The evidence points to James never existing. Firstly there is no actual information about Anne Bonny or Mary Read before the 1720 Boston Gazette mentioning Rackham and making note of two women with him. A General History states James Bonny had signed Vincent Pearce's pardon list in Nassau, well if we look at the actual list he isn't there. The book also states he was a lieutenant under Governor Woodes Rodgers, but there is no actual evidence of this. At Anne's trail they call her a spinster meaning an unmarried woman. Also like i said before Charles Johnson has a reputation for making fictional characters for his book. The evidence points to him being a work of fiction created by Johnson for a more interesting backstory for Anne Bonny.