James Hampton was born on May 29, 1903, in Lexington, Kentucky to Cicero Hampton and Jennie Bentley. He had four brothers and either three or four sisters. Prior to living in Massachusetts, Mr. Hampton lived in Milwaukee for eight years. After leaving school at 16, he worked on farms as a general laborer.
Mr. Hampton was sentenced to the Bridgewater State Farm on May 8, 1933, and transferred to Norfolk Prison Camp on January 27, 1934. He died at Norfolk Prison Camp on April 13, 1934, at 7:30 a.m., at age 30.