Talk:Israel Bissell

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Timeline[edit]

Our Israel Bissell? Israel Bissell, East Windsor, Ct., d. 1776 in middle life of camp distemper in Rev. War; m. Hannah ----, who d. 5/28//1799 They had Robert, Israel, Justus, Eunice, Roxana, Prudence and Anna.

The dates in the timeline seem incorrect, or at least the names of the days if we can believe time and date.com. At the very least I doubt that April 24th was both a Saturday and a Sunday! What is the correct timeline? -Shai-kun 22:18, 10 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]
There are two problems here. One is that the rider is identified as Israel, and the other is that the timeline goes to New York and Philadelphia (i.e., outside of Massachusetts and Connecticut which was the route per the dispatch).–CaroleHenson (talk) 03:07, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I may have been too quick on the draw, see Talk:Isaac Bissell#Two post riders named Bissell?–CaroleHenson (talk) 15:54, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
The timeline is in the article, with dates and times from the attestations on the dispatch papers and citations.–CaroleHenson (talk) 03:25, 5 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Israel Bissell[edit]

According to an article that appeared in the Boston Sunday Globe (Metro Region section, pages B1 and B6) of April 20, 1997, Israel Bissell's grave is in Hinsdale, Massachusetts, "in the far corner of the Maple Street Cemetery. He died in 1823 at age 71." The author of the article, Globe correspondent Dorothy W. Chapman, also notes "Israel Bissell was born in East Windson, Conn., in 1752. The article features a photo of a man standing at Bissell's grave. I highly recommend that researchers consult this article. 134.241.194.113 18:58, 21 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

This doesn't apply because the postrider was Isaac, not Israel. There's a long and wide pattern of confusion about the rider's name that started when the name "Isaac" was changed to "Israel" when copies of the dispatch were made along the route.–CaroleHenson (talk) 03:07, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I may have been too hasty, see Talk:Isaac Bissell#Two post riders named Bissell?–CaroleHenson (talk) 15:54, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, thanks, that article has been used: Chapman, Dorothy W. (1997-04-20). "Unknown patriot outdid Revere". The Boston Globe. p. 33. –CaroleHenson (talk) 02:32, 5 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Genealogy[edit]

He and Daniel Bissel are now related to the Ellis', Hewes and Dougherty's that still reside in East Windsor. Isreal is also related to the Frew's of Worthington and the Cowan's and Bissell's of Pittsfield.

Not applicable. It's Isaac.–CaroleHenson (talk) 03:07, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I may have been too quick on the draw, see Talk:Isaac Bissell#Two post riders named Bissell?–CaroleHenson (talk) 15:54, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

content[edit]

An anon IP added large blocks of text to the article. We appreciate your contributions, but in the form they were pasted in, it is not possible to keep them in the article. Please discuss the additions on this talk page, and they'll surely be put in.

Also, pasting text word-for-word from other websites could constitute copyright violations. This creates problems for Wikipedia, and so it isn't allowed.

Please try rephrasing the text, that would avoid this problem.

Thanks xC | ☎ 18:08, 25 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

shifted[edit]

This was the removed content, could someone please have a look at it and add in whatever could improve the article-

