James Bolton

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James Bolton
Biographical information
Status	Deceased (Keyhouse ghost)
Gender	Male
Cause of death	Shot (1775) Trapped as a Keyhouse ghost (2021)
Killed by	Colonial militia Sam Lesser
Physical appearance
Hair color	Blonde
Appearance
Played by	Ian Lake
Episode Count	6
First seen	Irons in the Fire
Last seen	Free Bird

James Bolton is a minor antagonist in the Netflix adaption of Locke & Key, serving as a major antagonist in its third season.

Biography

Colonial Period

During the Revolutionary War, Bolton served on the side of the British alongside Howe, Samuel Coffey, and Frederick Gideon. Bolton was one of the men who attacked Keyhouse in 1775. When Benjamin Locke returned with the colonial militia, Bolton survived the firefight that followed and fled alongside Gideon and Howe to the Drowning Caves. During the skirmish that ensued, Bolton was shot and killed by a militiaman after becoming distracted by Howe being wounded.

Restoration as an Echo

In 2021, the demon possessing Frederick Gideon used the Echo Key to summon Coffey and Bolton back and then freed them using the Anywhere Key, demonstrating their new invulnerability by having Bolton stab Coffey and revealing that he needed their help as they could steal the keys while he could not. The trio later attacked the Keyhouse, but they were driven off by Tyler Locke with the Chain Key. The two continued serving Gideon in his efforts to find they key, cutting their hair and changing into more modern clothes.

Bolton accompanied Gideon and Coffey to lay siege to Keyhouse, attempting to retrieve the keys by force. Bolton engaged Tyler and Nina who locked him in the basement. However, he eventually escaped and despite Coffey's death at the hands of Dodge, Gideon and Bolton succeeded in getting the keys.

Facing Retribution

After discovering that there was a key missing, Gideon sent Bolton after it. Bolton kidnapped Jamie Bennett in order to force Tyler and Kinsey to lead him to the key and they lied, claiming that they hid it in the graveyard using the Ghost Key, intending to trap Bolton as a Keyhouse ghost while having Bode possess his body. However, Bode instead used the body of a sparrow and the Animal Key to return. Bolton apparently returned to his body shortly thereafter, but once Gideon was gone, it was revealed to actually be Sam Lesser who had left Bolton trapped as a Keyhouse ghost.

Bolton's fate of being trapped as a Keyhouse ghost forever was sealed when his body was destroyed by Sam getting trapped in the mind of Gordie Shaw as he died.

Gallery

Appearances

Season Two

• Irons in the Fire (Flashback)

Season Three

• Wedding Crashers
• Five Minutes Past
• Deep Cover
• Siege
• Free Bird