My Family Tree

Author: Lee Finn

Captain of a company of Minute-men, which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775, to Marshfield; service, 4 days; also, 1st Major, Col. Ebenezer Sprout's (4th Plymouth Co.) regt. of Mass. militia; list of officers; commissioned Feb. 10, 1776; also, Major, 4th Plymouth Co. regt.; service, 23 days, on the alarm of Dec. 8, 1776, at Bristol; also, 4th Plymouth Co. regt. commanded by Lieut. Col. Ebenezer White; engaged July 31, 1780; discharged Aug. 8, 1780; service, 9 days, on an alarm at Rhode Island; roll dated Rochester. MASSACHUSETTS SOLDIERS AND SAILORS IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION, compiled by Massachusetts Archives, Boston, 1899; V. 5, p. 584.

MIL: Revolutionary War: Died aged 78 years. Capt of company of Minute Men which marched on alarm of 19 Apr 1775, to Marshfield; service 4 days. Also first major, in Col. Ebenezer Sprout's regiment of Mass. Militia; list of officers commissioned 10 Feb 1776. Also major, Fourth Plymouth company regiment; service 23 days on alarm of 8 Dec 1776, at Bristol, R. I. Also Fourth Plymouth company regiment. Commanded by Lt Col Ebenezer White; engaged 31 July 1780, discharged 8 Aug 1780, service 9 days on alarm at R.I. Roll dated Rochester, Mass. General. (BYU Library, Provo, UT, DAR Cemetery Index: Call No. 369.1; D26a; pp. 37, 19,117, 266) 'Saved Fair Haven from the British, then promoted to colonel.' (DAR Burial Index card, BYU Library Provo, UT: Call No. 369.1;D26a; #49;pp. 183) During the Revolution he served in the militia with the rank of Major, and led a detachment which defeated the British 7 Sept. 1778 at the present site of Fort Phoenix formerly Fair Haven, Massachusetts.

Captain and Major in Revolutionary War and afterwards was a Brigadier General in the Massachusetts Provincial Army in 1778. Copy of the Commission in possession of author.

He became a man of some prominence.

ISRAEL FEARING was a captain in the Massachusetts infantry brigade that covered Washington's retreat from the battle of Long Island and he took part in the action at White Plains, occupying the high ground immediately west of the railroad station where a large public school now stands called the Battle School. There he was badly wounded and was sent home to Wareham. Upon recovering, he was appointed a major in the militia and at once began making battle plans in advance of every foreseeable contingency. Therefore, when the British raided New Bedford and attempted to destroy the town, he was ready. How well his plans worked out is recorded by the bronze tablet on a granite boulder in the center of the parade ground of the old fort that guarded the harbor in Revolutionary days. Upon the tablet is engraved "Erected in Memory of Major Isreal Fearing, the Ardent Patriot and Accomplished Soldier: On the 7th day of Sept 1778 the British troops landed from their ships in the bay for the purpose of burning the town. By the unflinching courage of Major Fearing, as commander in chief of the militia, the enemy was bravely met and completely defeated and the town was saved". As a result, made Brig. Gen'l in command of all the coast defences of Mass. When the war ended with the complete independence of the colonies and the organization of the United States, a General's Commission in the Militia of Massachusetts was given to Major Israel Fearing in partial recognition for his services to his country, countersigned by Samuel Adams (Frederick C. Fearing 1942 notes in possession of the author.) Frederick F. Fearing, Christmas of 1955 Ltr. to his children (copy in possession of author) ....On March 26, 1777, Wareham chose Jeremiah Bumpus, Ebenezer Chubbuck, Israel Fearing, Edward Sparrow and Barnabas Bates, Jr. as a committee of correspondence, inspection and safety. ..... ... The year 1778 arrived and the War continued. On March 2, 1778, Wareham chose John Fearing, James Burgess, Andrew Mackie, Samuel Savery and Barnabas Bates as a committee of correspondence, inspection and safety. Selectmen during 1778, and the following year as well, were Samuel Savery, Ebenezer Briggs and Israel Fearing.... WAREHAM 1776-1976 Revolution and Bicentennial by Sibyl Jerome, p. 112-113.

