Israel Angell

Last updated
Israel Angell
Born(1740-08-24)August 24, 1740
Providence, Rhode Island
DiedMay 4, 1832(1832-05-04) (aged 91)
Allegiance United States
Service/branch Continental Army
Rank Colonel
Commands held 2nd Rhode Island Regiment
Battles/wars American Revolutionary War

Israel Angell (August 24, 1740 - May 4, 1832) was a Continental Army officer of the American Revolutionary War.

Contents

Early life and education

He was born to Oliver and Naomi (Smith) Angell in Providence, Rhode Island. [1] He was a descendant of one of the original settlers in Rhode Island. He had a good education and developed an early interest in scientific matters. He married three times and had seventeen children.

Revolutionary War service

Angell served nearly throughout the entire war in Rhode Island and was successively promoted.

He was appointed a major of Colonel Daniel Hitchcock's Regiment at the outbreak of the American Revolution. He served with the regiment in the Siege of Boston. When the Continental Army was reorganized on January 1, 1776, Hitchcock's Regiment was re-designated as the 11th Continental Infantry. Late in 1776, Hitchcock was appointed as a brigade commander and Angell assumed command of the regiment. The regiment was re-designated as the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment on January 1, 1777, and Angell was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the regiment. A few days later, he was promoted to colonel in command of the regiment following the death of Colonel Hitchcock on January 13, 1777.

Angell served at Valley Forge in the Winter of 1777 to 1778, and in the following battles:

He was particularly distinguished in the Battle of Springfield, where he withheld a key bridge from British troop advances. He received recognition correspondence for this act of heroism from George Washington and Nathanael Greene. He also served at various places in Rhode Island and New Jersey and along highlands of the Hudson River, most notably at Peekskill and West Point. He retired from the army on January 1, 1781, after the two Rhode Island regiments were consolidated into a single regiment known as the Rhode Island Regiment.

Later life

He settled in Johnston, Rhode Island as farmer and cooper. He later lived in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

Personal life

He married Martha Angell. His 2nd marriage was to Susanne Wright. His 3rd marriage was to Sarah Wood. Angell had 17 children. [1]

Death and legacy

Angell's grave at North Burial Ground Grave of Colonel Israel Angell, North Burial Ground.jpg
Angell's grave at North Burial Ground

Colonel Angell died on May 14, 1832, at the age of 91. [1] He was originally buried in Johnston, Rhode Island. In 1918 his remains were moved to the North Burial Ground in Providence, Rhode Island and a large plaque was placed there in his honor by the Rhode Island Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. He is the highest ranking Rhode Island officer who served in the Continental Army who is buried in Rhode Island.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd New Hampshire Regiment</span> Military unit

The 2nd New Hampshire Regiment was formed in early May 1775, as the second of three Continental Army regiments raised by the state of New Hampshire during the American Revolutionary War. Its first commander was Colonel Enoch Poor, with Joseph Cilley as major. Many of the men who served in the unit hailed from southeastern New Hampshire and western Maine. During the first part of its service, the regiment took part in the siege of Boston, and there is a link below in the reference section to the orderly book of an officer in the unit during that time.

The 16th Massachusetts Regiment, also known as Henry Jackson's Additional Continental Regiment, was a unit of the American Massachusetts Line, raised on January 12, 1777, under Colonel Henry Jackson at Boston, Massachusetts. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Monmouth and the Battle of Rhode Island. The regiment was disbanded on January 1, 1781, at New Windsor, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Rhode Island Regiment</span> Continental Army regiment

The 1st Rhode Island Regiment was a regiment in the Continental Army raised in Rhode Island during the American Revolutionary War (1775–83). It was one of the few units in the Continental Army to serve through the entire war, from the siege of Boston to the disbanding of the Continental Army on November 3, 1783.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2nd Rhode Island Regiment</span> American Revolutionary War regiment

The 2nd Rhode Island Regiment was authorized on 6 May 1775 under Colonel Daniel Hitchcock in the Rhode Island Army of Observation and was organized on 8 May 1775 as eight companies of volunteers from Providence County of the colony of Rhode Island. As part of a brigade organized under Nathanael Greene, the unit participated in the Siege of Boston during the remainder of 1775. Some elements accompanied Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec late in the year. The unit was renamed the 11th Continental Regiment on the first day of 1776.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9th Connecticut Regiment</span> Military unit

The 9th Connecticut Regiment was a regiment of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. It was first called Webb's Additional Continental Regiment before being added to the Connecticut Line in 1780. It saw action at Setauket in 1777, Rhode Island in 1778, and Springfield, New Jersey, in 1780, and was generally active in the defense of Connecticut, southern New York, and northern New Jersey. It was merged into the reorganized 2nd Connecticut Regiment in January 1781.

