Display Patriot - P-111706

Isaac BEARSE

SAR Patriot #: P-111706

The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.

State of Service: MA Qualifying Service: Soldier

Birth: 17 Feb 1765 Barnstable / Banstable / MA
Death: 16 May 1855 Barnstable / Barnstable / MA

Qualifying Service Description:

Captain Elisha Nye's Company. Service from February 28, 1777 - April 20, 1777 at Elizabeth Islands

Captain Ebenezer Baker's Company, Colonel Freeman's Regiment: marched on a secret expedition to Tiverton, Rhode Island, October 4, 1777

Additional References:

56th-77th Annual Reports DAR. Senate documents (United States Congress, Senate). Government Printing Office: Washington, DC
MA Soldiers and Sailors in the Rev War, Volume 1, pg 704.
Muster/payrolls, and various papers (1763-1808) of the Rev War (MA and Rhode Island), Volume 36, pg 156 (image 215).
MA Soldiers and Sailors in the Rev War, Volume 1, pg 593.
Muster/payrolls, and various papers (1763-1808) of the Rev War (MA and Rhode Island), Volume 1, pg 66 (image 247).
Barnstable Vital Records, Volume 4, pg 294

Spouse: Mercy
Children: Nabby; Isaac; Sturgis; Arthur; James; Julia; Lemuel; George Washington; Nathan; Martha;

Members Who Share This Ancestor
None^*

^*This means that the NSSAR has no applications for this Patriot on file.
Instead the information provided is best effort, and from volunteers who have either researched grave sites, service records, or something similar.
There is no documentation available at NSSAR HQ to order.

Burial:

Centerville Ancient Cemetery_(C-0075258)

Location:

Centerville / Barnstable / MA / USA

Find A Grave Cemetery #:

2130820

Grave Plot #:

Grave GPS Coordinates:

41.654601 / -70.343113

Find A Grave Memorial #:

44592722

Marker Type:

SAR Grave Dedication Date:

Comments:

The gravestone of Isaac Bearse is made of white marble. It is in good condition with some minor algae and lichen growth. It is 18" wide, 39.5" tall and 2" thick. The gravestone was "erected to the memory of Mr. Isaac Bearse, Died May 16, 1855."

Photos displayed courtesy of David Crandall Schafer, MASSAR

Directions to Cemetery / Gravesite:

The Ancient Cemetery of Centerville is located on Phinney's Lane one-fifth of a mile south of Route 28. It is a relatively small cemetery consisting of 0.73 acres of sloping ground. It has about 180 gravestones with the earliest being for Jonathan Hamblen, dated June 22, 1743. It has an average elevation of 44 feet above sea level and has a split rail fence on the street side with no other fencing. It is owned and managed by the Town of Barnstable and is an inactive cemetery

Photo: 1 of 2

Photo: 2 of 2

Author: David Crandall Schafer

Isaac Bearse was the eldest son of Patriot Lemuel Bearse and Patience Phinney, born at Barnstable, February 17, 1765. Isaac had two older sisters Thankful and Abigail, and three younger brothers James, Lemuel Jr. and Stephen.

In December 1776, Captain Elisha Nye received direction from the Massachusetts Council Chamber to immediately enlist a company of Men “...to consist of sixty-eight men and officers included on the Seacoast Establishment for the defense of the Elizabeth Islands...” to be stationed at Naushon Island. From Centerville, Isaac Bearse along with Silvanus Hinckley and Joseph Lumbart responded to this call and served as a private for 1 month and 23 days in Captain Nye’s company of 53 men at the Elizabeth Islands from February 28, 1777 to April 20, 1777 in defense of the harbor of Tarpolin Cove on the easterly coast of the island.

In October of that year, again Isaac Bearse along with Judah Bearse and Ebenezer Case, also from Centerville, served as a private in the company of Captain Ebenezer Baker in Colonel Nathaniel Freeman’s regiment for 28 days on a secret expedition and marched to Tiverton, Rhode Island.

Isaac and his wife Mercy (born about 1781), raised their family at the village of Chequaquet, which was renamed Centerville in 1834. The 1800 census shows the household of Isaac Bearse with two males between the ages of 26 and 45 and one female from the age of 16 to 26, residing beside the household of James Bearse. Ten children were born to Isaac and Mercy between 1804 and 1825, with only one lost before her twentieth birthday. Abigail was their fist child followed by Isaac Jr., Sturgis, Arthur, James, Julia, Lemuel, George Washington, Nathan Hinckley and Martha.

The 1810 census for the household of Isaac and Mercy lists two males under age 10 (Isaac Jr, and Sturgis), two males 26-45 (Isaac and ?), one female under age 10 (Abigail), and one female 26 to 45 (Mercy). By 1820, the household of Isaac and Mercy had grown to nine with six males and three females. The 1830 census lists seven males and four females indicating one of the sons of Isaac and Mercy were living elsewhere. Abigail died in December 1830, and Julia died the next year in March at the age of 14. George W. was lost at sea at the age of 22 years in 1843.

In October 1851, Isaac, being of ill health, declared his last will and testament giving his daughter Martha the right to live in his home during the widowhood of his wife and leaving all real and personal property to his wife Mercy; with the estate to be divided among his seven children upon her death.

Isaac died May 16, 1855 at the age of 90 years and was buried in the Centerville Cemetery. His wife Mercy died 16 months later in October 1856 "...in her 75th year..." and was buried beside Isaac.

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