On September 7, 1778, the British troops attempted to destroy the village of Fairhaven but were bravely repulsed by a small force commanded by Maj. Israel Fearing of Wareham. With the retreat of more senior officers, Maj. Fearing, now a Plymouth Brigade major, found himself in command. He was supported by men of other militia units in addition to those from Wareham.

The enemy, a day or two previously, had burned houses and destroyed a large amount of property at New Bedford. From there they marched around to the head of the river to Sconticut Point, on the eastern side, leaving in their course, for some unknown reason, the villages of Oxford and Fairhaven. Here they continued until the following Monday, and then re-embarked.

The following night a large body of them proceeded up the river, with a design to finish the work of destruction by burning Fairhaven. A critical attention to their movements had convinced the inhabitants that this was their intent, and induced them to prepare for their reception. The militia of the neighboring country had been summoned to the defense of the village.

Their American commander was a man advanced in years. He determined that the place must be given up to the enemy, and that no opposition to the ravages of their town could be made with any hope of success. This decision of their commanding officer spread its benumbing influence over the militia, and threatened an absolute prevention of all enterprise. And, of course, threatened the ultimate destruction of this handsome village.

Observing the torpor which was spreading among the troops, Maj. Fearing invited as many as had sufficient spirit to follow him and to station themselves at the post of danger. Among those who accepted the invitation was one of the elderly colonels, who, of course, became the commandant. But after they had arrived at Fairhaven, and the night had come, the colonel proposed to march the troops back into the country.

He was warmly opposed by Maj. Fearing, and finding that he could not prevail, the elderly soldier prudently retired to a house three miles distant, where he passed the night in safety.

After the colonel had withdrawn, Maj. Fearing, who was only 30 years at the time, but who was now commander-in-chief, arranged his men with activity and skill, and soon perceived the British approaching.

The militia, already alarmed by the reluctance of their superior officers to meet the enemy, and naturally judging that men of years must understand the real state of the danger better than Maj. Fearing, a mere youth, were panic-struck at the approach of the enemy, and instantly withdrew from their posts.

At this critical moment, Maj. Fearing, with the decision which awes men into a strong sense of duty, rallied them, and placing himself in the rear, declared, in a tone which removed all doubt, that he would kill the first man whom he found retreating.

With the utmost expedition he led them to the scene of danger. The British had already set fire to several stores. Between these buildings, and throughout the village, Fearing stationed his troops, and ordered them to lie close in profound silence until the enemy, who was advancing, should have come so near that no marksman could easily mistake his object. The orders were punctually obeyed. WAREHAM 1776-1976 Revolution and Bicentennial by Sibyl Jerome, p. 114-116.

She had had many of her sloops taken by the enemy. The selectmen met at the house of Benjamin Fearing, and ordered the men to assemble.

Captain Israel Fearing kept the public-house on the road to Agawam Village. A message was sent to him to call out his men. While they were loading the guns, William Fearing, Esq., came and told them to put up the guns, as treaty was made with the enemy.

Captain Israel Fearing assembled twelve men at the Narrows and showed fight.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR - 1812, Incidents in the Town of Wareham .... "Sir Henry Clinton, British Command, sent out an expedition against the Town. 5th of September the Fleet entered Clark's Cove, formed a bridge for landing about 5,000 men to shore.

Most of the People, alarmed at discharge of canon, fled. The Town was burned - almost destroyed.

They next attempted to enter Fairhaven, but when they attempted a landing, Major Israel Fearing, who had a command of about 150 men, fired, and they retreated.

The British troops landed at Fairhaven, but through the bravery of a young man, by name of Israel Fearing, Major of Militia, and a few others, were successfully repulsed.

A gallant young man - a mere youth - Thus did this heroic youth, in opposition to his superior officers, preserve Fairhaven, and merit a Statue from the Inhabitants." Robertson's History of New Bedford, 1858, p. 74.