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Deputy U.S. Marshal

James Batchelder

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service — Washington, DC
Felonious
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch May 26, 1854
Age 24
Tour of Duty
The Vigil Panel 2 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 312

Incident

Deputy Marshal James Batchelder was shot and killed at the Boston Courthouse while he and other deputy marshals were attempting to keep a mob of citizens from freeing a prisoner in Boston, Massachusetts. The prisoner, Anthony Burns, was an escaped slave from Virginia and was about to be returned to that state. A group of abolitionists attempted to keep the man in Massachusetts so he would not be returned to slavery, but when their legal pleas failed, they stormed the courthouse by breaking down the main door. Shots were exchanged between the group and the deputy marshals. Deputy Marshal Batchelder was fatally wounded. The other marshals were able to hold the group off. A total of 18 people were arrested as a result of the incident. Three men were charged in connection with Deputy Marshal Batchelder's death. One was acquitted and charges were dropped against the other two after several mistrials. After he was returned to Virginia by federal authorities, abolitionists purchased Anthony Burns' freedom and he returned to Boston in 1855. He moved to Canada where he became a pastor. Deputy Marshal Batchelder had been deputized by the United States Marshal in Boston to provide guard duty at the courthouse.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

172 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Batchelder served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service
Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 26, 1854
Tour of Duty
Age 24
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1854, 9 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 173rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 24. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. James had served 0 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service has at least 120 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Deputy U.S. Marshal James Batchelder

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service · End of Watch May 26, 1854

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 49-W

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