A Patriot of the American Revolution for CONNECTICUT with the rank of CAPTAIN. DAR Ancestor # A025173

COLONEL ISRAEL CONVERSE 6 (Lieut. Josiah 5 (19), Capt. Josiah, 4 Maj. James,3 Lieut. James,2 Deacon Edward 1) born in Stafford, Conn., 7 August 1743; died in Randolph, Vt., 28 March 1806. He marched as Sergeant to the relief of Boston, on the Lexington Alarm, 19 April 1775, and served seven days. He also served 9 May 1775 to 16 October 1775, as Sergeant. in Capt. Robinson's Co., the 3rd Co., of Gen. Spencer's regiment. For an account of the service of this regiment see record of Jude Converse. Commissioned 2d Lieutenant in Capt. Abiel Pease's Co., 8 June 1776, and was commissioned Captain 25 September 1776. He was Captain in Col. Wells' regiment. Two state regiments composed of detachments of militia were raised in the spring of '80 for service along the western coast. Colonel Wells commanded one, and Colonel Beebe the other. On 9 December '80, Colonel Wells at Horseneck, was attacked by the enemy and taken prisoner together with 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 2 ensigns, and 20 or more privates (Conn. Men in the Revolution, pp. 22, 47 and 615). The Reed MS. says that Israel Converse was a colonel. Gov. Julius Converse. says that Col. Josiah (crossed out with Israel written in) of unusually large stature, had a giant frame, and wonderful physical strength, though not equal in muscular strength to his brother Josiah, who had a large frame but not so much flesh. During the last part of his life Col. Israel was very fleshy, and it is said that at the time of his death (which was caused by an accumulation of fat on the vitals) he weighed 300 pounds. Another account says 400 pounds. For fifteen years prior to his death he was not able to buckle his shoes. His silver knee buckles are in the possession of Maj. James Converse of San Antonio, Texas.

Page 84 - The Converse Family

Col. Israel Converse was a large proprietor and land owner and one of the first settlers of Randolph, Vermont, whither the family moved from Stafford soon after 1780, the year Randolph was founded. He was prominent in civil as well as in military life, and he was buried with military honors, with a band of music, and was followed by his old war horse, riderless. The procession reached from his house to the cemetery, two miles. Colonel Converse married, first, Sarah Lewis, who died 15 June 1769; and he married, second, in 1771, Hannah Walbridge, who was born 13 October 1751, and who died in Parkman, Ohio, 17 October 1830. She vas the daughter of Amos Walbridge.

Children of Colonel Israel and Hannah (Walbridge) Converse:

ISRAEL CONVERSE, 7 born in Stafford, Conn., 24 May 1772; died 23 Jan. 1773.

ISRAEL CONVERSE,7 born in Stafford, Conn., 14 Nov. 1773; died at Randolph, Vt., 28 Nov. 1827; married Anna Smith. (98)

JAMES CONVERSE,7 DOCTOR, born in Stafford, Conn., 5 Nov. 1775; married, 23 Dec. 1802, Lucinda Smith; died 1 Sept. 1828. (99)

PORTER CONVERSE, 7 born in Stafford, Conn., 28 Feb. 1778; married Rhoda Howard; residence Unionville, Lake Co., Ohio. (100)

SARAH LEWIS CONVERSE,7 born in Stafford, Conn., 28 March 1780; died in Parkman, Ohio, 31 May 1858; unmarried.

CELIA CONVERSE,7 born, in Stafford, 18 Feb. 1783; died in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., 2 Aug. 1840; married Jeremiah York. (101)

HANNAH CONVERSE,7 born, in Stafford, 8 April 1785; died in Grand Detour, Ill., 31 Aug. 1856; married Joseph Cumins. (102)

ELEANOR CONVERSE, 7 born in Randolph, Vt., 14 April 1787; died in Cambridge, Ill., 27 Oct. 1865; married, lst, Win. Copp; married, 2nd, Robert Scott.

DANIEL GILBERT CONVERSE; born in Randolph, Vt., 6 March 1790; died in Saranac, Mich., 5 Sept. 1858; married, 1st, 1 April 1813, Polly Morgan, who died in Parkman, Ohio. After her death he married again.

JOHN PHELPS CONVERSE,7 JUDGE, born, in Randolph, 27 Jan. 1792; died in Parkman, Ohio, 20 Feb. 1865; married, let, Betsy Collins; married, 2nd, Hannah Parkman. (102)

ORINDA CONVERSE, 7 born in Randolph, 25 Jan. 1794; married Dr. Chauncy Beadle. (104)

JOSIAH CONVERSE,7 born, in Randolph, 7 Nov. 1797; died there 14 Jan. 1817.

Source: Charles Allen Converse

See also: Captain Israel Converse. Says he's the father of Israel Converse Jr., Dr. James, Porter, Sarah, Celia, Hannah, Eleanor, Daniel Gilbert, John Phelps, Orinda and Josiah.

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Converse was a big man in many respects, including that he was physically a “giant of a man” who weighed 300-400 pounds during the latter years of his life. He died in Randolph in 1806, and his funeral procession “reached from his home to the cemetery, a distance of two miles.”

source: History & Cake: Local DAR Celebrates 100-Year Mark By Sandy Vondrasek, The Herald of Randolph, 10/18/2012