The “bearer” Israel Bissell, a twenty-three old express rider from East Windsor, Connecticut, set out along the Boston Post Road toward Worcester about thirty-six miles away. The traffic was unusually heavy with hundreds of militiamen from towns further west heading for Concord in answer to the earlier alarm. Those who had not yet heard the news were startled by the cries of “the war has begun, the war has begun!” - The home of General Artemas Ward, newly elected Commander-in-Chief of the Massachusetts militia, still overlooks the Boston Road in Shrewsbury about five miles east of Worcester. Ward was confined to bed with a painful bladder stone when the message arrived. At sunrise the next day he painfully mounted his horse and headed for Cambridge. - Before noon Bissell arrived in Worcester dusty and tired shouting: “To arms, to arms, the war has begun!” His fast white horses, spent with fatigue, fell dead near the meetinghouse and Palmer's plea for additional horses became prophetic. An old signal cannon was fired from the hill behind the meetinghouse and the bell was rung to alert the outlying towns of important news. Palmer's original letter was copied and the first endorsement added: - “A true copy taken from the original per order of the Committee of Correspondence for Worcester - - April 19, 1775. - Attest. Nathan Baldwin, Town Clerk.” - The whereabouts of the original copy is not known, but the practice of keeping the copy received and sending a new copy forward was followed several times along the route. Copies were also made by individuals for their personal files or to send as dispatches or marching orders. Several copies can be found in the archives of local newspapers and broadsides which were printed as the news spread southward. - Also not known with certainty is the identity of the post rider who carried the news southward. Israel Bissell's name remained as part of the letter as it was written by Joseph Palmer and copied many times along the route. The spelling of Israel's first name changes slightly as copies of the letter are made and sent forward, but strictly speaking, unless other evidence such as separate news accounts or manuscripts are found, we can only speculate, as have several historians, that Israel Bissell actually carried the letter the entire distance to Philadelphia. - http://www.connecticutsar.org/articles/lexington_alarm.htm - - Israel Bissell, is the 23-year old, little known, post rider who carried the "call to arms" alerting the colonists of the British attack on April 19, 1775. He rode day and night for four days, six hours and some minutes covering 345 miles from Watertown to the City Hall in Philadelphia. - Along the way he roused citizens in tiny hamlets, towns and cities shouting of the impending danger that started with the "shot heard round the world" for American independence. - "To arms to arms, the war has begun" he warned. Sleeping little, eating sparingly, changing horses, he persevered and sounded the alarm. The exhausted and disheveled Bissell delivered the message which was to change the course of this country. The rest is history. - His body lies in a tiny cemetery in Hinsdale, Ma., a few miles from his home site that is marked by a simple boulder where the memory of his heroic ride is carefully preserved. - Text © by Dorothy W. Chapman - Copyright © D. W. Roth 2007, All rights reserved - http://www.dwroth.com/frames/finearts/historical/bissell/bissell2.htm#back - - In 1775, the future rapidly became more ominous. State and local militia were organized, mustered, and drilled. On April 19, 1775, the British, seeking the "traitors" Samuel Adams and John Hancock, engaged the patriots in Lexington and exchanged fire; the war was on. Israel Bissell, a post rider, was dispatched at 10 a.m. on April 19 to Connecticut to alert the countryside to the "Lexington Alarm." He arrived at Norwich at 4 p.m. the next day and reached New London by 7. Stonington must have learned the news the same evening. - http://www.stoningtonhistory.org/archiv5.htm - - Local farmer Israel Bissell had played a key role in the first days of the American Revolution. According to authenticated records, he was one of the three post riders, led by Paul Revere and accompanied by William Dawes, who warned eastern Massachusetts citizens of the British march on Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. - Although Revere was captured briefly by the British, Bissell made his way from Watertown, near Boston, to Waterbury, - - The historic library was built in 1866. The English Tudor edifice, with Gothic, Norse and Celtic touches, was designed by Leopold Eidlitz, one of the architects involved in planning the State Capitol building in Albany, N.Y. - Conn., and then Philadelphia, where he reached the Continental Congress after a marathon five-day ride. - He spent the rest of his life in Hinsdale and was buried at the town cemetery on Maple Street. His exploits were chronicled in magazines, newspaper accounts (including narratives by Eagle columnists Gerard Chapman and Clay Perry), and in an anthology of Revolutionary era documents published during the U.S. Bicentennial celebration in 1976. Bissell was first honored in the Berkshires by Hinsdale historian Marion Ransford, who died in 1990 at the age of 96; she drew upon historic documents in the archives of Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland. At the behest of Mrs. Ransford, the Daughters of the American Revolution installed a special marker at Bissell's grave. Realtor Isadore Goodman donated the Bissell homestead site on Plunkett Lake Road to the town in 1972. - http://www.berkshireeagle.com/fastsearch/ci_5471331 - - "Wednesday morning near 10 of the clock - Watertown - To all the friends of American liberty be it known that this morning before break of day, a brigade, consisting of about 1,000 to 1,200 men landed at Phip's Farm at Cambridge and marched to Lexington, where they found a company of our colony militia in arms, upon whom they fired without any provocation and killed six men and wounded four others. By an express from Boston, we find another brigade are now upon their march from Boston supposed to be about1,000. The Bearer, Israel Bissell, is charged to alarm the country quite to Connecticut and all persons are desired to furnish him with fresh horses as they may be needed. I have spoken with several persons who have seen the dead and wounded. Pray let the delegates from this colony to Connecticut see this. - J. Palmer, one of the Committee of Safety." - http://www.bayequest.info/unbridled/unbridlednews-revere.htm - By The Associated Press - HINSDALE, Mass. -- Paul Revere got all the credit. - But residents here will tell you it was a young postal rider named Israel Bissell who did the lion's share of alerting the American colonies that the British were coming. - Revere, who was immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "Paul Revere's Ride," was arrested by the British after galloping less than 20 miles. - - But Bissell rode for 345 miles, summoning the militia in five colonies in a blistering six-day trek from Watertown to Philadelphia. It was he who carried the historic message: "to arms, to arms the war has begun." - Bissell's story, recounted in a Boston newspaper, is know by few people nationwide, even as the 222nd Patriots' Day approaches. Every year, Hinsdale residents gather at the grave of their "unsung hero" to honor his contribution. - Bissell, who was 23 at the time, carried with him the "call to arms," part of which read: - "To all friends of American Liberty let it be known that this morning before the break of day a Brigade consisting of about one thousand or twelve hundred men landed at Phip's Farm at Cambridge and marched to Lexington, where they found a Company of our Colony Militia in Arms, upon whom they fired without provocation, and killed six men and wounded four others." - The startling report said another brigade was headed for Boston. The message, which was signed and copied by local officials, ended with an appeal: "The bearer, Israel Bissell, is charged to alarm the Country quite to Connecticut, and all persons are desired to furnish him with fresh horses, as they may be needed." - But Bissell continued to Philadelphia, the seat of the Continental Congress. - Along the way, he stopped in Worcester, where his horse fell dead of exhaustion. In New Haven, Conn., he alerted Captain Benedict Arnold who gathered his force to march on Boston. - Bissell marched into New York City on April 23, 1775, five days after the war began at Lexington and Concord. He arrived in Philadelphia the next day. - Perhaps someday the 1995 poem by the late Berkshire County poet Clay Perry will bring Bissell some deserving fame. His work begins: - "Listen my children, to my epistle; of the long, long ride of Israel Bissell; Who outrode Paul by miles and time; But didn't rate a poet's rhyme." - http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/04-97/04-21-97/a03sr018.htm

Thanks xC | ☎ 18:11, 25 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It seems that this is about "Israel" rather than "Isaac" Bissell, so I am not finding anything useful.–CaroleHenson (talk) 03:02, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I will be back, see Talk:Isaac Bissell#Two post riders named Bissell?–CaroleHenson (talk) 15:54, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Struck out my comment that doesn't apply since I found out there were two Bissells spreading the word.–CaroleHenson (talk) 03:11, 5 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I'm back.

