James Anders was born in Bladen County, North Carolina on May 18, 1758. In January 1776 he volunteered as a private in the Bladen County Regiment of the North Carolina Militia. From 1776 to 1781 he served several tours of service, either in the Bladen County Regiment, the Bladen County Cavalry, or in the New Hanover Cavalry. He later made a sworn affidavit in support of Lucy Brown's pension application stating that he had served under her husband, Colonel Thomas Brown. He died on October 10, 1839.