Home > Ebenezer Learned

He was the son of Ebeneezer and Deborah Haynes Learned, and was born at Oxford, Massachusetts, and lived his entire life in the area. On October 5, 1749 he married Jerusha Baker (c 1732-1789) and they had nine children. When his grandfather died in 1750 he inherited 200 acres (0.8 km²) known as Prospect Hill, and built his home there.

Learned was an active member of the local militia, and raised and drilled a company at Oxford during the French and Indian War. In the summer of 1756 he led his company to Fort Edward at Lake George. There is little record of his service, except that he served sporadically from then until 1763. He fell ill with smallpox Fort Edward in 1757Events March 14 On-board the HMS Monarch Admiral John Byng is executed by firing squad for neglecting his duty. June 23 Indian Mutiny: Battle of Plassey 3000 British troops under Robert Clive defeat a 50,000 strong Indian army under Siraj-ud-Dawlah at Pla and was hospitalized for a month.

After that war, he remained at home for several years, farming and operating a tavern at Oxrord. He was prominent in both church and community, and served as a town selectman for 25 of the years between 1758Events June 12 French and Indian War: Siege of Louisbourg James Wolfe's attack at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia commences. June 23 Seven Years War: Battle of Krefeld British forces defeat French troops at Krefeld in Germany. July 8 French and Indian War: French and 1794Events February 11 1st session of US Senate open to the public. March 14 Eli Whitney is granted a patent for the cotton gin. March 27 The United States Government established a permanent United States Navy and authorized the building of six vessels (in 17.

He remained active in the militia, and led his own and a neighboring company of minutemen to Boston when he got the news of Lexington on April 19April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). There are 256 days remaining. Events 1012 Martyrdom of St Alphege in Greenwich, London. 1529 At the Diet of Speyer a group of rulers German Furst) and independent citie, 1775Events February 9 American Revolutionary War: British Parliament declares Massachusetts in rebellion March 23 American Revolutionary War: Patrick Henry delivers his speech " give me liberty or give me death" in Williamsburg, Virginia. April 14 American Re. On April 24April 24 is the 114th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (115th in leap years). There are 251 days remaining. Events 1184 BC Greeks enter Troy using the Trojan Horse (traditional). 1066 Halley's Comet spotted. 1704 The first regular newspaper in th, the Massachusetts committee of safety named him a colonel and authorized him to organize a regiment. His regiment was adopted into the Continental Army in June. In 1776This article is about the year 1776. For the musical, see 1776 (musical Events January 10 Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense March 17 American Revolutionary War: British forces evacuate Boston, Massachusetts after George Washington places artillery overl those who re-enlisted were augmented by men from Danielson's Regiment to form the 3rd Massachusetts.

By the end of the Siege of BostonThe Siege of Boston ( April 19, 1775 March 17, 1776) was the opening phase of the active American Revolutionary War. As a siege it was only partially successful, but it played an important role in the creation of a real Continental Army and promoting the, General Washington had given him command of the important Dorchester Heights position. When the British evacuated Boston, on March 17, 1776, Colonel Learned was the first to enter the city. He led a battalion of 500 specially selected men, to clean out the traps, abatis, caltrops, and garbage left by the British. He and the men were selected because they had all had smallpox or its inoculation.

He resigned in May of 1776 due to ill health, but returned to duty on April 2, 1777. He as named a Brigadier General and assigned to the Northern Department. In the first phase of the Battle of Saratoga, the Battle of Freeman's Farm, his brigade was not very effective. Working forward in the center of the line, they mainly got lost in the woods, and exchanged light fire near the end of the battle.

At the Battle of Bemis Heights his brigade was in the center of the left division, commanded by General Benjamin Lincoln. Learned's own brigade (the 2nd, 8th, and 9th Massachusetts line), was expanded by Livingston's New York Regiment and 2 regiments of New Hampshire militia. The attack on the American far left was turned by Daniel Morgan's men, but their center was held by Hessean troops.

Arnold and Learned led a charge on the German positions, and even though Arnold fell wounded, Learned and his men carried through and broke the enemy lines. Bugoyne's forces had to retreat to their starting fortifications around Freeman's Farm. When their charge carried the first bunker, Burgoyne's forces withdrew to the positions they had held before the Freeman's Farm battle.

After Saratoga, his was the first unit to guard and escort the surrendered Convention Army on its trek to the south. In 1777-1778 he commanded a Brigade of Massachusetts regiments in deKalb's division at Valley Forge. On March 24, 1778 his continuing health problems led to his final resignation.

Ebenezer returned home to Oxford, and represented the town at the Massachusetts Convention of 1779 that adopted a new constitution for the state. He served as a Judge of Common Pleas for Worcester County, Massachusetts. In 1783 he was elected to the Massachusetts General Court (the state's House of Representatives). He died at home in Oxford in 1801.