  • The three sentences - starting with "The “bearer” Israel Bissell" are already covered in the article.
  • I saw the information about General Artemas Ward, but it's not relevant to this article. There's no connection that I am aware of between Ward - Shrewsbury and Bissell. Very interesting story though!
  • The information from the three sentences that start out "Before noon Bissell arrived in Worcester dusty..." about what he shouted, the horse, and that church bells and cannons were fired is already in the article.
  • The number of sentences that begin "Palmer's original letter.." are summarized in the article. The article answers "who took the southward" route.
  • The six sentences that start "Israel Bissell, is the 23-year old, little known, post rider who carried the "call to arms" are covered / summarized in the article.
  • "His body lies in a tiny cemetery" information is covered from Chapman.
  • The two sentences that start with "In 1775, the future rapidly became more ominous. State and local militia were organized, mustered, and drilled." are summarized. No mention in the article of drills.
  • No mention of Samuel Adams and John Hancock. That's good background information covered in Battles of Lexington and Concord.
  • The two sentence about Israel and his progress that starts with "Israel, a post rider, is covered in the article. I used the dates and times from the attestations on the copies of the dispatch notices.
  • I didn't run into anything about Stonington - and didn't cover towns that weren't on Bissell's route.
  • There's currently nothing in this article about the first alarm sounded by Revere, Dawes, and Prescott. That is covered though in the new article Lexington Alarm. I haven't read that Bissell particpating in the April 18 alarm with Revere, etc.
  • I didn't mention, either, anyting about Revere's capture. That's covered in several articles and not relative to this one, from what I can tell.
  • I don't understand the couple of sentences that start out "The historic library was built in 1866"
  • The article mentions that he lived in Hinsdale.
  • If there's a list of the articles written by Gerard Chapman, Clay Perry, etc. it would be good to have the information to at the very least add as "Further reading."
  • The info about the DAR marker is in the article.
  • I will look at the link for the Bissell homestead being donated to the town.
    • I found a source for that and added it to the article.–CaroleHenson (talk) 00:11, 6 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • The verbiage for the dispatch is in the article already.
  • Unsung hero / comparison to Paul Revere is not in the article. It's WP:Peacock type of verbiage
  • Bissell making it to New York and then Philadelphia is in the article.
  • I ran across the poem by Perry earlier, but it's not covered much, so it would be WP:UNDUE weight, I think, to include it. I thought about it, though.–CaroleHenson (talk) 03:05, 5 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • I didn't explain all the relevant guidelines that apply for what content gets included or not, like WP:Content forks that applied a number of times (e.g., Samuel Adams and John Hancock, etc.). If you question, though, why something wasn't added, please let me know and we can sort it out one way or another. I just took my best pass on this, based on my experience here, but that doesn't mean I am right.–CaroleHenson (talk) 03:23, 5 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Added two updates.–CaroleHenson (talk) 00:11, 6 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

This page untrue based on new findings[edit]

According to new research, the legend of "Israel Bissell" is apparently as fictional as that of Paul Revere. The following article reports that his real name was Isaac Bissell, the name was transcribed wrong, he only rode in his regular local area, the alleged ride to Philadelphia was impossible, and the commonly known story was not corroborated when it first appeared in the 1920's.

http://www.iberkshires.com/story.php?story_id=15001

198.228.208.64 (talk) 08:04, 4 June 2011 (UTC)[reply]

It's sad that this message is so old, but I have changed the article to "Isaac Bissell" and that his route was through Massachusetts and Connecticut (and not Philadelphia). It's a work in progress, but here's a good snapshot of the changes [1].–CaroleHenson (talk) 03:00, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I am thinking it is right to have changed this to Isaac Bissell, but an article may be needed for Israel. See Talk:Isaac Bissell#Two post riders named Bissell?–CaroleHenson (talk) 15:54, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Israel vs. Isaac Bissell - Phil. or not[edit]

I am trying to sort out two things:

  • Who made the ride - Isaac or Israel? There are public records for both an Isaac and Israel Bissell
  • Trip all the way to Philadelphia or to and within Connecticut?

I can work backward and get info about Israel Bissell's life after the war.

I am only finding genealogy sources and books that show his parents, so that info probably needs to go.

