James was the son of John and Mary (Hickey) Dyer.

He married Mary Marcy, 15 Dec. 1776 in Sturbridge, Worcester County, MA

He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and recieved bounty (land warrents) for his service. He came to Schoharie New York about 1805 and moved into Albany County about 1809.

He and Mary lived near East Berne for the rest of his life. He drew pension No.16968 and she drew W16968.

After his death Mary went to live with some of their children. She is buried at Old School Baptist Cemetery, Schoharie Co., NY.

He was the father of fifteen children;
1. Sarah "Sally" b-29 Nov 1777
2. Winthrop b-27 Apr 1779
3. James b-15 Apr 1781
4. Nancy b-17 Oct 1783
5. Justin b-31 Jul 1785
6. Emily Permilia b-13 Jul 1785
7. Mary Jane b-13 June 1789
8. Amanda b-14 Mar 1791
9. Bradbury b-26 Dec 1792
10.Lucinda b-1794
11.Rebecca b-1796
12.Moses b-abt 1797, d-bef 1836
13.Mercy b-13 Feb 1799
14 Dexter b-11 Apr 1803
15 Martha b-1804∼James Dyer is the son of John Dyer and Mary Hickey, NOT John Dyer and Anna Payson. John Dyer and Anna Payson were living in Canterbury, CT in 1756 giving birth to their child, Olive. John and Anna Payson never lived in Rhode Island where James Dyer was born.

m. int. 9 Dec 1776 Mary Marcy, dau. of Moses Marcy. Filed Intention of Marriage in Sturbridge, Worcester MA on 9 Dec 1776; C.W. Bowen's History and Genealogy of Woodstock Families Vol VI, P 612 list m 15 Dec 1776 in Sturbridge, MA

Served in the Rev War Pension #S21168; Mary #W16968 Enlisted Apr 1775 Col. Leonard's Co. To Battle of Bunker Hill; Enlisted Apr 1776 Col. Newels Co. to White Plains; Enlisted Mar 1780 as Corporal; Discharged Dec 1785. Served as an orderly for General Washington for one week to carry letters and wait upon him.

In 1765,moved to Sturbridge, MA [Systematic History's Fund's "Worcester County, Massachusetts, Warnings, 1737-1788." With an introduction by Francis E. Blake, and an index of surnames, Worcester, Massachusetts: Published by Franklin P. Rice, Trustee of the Fund, 1899. Republished April 1999 by Picton Press; p. 68: "1765 Aug. 10 Dyar, John, w. Mary, Ch. James, Thomas, Moses, from Woodstock. May 23, 1765."(the first Date in each entry is that of the return of the warrant to the Court)]; May-Aug 1775 served in Continental Army for 3mos. 8 days & 8 months from Apr to the end of 1775; Apr-Aug 1776 enlisted for 5 months; Dec 1776-married and one child born at Sturbridge MA; 14 May 1778 bought land with dwelling and barn in Sturbridge from father, John Dyer; 1779-1792 lived at Dudley, MA (8 ch born there; about 1806 moved to Jefferson, Schohaire Co., NY and moved to Knox, Albany Co, NY in 1809.

James Dyer and Mary Marcy's children:
Sarah b. 29 Dec 1776/1777 m. Deacon Joshua Vinton
Winthrop b. 27 Apr 1779, m. Polly Vinton
James b. 15 Apr 1781
Nancy b. 17 Oct 1783, m. Zadock Barnt
Justin b. 31 Jul 1785,
Emily b. 13 Jul 1787, Edward Chamberlain, JR
Polly b. 13 Jun 1789, m. Gilbert Vermilia
Amanda b. 14 Mar 1791, m. David Brockway
Bradbury b. 26 Dec 1792, d. 27 Apr 1860 m. Polly Shephard