James Hawthorn was born in Armagh County, Northern Ireland about 1750. His father and family early migrated to the frontiers of South Carolina. He was described as 5 foot, 10 inches tall, 170 pounds, with sandy hair and grey eyes. When he was 12 years old he, his mother, and his sisters were captured by Indians. He witnessed the death of his mother and sisters at the hand of these Indians. Hawthorn was adopted by a chief. He remained with the Indians for four years, until a treaty was made and all the abductees were returned home. His father found him dressed in Indian garb, very expert with a bow and arrow. Soon after Hawthorn's father was drowned while he was trying to take some horses to market in Charleston. He had no relations and he became apprenticed to a blacksmith. Here he remained until the beginning of the Revolutionary War, when he enlisted as a private. He had been in Colonel Thomas Neel's regiment on the Snow Campaign in 1775 and Williamson's Cherokee Campaign in 1776. He was a 1st Lieutenant in the South Carolina Regiment in 1777, and a captain on the Florida expedition in 1778. In late 1780 or early 1781 he was wounded by a British patrol. The ball entered his right breast and exited out near the spinal column. The surgeon said it was miraculous how his lungs had escaped injury. He was sent with a small escort to the York settlements to regain his health. Along the way a squad of British intercepted them. His men fled, but his brother in law, Thomas Neel (III), chose to fight to the death with his colonel. The two men drove the British off, and were able to escape. Shortly after his return he rode out with Colonel Lacey to an old deserted ware house. They discovered some British soldiers chasing chickens. Lacey said "By my soul, there are too many for us colonel." Hawthorne replied, "I'll be burned, if there here shan't be one less." He raised his rifle, Blacksnake, and fired. Lacey had also raised his rifle and fired at the same time. Both men had found their mark and two British soldiers fell. The two colonels quickly retreated, but Hawthorn found his mare falling behind. He rode into the brush and concealed himself until the British left. At the Battle of Kings Mountain, October 7, 1780, he led the regiment, replacing Colonel Billy Hill who had been previously wounded. Hawthorn was subsequently with Colonel Sumter at Fish Dam Ford and Blackstock's. He married Mary Neel, daughter of Colonel Thomas and Jean Spratt Neel. Their children were James ( d. in Kentucky), Thomas (m. name unknown.) Thomas became a lawyer. He moved to Arkansas in 1811 and established a farm in Izard County. After his wife was drowned in a stream and Thomas lost his eyesight, he was cared for by his grandmother Jean Neel. He is buried on the Old Hawthorn Farm in Izard County. Andrew (died unmarried in Arkansas. He lived as a hermit on the upper Buffalo River and was a well known hunter), and Elizabeth (m. Robert Trimble). After the war Col. Hawthorn moved to Livingston County, Kentucky, where his fine property was seized by the crooked sheriff of Livingston County, who was connected to a gang of land thieves. He died of influenza.

Grave marking ceremonies for Leut. Col. James Hawthorn can be viewed at SAR Grave Marking Ceremony