Any thoughts or ideas about this? I will keep on researching this, but if someone can help me out, that would be great!–CaroleHenson (talk) 20:19, 31 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I am going to add my notes here, because it will help a lot to sort the story out.
  • The Library of Congress has a broadsheet from New-York printed on Sunday 23d April, 1775 - that mentions "Israel Bissell" as the bearer of the news here.
  • "Isaac Bissell" a post-rider was to be paid 2 pounds and 1 shilling and given a certificate The journals of each Provincial congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775, and of the Committee of safety, by the Committee of Safety, July 7, 1775, page 590. It is the only mention of a "Bissell" in 848 pages. Also in iBerkshires.  Done
  • Col. Palmer, who had given the original message, verified the rider's identity as Isaac Bissell and petitioned the government on his behalf. On April 23, 1776, the Massachusetts House of Representatives ordered payment to Isaac (not Israel) of two pounds, one shilling "in full for his Riding Express to Hartford iin Connecticut in April Last past." (Massachusetts Archives, vol. 283, p. 159) (iBerkshire)  Done
  • Isaac Bissell lived in Sheffield, Connecticut iBerkshires
  • Isaac Bissell info from the Sons of the Revolution, 1892, printed pages 84 and 85. Library of Congress.
  • Grandfather of Eugene Bissell, Great-grandfather of Eugene Bissell, Jr., both elected into the Sons of the Revolution in 1889
  • Private in Captain Elihu Kent’s Company, Suffield, Connecticut Militia  Done
  • “Lexington Alarm”, April 19, 1775  Done
  • Sergeant in Captain Harmon’s Company, Colonel Erastus Wolcott’s Regiment Connecticut Militia, 1776  Done
  • Private in Captain Simeon Sheldon’s Company, Connecticut Militia, “New Haven Alarm”, July 1779  Done
  • An Isaac Bissell (and a Samuel Bissell) from Sheffield served during the Revolutionary War, printed page 80 [2], Library of Congress
  • An Isaac Bissell was a blacksmith and owned the Timothy Swan House, until he sold it in April 1788, printed page 172 of the previous source
  • An Isaac Bissell was born January 25, 1749, the son of Samuel and Mary Bissell, of Windsor, Connecticut, U.S., Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) via ancestry.com. See if the mother was Mary Kibbe  Done, except Mary Kibbe
  • That Isaac died 28 Jul 1822 in Suffield, Connecticut, and was buried at Old Center Cemetery, also via ancestry.com in 2 records. His grave has a Revolutionary War marker. He was married to Amelia (1757-1809), married July 4, 1776 via ancestry.com - Connecticut, U.S., Hale Collection of Cemetery Inscriptions and Newspaper Notices  Done
  • Isaac Bissell (1749-1822), enlisted under Capt. Elihu Kent and marched for relief of Boston. He served as a sergeant in Captain Benjamin Harmon’s company, Col. Erastus Wolcott’s regiment, 1776. He was born in Windsor; died in Suffield, Conn. Wife was Amelia Levitt. Son Horace b. 1789. Lineage Book of the Charter Members of the DAR Vol 028. via ancestry.com  Done
  • Isaac Bissell lived in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut with a household of eight in 1790 - per census, via ancestry.com
  • Palmer's order says to deliver the message to Connecticut - not Philadelphia. Library of Congress iBerkshires He spent 6 days riding through Connecticut (iBerkshires)  Done
  • There had been an image in the article for a broadsheet printed from Baltimore (not one of the stops on the way) that mentions a Tyall Russell - no idea where that name came from. So, I removed the image.
Work in progress ––CaroleHenson (talk) 22:15, 31 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
From this information it seems clear that:
  • A New York newspaper said that the rider was "Israel"
  • But records from the Massachusetts archives identify the only postrider with the surname of Bissell was "Isaac" - for his ride through Connecticut
  • There are military records for an Isaac Bissell that show that he raised the "Lexington Alarm" and the "New Haven Alarm" - as well as serving the Connecticut Militia.
So, what looks like needs to be done is:
  • Move the article to "Isaac Bissell"  Done
  • Remove the personal life information specific to Israel  Done
  • Remove information about the ride to Philadelphia (It seems that someone got passed on the alarm to New York and Philadelphia, but it doesn't appear at all to be Bissell from the records.)  Done
  • Have a section to explain why the article is about Isaac rather than Israel, and why the alarm was spread just throughout Connecticut.  Done for the moment. As I find anything new, I will add it.
Does that make sense?–CaroleHenson (talk) 23:10, 31 March 2024 (UTC)[reply]
It's a work in progress. I am marking the items that have been added to the article and what steps are done with  Done.
I am done for now. I am going to use the book now and then other sources. As I find more information about whether he was a blacksmith, lived in Timothy Swan House, etc. that ties to this specific Isaac, I will add it.
I hope all this makes sense. It's been a lot to sort through. If I have missed something, please let me know.–CaroleHenson (talk) 01:55, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Two post riders named Bissell?[edit]

In searching for sources for the article, I ran across two letters to the editor that really delved into the sources for the "Isaac vs. Israel" question. They cannot be used as sources because they are opinion pieces, but they are helpful for analysis because they were written by two historians who provided source info for their arguments. So, I thought it best to bring this here to issues raised by them here.

Edit.–CaroleHenson (talk) 15:56, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Leonard Swift[edit]

Leonard F. Swift in this post.

  • Swift states that it is wrong to assume that since there's an Isaac Bissell, there's not a Israel Bissell. When I think of the two routes, that brings up an interesting point. Isaac was said to have a mail postal route from Boston to Hartford, Connecticut. Israel was said to have a route from Boston to New York. So, perhaps there were two different people involved.
  • Added Hartford, since it seems that the Israel route seems to be south of Worcester and then west - hitting southern towns in Connecticut. While Isaac's route was in the northwestern corner of Connecticut.–CaroleHenson (talk) 18:01, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
    • Swift says that “Historians have chronicled the development of the system of riders linking the Committees of Correspondence before 1775, and have placed Israel among them as the regular rider between Boston and New York.”
  • Swift states that Israel Bissell was the bearer of the Lexington Alarm when he went to Elizabethtown, New Jersey. Boudinot, a member of the Committee of Correspondence at the time, wrote about Israel Bissell's role in "Journal of the Historical Recollections of American Events during the Revolutionary War, Copied from his Own Original Manuscript,"
    • Comment: This is the most compelling information for me.–CaroleHenson (talk) 14:57, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • Abram Wakeman documented Israel Bissell's ride and schedule, which is in the archives of the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland and was used by the Hinsdale historian and Eagle reporter, the late Marion Ransford.
    • Comment: It would be helpful to know how he developed his timeline. For instance, was there clearly an "Israel Bissell" at each stop between Worcester and Philadelphia? I see that there were both an Isaac and an Israel that stopped in Worcester. I am, so far, not finding Israel at the western Massachusetts and Connecticut stops.
    • Since we know that there was a network of post riders that picked up the message from each stop, it seems possible that one could be an Israel Bissell. More searching to come.–CaroleHenson (talk) 14:57, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • John H. Scheide page 64 mentions the change in Bissell's first name, hastily copied message, in "The Lexington Alarm."
  • Swift says that "Bissell's ride a matter of historical fact names Israel Bissell as the post rider carrying the message." - CH take: It all depends upon what source you are looking at.
    • Swith mentions the "Bicentennial Edition of The Spirit of Seventy-Six: The Story of the American Revolution as told by the Participants, edited by Henry Steele Commager and Richard B. Morris; Harper and Row, Publishers, New York, 1975, contains an account of the Lexington alarm carried by Israel Bissell."
    • David Hackett Fischer "Paul Revere's Ride" includes a map labeled "The Middlesex Alarm" that shows the routes of post riders carrying the alarm through the county, naming some of the riders including Israel Bissell, the regular post rider between Boston and New York.
    • John A. Phillips sketches the details of Israel Bissell's Lexington Alarm ride in "Why Honor Paul Revere? Give Izzy Bissell a Cheer," The Washington Post, Sunday, April 20, 1975.
    • Both the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution in their local chapters have recognized the facts of Israel Bissell's ride.

