James was likely born at Cambridge (where his father first settled). He was shot through the head by Native Americans during King Philip's War while swimming for his life at the Sudbury River [Hosmer genealogy; descendants of James Hosmer ... . Hosmer, George L. (George Leonard), 1874-1935].

Father: James HOSMER (1607 – 1685) 37100943

Mother: Probably the second wife of James, Sr., Mary (Unknown maiden name), who died in 1641

Wife: Sarah WHITE (1643 – 1711) 73937972

"James Hosmer was the oldest son of James, who came to Concord among the first settlers, and died in 1685. James, the son, married Sarah White in 1658. His widow married Samuel Rice." From the book The History of Sudbury, Massachusetts, 1638-1889; Published 1968 by Printed by R.H. Blodgett, Republished by the Sudbury Press in Boston, Sudbury, Mass.; page 252

Children:

Thomas Hosmer (1660 – )

Sarah HOSMER (1662 – )

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Quoted from the book Concord, Massachusetts Births, Marriages, and Deaths, 1635-1850; By Concord (Mass.), George Tolman, page 19:

"Samewell Potter husband to Sarah his wife died : 31 : march : 1676.
John Barnes husband to Debara his wife died 31. march 1676
David Comy husband to Estar his wife died 31. march 1676.
James hosmer husband to Sarah his wife died 31. march 1676."

[The footnote to all four of these death records states: "These four were killed by the Indians in the 'Sudbury Fight.' "]
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James was one of several colonial soldiers from Concord, MA slain by Indians as they went to the aid of other soldiers in the "Sudbury Fight" in King Philip's War (sometimes called the First Indian War) on April 21, 1676. He and the others are buried near this place.

The following is quoted from Concord in the Colonial Period: Being a History of the Town of Concord, Massachusetts, from the Earliest Settlement to the Overthrow of the Andros government 1635-1689; By Charles Hosmer Walcott (pages 104 - 105):

"The Indian outbreak commonly known as King Philip's War began in June, 1675, and lasted fourteen months, imperilling the very existence of the colonies of Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay.

This town was spared the horrors that accompanied the inroads of the enemy in other less favored quarters. Hither came the jealous occupants of Blood's Farms, seeking a shelter from a threatening foe, and the homeless people of Groton and Lancaster found here their refuge and relief. No hostile foot carried tomahawk and fagot within the bounds of the original grant, and the old men, women, and children slept undisturbed by the dreadful cry in the dark.

There was, however, no sense of peaceful security. All the men of military age were enrolled, and were constantly employed in manning the garrisons of the frontier and scouting from town to town in small parties. In the fight at Narragansett Fort, Concord's share of the casualties was George Hayward, killed, and Abraham Temple and Thomas Browne, wounded. A detachment from Concord was decoyed into an ambush at Sudbury, April 21, 1676, and ten were slain. Shattuck was able to ascertain the names of five only, viz.: James Hosmer, Samuel Potter, John Barnes, Samuel Comy, and Joseph Buttrick. The Middlesex Probate Records supply the additional names of Josiah Wheeler, David Curry and Jacob Farrar."

[From Footnote: 2 Captain Hugh Mason's company from Watertown went to the succor of Wadsworth's command, and their account of finding the bodies of five Concord men on the east side of the river is as follows: -- " On the next day in the morning, so soon as it was light, we went to look for Concord men who were slain in the river meadow, and there we went in the cold water up to our knees, where we found 5, and brought them in canoes to the bridge-foot and buried them there."]

∼James was the eldest child of James and Ellen Hosmer. James was to inherit the Hosmer farm in Concord, and when he married Sara White another house was built for him and his new bride on the Hosmer farm lot. This was very near the Fitchburg Railroad bridge over the north branch of the Assabet River. This home remained in the family until 1870. James led a peaceful existence at the farm until Spring of 1676 when Indians began attacking families in his area in an attempt to wipe out the entire white settlement in this area of Concord and Sudbury. James answered the call to arms. "Arrivingnear the garrison house ofWalter Haynes, they were decoyed into an ambush and several were killed. James stayed in the fight as long as possible, but when it was evident that the fight was lost he fled. It was while he was swimming across the river that he was shot and killed. At a stone post placed at the scene of the fight his name heads the list of those who lost their lives in this battle of King Philip's War.