James Hunter was born in about 1735 and became a resident of Orange County, North Carolina by 1757. He was a prominent Regulator leader and signed several petitions and advertisements throughout the Regulator Rebellion. Following his participation in the Battle of Alamance, he was outlawed and a reward was offered for his capture, dead or alive. Some time between August and December 1771, several powerful citizens from Guilford County petitioned for Hunter to be pardoned for his role as a leader in the Regulator Rebellion. While Hunter's pardon has not been located, documents mentioning him after 1771 indicate he was pardoned. He was then required to sign an oath of loyalty to the Crown and in 1776 was ordered to fight in the American Revolution as a loyalist. He died some time between October 1779 and February 1783.