Lion G. Miles[edit]

Lion G. Miles in this post [3] that:

  • Comment: Miles says that the connection between Israel Bissell and the Lexington Alarm is a myth, as some other fallacies, that he describes, have been spread across time.
    • It sounds as if Isaac Bissells name was distorted over the course of the journey. There are accounts printed in broadsheets with the name Israel Bissell, Tryall Bissell, Tryall Russell. For instance, Image:Bissel-Israel.png is said to be about Israel Bissell, but the name in the image is Tryall Russell.–CaroleHenson (talk) 14:47, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
    • John H. Scheide page 64 mentions the change in Bissell's first name, hastily copied message, in "The Lexington Alarm."–CaroleHenson (talk) 15:00, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
    • See also Borneman p. 239.–CaroleHenson (talk) 16:20, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • It would have been physically impossible for one rider to cover the 345 miles to Philadelphia in five days.
    • Comment: At three miles an hour it would take 4.8 days riding on horseback to reach Philadelphia - without the time spent at each stop, breaks, etc. At four miles an hour, it would take 3.6 days - again not counting time spent at each stop to relay the message, have it copied, and some time for sleep.–CaroleHenson (talk) 14:24, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
    • Israel is said to have made the trip in 5 days and 6 hours (or 5.25 days) - which means if he averaged 3 miles an hour, he would have had about 10 hours for stops, rest, etc. over 5 days. It seems that it would take most of the 10 hours for the time spent copying the dispatch at each stop. At 4 miles an hour, he would have had 1.65 days for stops, rest, etc.
    • That would lead one to believe that he could have made it if he rode almost four miles an hour over the entire trip and didn't require much sleep or rest over 5 days.–CaroleHenson (talk) 14:35, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • He says that there's not a single document that shows that Israel made the ride from Boston to Philadelphia. And: No Hinsdale man named Israel Bissell ever made a five-day ride to Philadelphia and the documentary evidence is quite conclusive about that.
    • The thing that argues against that is that Boudinot said that a Israel Bissell arrived in Elizabethtown, New Jersey with the dispatch.–CaroleHenson (talk) 14:41, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • Isaac Bissell was given the order to ride to Connecticut and Massachusetts records show that he was a carrier of the Lexington Alarm dispatch.
    • Based upon Massachusetts contemporaneous records, Isaac Bissell rode from Lexington Green, stopping at Worcester and Springfield, and then into Connecticut.–CaroleHenson (talk) 14:41, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

From this, I am thinking that there may have been two completely different routes.

I think this article as it stands is correct. Perhaps, though, the Israel Bissell redirect (from the move) needs to be its own article. There are some places where I expected to see Israel Bissells name in Connecticut and Massachusetts sources about the war, but I didn't. But, this is an angle that should be sorted out. It seems like the most helpful info answers the question - who delivered the Lexington Alarm to Philadelphia - and is documented in Philadelphia papers, records, etc.

I'll work on researching each of these points. Any input is greatly appreciated.–CaroleHenson (talk) 07:11, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

IMO, the key compelling point against Miles is that that is that Boudinot said that an Israel Bissell arrived in Elizabethtown, New Jersey with the dispatch.
So the significant thing to address is his statement that there are no records of Israel Bissell's involvement in the Lexington Alarm, which is already on shaky ground.–CaroleHenson (talk) 15:49, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Next steps[edit]

It seems the best next steps are:

As an FYI: If there are two riders, and a (new) Israel Bissell article is needed, this is the version of the article I would start with, removing any content that really applies to Isaac.–CaroleHenson (talk) 16:10, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Based upon the information from Scheide, which is tied together with Hunt's info (already in the previous draft of the article) , what Swift is saying, and this, it is clear that there were two different Bissell routes.
So I am going to bring back the article for Israel - and make sure there isn't Isaac Bissell related information there.
And there's some good information here to update the article with.–CaroleHenson (talk) 23:10, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Done with this section and its subsections.–CaroleHenson (talk) 00:37, 3 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

The Lexington Alarm by John Scheide[edit]

