Boisclair was known as "Free Jim" and was highly regarded at the time for his entrepreneurial work and part-time efforts as a preacher.
James was born into slavery, but Grant specified in his will that his slaves should be freed after reaching a certain age (31 for men, 28 for women).
Instead, he was able to get Joseph Singleton, the head of the Dahlonega Mint, to take legal ownership of the lot while Boisclair maintained de facto control.
Other Boisclair achievements of the time included his building of an ice house and popular saloon, despite the fact that all of his establishments faced problems because the laws of the time prevented black men from buying real estate or holding a liquor license.
James Boisclair was a rare example of a black man in the Antebellum-era Georgia who was able to prosper economically in spite of harsh legal repression he had to work around.