According to Lyman Draper (1815–1891), in Kings Mountain and Its Heroes:[2]James Steen, also of Irish descent, was probably a native of Pennsylvania, and early settled in what is now Union County, South Carolina.
In August 1775, he was fully convinced and ready to sign the Continental Association and doubtless led a company on the Snow campaign, as he did the following year against the Cherokees, and, in 1777, commanded at Prince's Fort.
At this period, he ranked as Lieutenant-Colonel, distinguishing himself at Rocky Mount, Hanging Rock, Musgrove's Mill, King's Mountain, and probably with his superior, Colonel (Thomas) Brandon (Fair Forest Regiment), at Cowpens.
First, Lyman Draper, who, as stated above, indicates "in the summer of 1781, while endeavoring to arrest a Tory, in Rowan County, North Carolina, he was stabbed by an associate, surviving only a week."
The State of South Carolina also, in the enabling act of a bridge named in Steen's honor, gives Draper's version of his death, that he died of a stabbing in 1781.