The Lexington Alarm

First express

  • Worcester - From the Norwich document: there is nothing on the endorsement to indicate the time of arrival or departure. The tradition is that the bearer arrived in Worcester before noon on the nineteenth, dusty and worn, shouting, "To arms, to arms, the war has begun" and that his white horse, spent with fatigue, fell dead near the meeting house, which would have meant he covered 36 in two hours while his average per hour on the rest of the trip is about five miles per hour. Based on the Brooklyn dispatch arriving at 11, it's possible that the rider arrived in the late afternoon or evening and rested overnight p. 63  Done, part of this in a note
  • The dispatch for Brooklyn, Connecticut, about 45 miles from Worcester, arrived April 20, at 11:00 a.m. (footnote Force, ser. 4, vol. 2, p. 378.) p. 63  Done
  • Norwich, Connecticut dispatch, with L C Norwich watermark, says the bearer is Israel Bissell. Not sure if it means anyting, but Colo. Foster comment under Palmer's signature. p. 49 (first page of the pdf). It says that a true copy was taken from Worcester (attested by town clerk Nathan Balding) and Brooklyne (attested by Daniel Tyler Jr) copies of the dispatch. p. 50 and a handwritten image on the page between 50 and 51. See p. 64  Done - no attestation for Norwich, but a note about a copy of the handwritten message
  • Governor Trumbull was in Norwich when the news of the battle arrived. (footnote I. W. Stuart, Life of Jonathan Trumbull, Sen. (Boston, 1859), p. 173) p. 64  Done
  • The message arrived in New London on Thursday, April 20 before 7 pm. p. 64  Done
    • It sounds like the route for the Norwich dispatch was a 60-mile ride south of Worcester to Brooklyn and then Norwich, roughly what is currently I-395. (vs. the westerly route by Isaac Bissell, roughly I-90)
  • A dispatch was sent from Norwich to New London, with a note added in New London to have the message conveyed to Saybrook and East Haddam. p. 56  Done
  • The message arrived in New London on Thursday, April 20, 7 p.m. p. 64  Done
  • The message was then sent to Lyme, Saybrook, Killingsworth, Branford, New Haven, and New York, where it arrived on September 5, the day the First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia. (footnote: Force, scr. 4, vol. i, p. 325.) p. 56
    • The September 5 date does not make sense and out of synch with the rest of the info.
    • I t's a 70-mile southwesterly then westerly route from Norwich through these Connecticut towns to New Haven (except for Killingsworth which would take a rider off course, going north-west-south)
  • Lyme endorsement, Friday morning at one o'clock p. 65  Done
  • Saybrook, Friday morning at four o'clock  Done
  • Killingsworth at seven o'clock p. 65  Done
  • East Guilford at eight p. 65  Done
  • Guilford at ten p. 65  Done
  • Branford at twelve, noon. p. 65  Done
  • New Haven - while there is no hour of arrival or departure noted it seems that Bissel must have stayed all night there for he arrived on the twenty-first, Friday, and the next endorsement is at Fairfield p. 65  Done with a note
  • The endorsement for New Haven states, "We thought it necessary and expedient to communicate by express, expecting your speedy aid to forward the same to the Congress at Philadelphia..." (footnote Force, ser. 4, vol. i, p. 325) p. 57  Done
  • Fairfield, twenty-one miles away from New Haven, at eight o'clock, Saturday, the twenty-second. p. 65  Done
  • The message arrived in Philadelphia the next day (after New York) - which would be September 6. p. 56 - I don't understand this date as compared to the rest of the timeline
  • The manuscript copy of the alarm message which is now in the collections of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is made up of four pages. The first begins with the Watertown message of Joseph Palmer and ends with the endorsement of the Committee for New London. The second page begins with the endorsement for Lyme and, after the first endorsement for Fairfield, begins the message which was added at Fairfield giving the news of the express from Woodstock. The third page completes the Woodstock message and ends with a second endorsement for Fairfield signed by the same men who signed the endorsement on the second page. The fourth page carries the endorsements from New York to Trenton, inclusive, and the notation of the arrival of the document in Philadelphia  Done, added a note about a copy of the document is at the Historical Society of Philadelphia
    • It seems this means that the route for the Philadelphia copy was page 1) Worcester, Brooklyn, Norwich, New London, 2) Lyme, 1sr Fairfield with a message about Woodstock, 3) the rest of Woodstock message, ending with Fairfield , 4) New York, Trenton, arrival in Philadelphia. See the timeline in the Elizabethtown dispatch between page 66 and 67
  • "The next endorsement" (I am not sure if this is for the first or second express) "New York committee at four o'clock Sunday afternoon, April 23" with information about the handbill, information on the back. Information also came to New York from a Newport boat (footnote New-York, Sunday 23rd April, 1775. The following interesting Advices, were this Day received here, by two Vessels from Newport, and by an Express by Land. Listed in Charles Evans, American Bibliography, No. 14337.) pp. 65-66
  • "The next endorsement" (I am not sure if this is for the first or second express) "New York committee at four o'clock Sunday afternoon, April 23" with information about the handbill, information on the back. Information also came to New York from a Newport boat (footnote New-York, Sunday 23rd April, 1775. The following interesting Advices, were this Day received here, by two Vessels from Newport, and by an Express by Land. Listed in Charles Evans, American Bibliography, No. 14337.) pp. 65-66
  • There was a question in New York whether the call to arms was valid or not p. 57
  • The message from New York, as printed on the copy that arrived in Philadelphia, said to go to New Brunswick and stop in Elizabethtown.  Done
  • The rider went to Elizabethtown but there's no endorsement for the Philadelphia dispatch. It appears that the original dispatch received the evening of April 23 (not 24?) was saved and a copy without the Elizabethtown endorsement went on to Philadelphia. The copy is rare in that it was made by a Committee of Safety member rather than a Committee of Correspondence member pp. 67-68  Done, except no mention of the different Committees
  • The express rode all the night of April 24, with a new rider, per General McDougall's comment from New York p. 68  Done
  • Check out notes about Trenton endorsements, including a comment that it is a copy of what was sent to Philadelphia and delivered to Trenton by Comm. Eben Hasard, pp. 63-64  Done
  • New Brunswick, dated April 24 at two o'clock in the morning p.68  Done
  • Princeton at six a.m. p.68  Done
  • Trenton at nine in the morning p.68 Done
  • The last stop, Philadelphia at five o'clock in the afternoon of April 24. p.68  Done
  • There seems to be a mix-up in Philadelphia whether they received a real dispatch (which set church bells ringing) or one done in error. (By that time, there were 50,000 soldiers from Massachusetts and Connecticut armed and marching to Boston.) p. 56 -  Done, note about 50,000 men
  • There is a copy of the Philadelphia alarm on the page between 56 and 57. The person identified as the bearer of the note is Trail B--- perhaps Bisel or Bisiel. Like the Norwich copy, it has attestations from Worcester, Brooklyn, Norwich.. and the addition of multiple signatures from New London  Done, except the part about Norwich/Philadelphia attestations.
  • At Philadelphia a broadside was printed by W. and T. Bradford. (footnote Evans No. 14397) A handbill showed that towns the express riders passed through. Three Philadelphia newspapers of the 25th and 26th printed the same message, utilizing the text of the handbill. (footnote Pennsylvania Evening Post, April 25, I77S; Pennsylvania Gazette, April 26, 1775; Pennsylvania Journal, April 26, 1775.) p. 68 and a copy of the handbill between pages 68 and 69
  • Map of towns with Committees of Correspondence that received call to arm messages in April and May - between p. 60 and 61  Done in a note

