After James and Elizabeth Long moved to TN, his life was cut short in 1776 by an Indian attack. The events of his deather are recorded in Draper Manuscripts 5-32/33, pp 144-145, State Historical Society of Wisconsin:
On Christian's campaign, was Col. Valentine Sevier and his brother-in-law Robert Young. At the Conference which Christian had with the Indians (at Long Island on Holston in 1777), there was one fellow, from some cause seemed not to like to venture among or mix with the white people, and for seeral days was observed to climb up a tree at a distance and observe what was going on. At length Robert Young concluded he would shoot the Indian from out of the tree. It created a considerable trouble in camp but Young kept the secret - no one knew it except his brother-in-law Col. Sevier - and subsequently Young told it to James Sevier. The previous summer his brother, James Young, with his servant man, one night camped on Holston, turning out their horses to graze, next morning went after their horses and were waylaid and killed. Hence, Robert Young was turned against the Indians.
James Young sold 185 acres in the Borden Grant to Samuel Long on 14 Nov 1764.