringleader John Lewellen considered to be one of the chief enemies of their plan, after some members of the plot were arrested and they were fearful of their plan being discovered. Later Rogers appeared on a list of prisoners involved in the conspiracy that were held in custody.