Second express

  • See the information written on the Philadelphia document about a second express, with likely just an oral report at Pomfert, Connecticut - April 20th at 3 - that provides information about the battle at Concord. Signed Eb. Williams. Fairfield may have removed some endorsements. pp. 65-66  Done, added Pomfret / second express info in a note

Information that may be helpful

  • Committee of Correspondence established in Boston to communicate important information amongst scattered communities in 1772 and then other towns in Massachusetts - and then other states. pp. 51-54.
  • Discussion of First Continental Congress, Massachusetts Provincial Government, Committee of Safety, and Joseph Palmer preparation pp. 57-61
  • Evening of April 18 in Boston, British movements, officers at Lexington, morning of April 19, Palmer's authority to send a call to arms, the verbiage in the call to arms by Palmer pp. 61-63
  • Information about how information made its way into Maryland, etc. pp. 69-78  Done
  • Confusion about what is really happening, next steps, conclusion pp. 78-79

The only mention of Israel Bissell is in the text of the call to arms, with the name changing to Trail Bissell and Tryal Bissell along the route.

My take right now is:

  • There was a southernly route from Worcester, through southern Connecticut, then to New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.
  • It was not made by Issac Bissell, who took a westerly route from Worcester
  • It's feasible that Israel rode the southerly route - will see what other sources say.
  • Israel's name on the New York handbill / notice could be correct for this route, assuming he was the rider.
  • From New York, it is said that a new rider carried the message to Philadelphia  Doing...–CaroleHenson (talk) 20:31, 2 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • It seems like there is enough information to show the route and most of the dates/times from Worcester to Philadelphia
  • There's some date info that seems out of synch for New Jersey and Philadelphia, but we can get the end date and time from the Philadelphia message and handbill.
    •  Done - I used the dates in the attestations
  • It doesn't seem that the first express went through Pomfert, unless it was just an oral message  Done

–CaroleHenson (talk) 21:44, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

  • The call to arms went to New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia but the dispatch just says to carry the message through Connecticut.–CaroleHenson (talk) 21:50, 1 April 2024 (UTC) Clarify.–CaroleHenson (talk) 21:52, 2 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
    •  Done - I have added notes about where the route was extended in the notes.–CaroleHenson (talk) 20:08, 2 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Journal of events..., by Boudinot[edit]

From Journal of Events in the Revolution by Elias Boudinot

  • I see the "Copy of Alarm Sent by the Committee of Watertown, Mass, April 23, 1775", with the bearer identified as Israel Bissel and that it was received the evening of April 23, 1775.
  • It has a nice list of the stops: Worcester, Brooklyn, Norwich, New London, Lynne, Say Brook, Shillingsworth, E. Guilford, Guilford, Bradford, New Haven, Fairfield with dates and times
  • There's also a second express with an update about the fighting by EB Williams

My take is:

  • It is helpful to see the route the dispatch was sent
  • It seems as if the message went from Fairfield directly to Elizabethtown, which does not make sense.
    • That has been sorted out with the timeline from the attestations.–CaroleHenson (talk) 20:37, 2 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • It's nice to see Israel name as the bearer, before it got distorted to Tryall or Trail–CaroleHenson (talk) 22:18, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
✗ Not done There's nothing that needs to be done at this point.–CaroleHenson (talk) 20:37, 2 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Swift's points[edit]

Leonard F. Swift in this post.

This is the list without the items already covered above, and in the order I am going to research them:

  • Both the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution in their local chapters have recognized the facts of Israel Bissell's ride.
    • Hunts Daughter of the American Revolution article about Israel Bissell is already in this version, which will be the starting point. Reading it again, with the mindset of there being two rides, everything she says makes sense. It's helpful that the article calls out New Haven and Pomfret of the southerly route.  Done–CaroleHenson (talk) 20:33, 2 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
      • Yes, I did find articles, but I didn't find any records for families that registered at DAR or SAR. Perhaps I'm not looking in all of the right places?–CaroleHenson (talk) 22:35, 2 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • David Hackett Fischer "Paul Revere's Ride" includes a map labeled "The Middlesex Alarm" that shows the routes of post riders carrying the alarm through the county, naming some of the riders including Israel Bissell, the regular post rider between Boston and New York.
    • I am not able to see the map. I searched on Bissell and just found info already covered in the article.–CaroleHenson (talk) 22:35, 2 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
    • As an FYI, there is also a great map in Schiede's articlehere - between pages 60 and 61. that has all the Lexington Alarm stops.–CaroleHenson (talk) 22:35, 2 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • Swift says that “Historians have chronicled the development of the system of riders linking the Committees of Correspondence before 1775, and have placed Israel among them as the regular rider between Boston and New York.”
    • I am sure that is so, but I have not been finding it - searching on Bissell and "Committees of Correspondence". I have performed other searches to find him as a post rider without luck. I am going to skip this right now. I have a new souce for his route, and I will see what I find from Swift's other sources below.–CaroleHenson (talk) 22:35, 2 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • Abram Wakeman documented Israel Bissell's ride and schedule, which is in the archives of the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland and was used by the Hinsdale historian and Eagle reporter, the late Marion Ransford.
    • I found that there is: " The Lexington alarm. Israel Bissell's famous ride from Watertown, Mass. to Philadelphia, Pa., April 19th-24th, 1775. By Abram Wakeman." but there's no access to it and it's non-circulating. I got a source by googling his and Bissell's name - that gave me some info to add to the article.–CaroleHenson (talk) 00:22, 3 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • Swift says that "Bissell's ride a matter of historical fact names Israel Bissell as the post rider carrying the message."
  • Swift mentions the "Bicentennial Edition of The Spirit of Seventy-Six: The Story of the American Revolution as told by the Participants, edited by Henry Steele Commager and Richard B. Morris; Harper and Row, Publishers, New York, 1975, contains an account of the Lexington alarm carried by Israel Bissell."
    • I can see that this book exists, it's in a few catalogs, it's mentioned in a few books, but I cannot find it. It's not in any of the libraries in my city. I googled the editors name and Bissell - nothing.–CaroleHenson (talk) 00:22, 3 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • John A. Phillips sketches the details of Israel Bissell's Lexington Alarm ride in "Why Honor Paul Revere? Give Izzy Bissell a Cheer," The Washington Post, Sunday, April 20, 1975.
    • I found this article with a review of "Why Honor Paul Revere?", which I am using. There's a few things there that give some background.–CaroleHenson (talk) 00:22, 3 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

