 After fighting in the Eighth Xhosa War of 1850–53 with the 2nd (The Queen's Royal) Regiment of Foot, James was stationed in the Keiskamma mountains; he settled there with his wife Isabella Mary (née Maclaren), who was originally from Dumbartonshire, Scotland.They moved to King William's Town after Coghlan's discharge from the military and the birth of their first child, a boy also called James.The elder James Coghlan would become a town councillor in King William's Town.