James Moody (loyalist)

James Moody (c. 1744 – April 6, 1809) was a loyalist volunteer during the American Revolution who became a farmer and political figure in Nova Scotia.

On Sunday, March 28, 1777, a Patriot militia came to his house to arrest him because he refused to give up his allegiance to Britain and swear loyalty to the United States.

[2] On 22 August 1777, his battalion fought in the Battle of Staten Island, losing 30 men.

[6] This paints a unique and gritty picture of how what was effectively the first American civil war played out at the personal level.

While Moody described himself as reluctantly becoming a soldier, a 20th-century American study of spies and saboteurs on both sides of the conflict credited him with being the most remarkable agent of the war.

He served as a captain in the Royal Nova Scotia Regiment, a colonel in the local militia and road commissioner.

James Moody (1744–1809), New Jersey Volunteers
Lieutenant Moody who distinguish'd himself as one of the most gallant partizans in the British service, made himself the terror of the rebels, here freeing a British soldier held prisoner by the Americans.