- Work in progress –CaroleHenson (talk) 22:34, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

See the top of "#Next steps".–CaroleHenson (talk) 23:10, 1 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Updates. Still a work-in-progress.–CaroleHenson (talk) 22:35, 2 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
I am going to close this out, unless someone has some comments or suggestions.–CaroleHenson (talk) 00:22, 3 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Left over thoughts and considerations[edit]

Thoughts:

  • There's information about Israel that doesn't add up. It's said he was a member of the committee of safety, but from a book that lists the members, he's not on that. Perhaps what was meant to say is that he was a courier (like Isaac) for the committee. But I don't have a source that says that, just one that says he was a member. Unless he also went by another name, I don't see him on the lists of Lexington Alarm riders.
    • I made an edit here, putting the sentence about his being a member in a note + adding the list of members in the note.–CaroleHenson (talk) 21:36, 7 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • It seems strange to me that Isaac and Israel likely got to Worcester somewhere on April 19, perhaps around the same time, but they both don't seem to head on their routes until April 20. Perhaps this is due to the Powder Alarm of September 1774. Perhaps they and the people that they spoke with in Worcester wanted to make sure that this alarm is real. I don't know. I wonder if there's something about the riders hesitating in Worcester.
    • Tradition that Israel Bissell arrived in Worcester by noon on April 19, Scheide says more likely late afternoon or evening, there's an attestation that he arrived in Brooklyn, Connecticut at 11 a.m. on April 20.{{sfn|Scheide|1940|p=63}}
    • It seems possible that he spent the night there.{{sfn|Scheide|1940|p=63}} No more mentioned by Scheide about his time in Worcester.
    • Anyone else talk about Bissell's time in Worcester? - searching.
      • The only thing that I am finding is that Israel arrived on April 19, got a new horse, got an attestation for the next town. No mention of Isaac in Worcester's records, collections, books.–CaroleHenson (talk) 03:10, 8 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
    • Not sure how relevant this is to the Lexington Alarm or the Bissell's time in Worcester, but Isaiah Thomas (publisher) had moved his printing press from Boston to Worcester before the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and was the first to publish the account of the battle. He became the postmaster at Worcester [4]- by April 19/20?–CaroleHenson (talk) 22:42, 7 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
      • What I am seeing is that Thomas was concerned about needing to get out of Boston because the British were not happy with what he had published. He was concerned for his life and that his printing equipment wasn't destroyed. He was welcomed to Worcester. I am not seeing anything about discussions that happened as the result of the alarm. The focus on the town was to let townspeople know the war had started and rally men, who had been drilling for months, to fight.–CaroleHenson (talk) 03:08, 8 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
      • I am also seeing that Thomas may have come to Worcester April 19 or 20... and that he had to quickly gather his most important things before the British got him.–CaroleHenson (talk) 03:17, 8 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • They waited long enough that the second express dispatch eventually caught up with them - western CT or New York?
  • The identification of Isaac as the bearer of the Worcesther-Springfield dispatch makes me feel better about Israel's name on the Worcester-Norwich-New Haven-New York dispatch.
  • As far as actual records about Israel on the route, it seems to be about New York (Committee of Sixty meeting) and Elizabethtown. I don't remember anything else that explicitly calls out Israel along the route, but if he had the post route for some time, the townspeople wouldn't have to question if it was Israel, they would know him. So, the bearer name on the dispatch fits. If someone else made the ride, one would think that would be mentioned, attestations wouldn't be made, etc.
    • His name didn't change on the dispatch paperwork until he was off of his regular post route (Boston to New York). The New York copy says "Israel Bissell".–CaroleHenson (talk) 20:40, 8 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • It would be nice to be able to see Force's books about this - the two that are mentioned in his WP article seem to start in 1776.
    • I found the series that I was able to view by clicking the links in archive.org and didn't find anything new.–CaroleHenson (talk) 20:10, 8 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
  • I saw something about Israel Bissell Sr. dying in England in 1776. Prisoner of war? What is that about if that happened? I see both of their handwritten names in the muster document for East Windsor for Wolcott, with "father" written after one of the Israel Bissells
  • I am not finding a source for his death. There were Bissells living in Warwickshire, England at the time. Perhaps it's another Isaac Bissell who died in Warwickshire, England. I am not finding any death record for him, but his will was processed in 1777 in Connecticut.–CaroleHenson (talk) 20:28, 8 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I am hoping that someone who reads this knows more and can share their thoughts. At this point, I don't know if there's anything more I can find on the April 19th+ timeframe, but perhaps there is information that can be found about Isaac and Israel before that.

Do you have any thoughts about these items or the articles so far?–CaroleHenson (talk) 05:40, 7 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Added updates, still a bit more research to do about Force's sources and, less important, Israel Bissell Sr's death in 1776.–CaroleHenson (talk) 03:13, 8 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
An update about Force's works.–CaroleHenson (talk) 20:10, 8 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
Added another comment about Israel's name changing / his regular route.
I think I have done all I can here.–CaroleHenson (talk) 20:40, 8 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]
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