James Jamisson is the younger son of sir George Jamisson. It is his twenty first birthday at the opening of the book . He is in the Army service in London. Jay's father always favored his brother over him. He marries Lizzie Hallim. His father needs the Hallim coal to save the family financially and gives them a Virginia tobacco plantation as a wedding gift. The real purpose is to get Lizzie out of the country so she won't know about the coal mining. Jay lies to her about this so she would marry him. When Lizzie learns of the mining accident at High Glen, Jay is forced to testify on Mack's behalf to spare the family the humiliation of Lizzie testifying. When they move to Virginia, Lizzie finds him messing around with the slave girls. He follows Lizzie when she run away with Mack because he needs a legitimate heir in order to inherit one quarter of Sir George's estate. He is killed by the Indians.