The 2nd New Jersey Regiment was raised, on 9 October 1775, at Trenton, New Jersey, for service with the Continental Army under the command of Colonel William Maxwell. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Trois-Rivières, Battle of Valcour Island, Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Crooked Billet, Battle of Monmouth, Sullivan Expedition, Battle of Springfield and the Battle of Yorktown. The regiment was furloughed, on 6 June 1783, at Newburgh, New York, and disbanded 3 November 1783.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connecticut Line</span> American Revolutionary War military formation

The Connecticut Line was a formation within the Continental Army. The term "Connecticut Line" referred to the quota of numbered infantry regiments assigned to Connecticut at various times by the Continental Congress, the size of its allocation determined by the size of its population relative to that of other states. These, together with similarly apportioned contingents from the other twelve states, formed the Continental Line. The concept was particularly important in relation to the promotion of commissioned officers. Officers of the Continental Army below the rank of brigadier general were ordinarily ineligible for promotion except in the line of their own state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Hampshire Line</span> Formation in the Continental Army

The New Hampshire Line was a formation in the Continental Army. The term "New Hampshire Line" referred to the quota of numbered infantry regiments assigned to New Hampshire at various times by the Continental Congress. These, along with similar contingents from the other twelve states, formed the Continental Line. For the promotion of senior officials, this concept is particularly important. Officers of the Continental Army below the rank of brigadier general were ordinarily ineligible for promotion except in the line of their own state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhode Island Line</span>

The Rhode Island Line was a formation within the Continental Army. The term "Rhode Island Line" referred to the quota of numbered infantry regiments assigned to Rhode Island at various times by the Continental Congress. These, together with similar contingents from the other twelve states, formed the Continental Line. The concept was particularly important in relation to the promotion of commissioned officers. Officers of the Continental Army below the rank of brigadier general were ordinarily ineligible for promotion except in the line of their own state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ebenezer Huntington</span> 18th/19th-century American politician

Ebenezer Huntington was an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and afterwards United States Representative from Connecticut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Greene</span> American legislator and soldier

Christopher Greene was an American legislator and soldier. He led the spirited defense of Fort Mercer in the 1777 Battle of Red Bank, and for leading the African American 1st Rhode Island Regiment during the American Revolutionary War, most notably with distinction in the 1778 Battle of Rhode Island. He was killed in May 1781 at the Battle of Pine's Bridge by Loyalists, possibly because he was known to lead African American troops.

Jeremiah Olney was born into an old family from Rhode Island. He formed a company of infantry from that state at the start of the American Revolutionary War. After serving as captain in 1776, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel at the beginning of 1777. As second-in-command of the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment, he fought at Red Bank. After its commander was wounded early in the action, he led Varnum's brigade in bitter fighting at Monmouth in June 1778.

Simeon Thayer fought in Rogers' Rangers during the French and Indian War and made a harrowing escape from French-allied Indians. At the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, the Rhode Island assembly appointed him an officer. He quickly raised a company of soldiers and marched with them to the Siege of Boston. He and his men went on Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec during which time he kept a journal of his experiences. He fought at Quebec and was captured. After being paroled, he again served as an officer in the Continental Army. Simeon Thayer was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati of the State of Rhode Island.

Daniel Hitchcock was born in Massachusetts and graduated from Yale University. He moved to Providence, Rhode Island, where he became an attorney and was suspected by the authorities of involvement in the Gaspee Affair. At the start of the American Revolutionary War he formed Hitchcock's Regiment of infantry in the Rhode Island Army of Observation. He was first appointed lieutenant colonel in command of the regiment when it marched to serve in the Siege of Boston in 1775. His regiment was renamed the 11th Continental Regiment during 1776. That year, he led his troops at Long Island, Harlem Heights, and White Plains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sherburne's Additional Continental Regiment</span> Unit of the Continental Army

Sherburne's Additional Continental Regiment was a unit of the Continental Army which served from January 1, 1777, until it was disbanded on January 1, 1781. It was commanded by Colonel Henry Sherburne.

Colonel Henry Sherburne (1748-1824) was an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He commanded Sherburne's Additional Continental Regiment from 1777 to 1781, and served as the General Treasurer of Rhode Island from 1792 to 1807.

Babcock's/Lippitt's Regiment was a regiment raised for the defense of Rhode Island during the American Revolution.

François Lellorquis de Malmédy, the Marquis de Malmédy,, possibly a son of Charles-François de Gray de Malmédy and his wife Marie Charlotte Sébastienne Le Masson de Vandelincourt, was a sous lieutenant of cavalry in the French Army prior to 1776 and a Continental Army officer during the American Revolution after he arrived in the American colonies in 1776. He was reported to be descended from a Scottish family named Gray that settled in France.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Marquis Who's Who, Inc. Who Was Who in American History, the Military. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1975. P. 14 ISBN   0837932017 OCLC   657162692