"Castor is an open source data binding framework for Java[tm]. It's basically the shortest path between Java objects, XML documents, SQL tables and LDAP directories. Castor provides Java to XML binding, Java to SQL/LDAP persistence, and then some more."
It's a pity that it's only compatible with JDBC drivers better than type 1. (For those of us who are stuck with MicrosoftSqlServer 6.5 and the JdbcOdbcBridge).