Altham, Roger

James Annesley (1715-1760) was an Irishman who claimed the title Earl of Anglesey and ownership of significant estates. His life was marked by a notorious legal dispute with his uncle, Richard Annesley. Born into a prominent family, James's early life was disrupted when his mother was expelled from the home. At around age 12, he was allegedly kidnapped on his uncle's orders and sold into indentured servitude in Delaware. After roughly twelve years, James escaped and eventually returned to Ireland to reclaim his birthright.

His claim led to the widely publicized trial "Annesley v Anglesea." Richard Annesley's defense centered on disputing James's legitimacy. Despite a favorable verdict that returned his estates, James did not secure his titles before his death. The Annesley case garnered considerable attention, with abridged trial reports appearing in newspapers and numerous printed accounts. His dramatic life story is believed to have influenced several literary works, most notably Robert Louis Stevenson's novel "Kidnapped."

James Annesley was born in 1715 to Arthur Annesley, 4th Baron Altham, and Mary Sheffield. Following his mother's departure from the family home in Dublin, James was reportedly left to fend for himself. Around 1728, shortly after his father's death, Annesley was allegedly kidnapped and sent to Delaware, where he was sold into servitude. This act, orchestrated by his uncle Richard Annesley, was intended to remove James from the line of succession, allowing Richard to claim the Earldom of Anglesey.

After approximately twelve years of indentured servitude, Annesley escaped and made his way to Philadelphia, eventually boarding a ship to Jamaica. In 1740, he enlisted in the Royal Navy. Following his discharge in 1741, Annesley returned to England and then Scotland, where a hunting accident led to a man's death. His uncle Richard attempted to have him tried for murder, but this failed due to evidence of the event being accidental. Richard's subsequent failure to pay his attorney in this matter led to legal proceedings that established precedents for attorney-client privilege. Annesley eventually returned to Ireland to pursue his claim to his inheritance through the famous "Annesley v Anglesea" case.

The central contention in the "Annesley v Anglesea" trial was Richard Annesley's claim that James was illegitimate, a charge James refuted by identifying his mother as his legitimate parent and his accuser's wife as his wetnurse. Although James won his estates back, he passed away at 44 without obtaining his titles. The Annesley case captivated the public, with numerous accounts and trial reports circulating. His dramatic life story is frequently cited as a significant influence on later literature, including Eliza Haywood's "Memoirs of an Unfortunate Young Nobleman," Tobias Smollett's "Peregrine Pickle," Sir Walter Scott's "Guy Mannering," and most famously, Robert Louis Stevenson's "Kidnapped."