Israel Warner was born on May 27, 1768 in Bennington, Vermont, to parents Seth and Esther Warner. He was named after Israel Putnam, a notable French & Indian War officer and general in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Israel’s family expanded with the arrival of two more siblings.
Israel’s father, Seth Warner, played a significant role in founding the Green Mountain Boys alongside Ethan Allen. As a Colonel, Seth led a regiment during the American Revolution, participating in numerous battles and achieving fame for his role in winning the Battle of Bennington.
Israel himself joined the Continental Army at the astonishingly young age of 9 in 1777. He served as a messenger boy and scout during the Battle of Bennington and continued his service until 1783 when he was discharged as a Private. Remarkably, he was just 15 years old at the time.
Sadly, Israel’s father, who had been wounded multiple times during the war, passed away at the age of 41, leaving Esther to raise their three children on her own. To support his mother and siblings, Israel worked as a land surveyor in Whitehall, New York.
In 1801, at the age of 33, Israel married Esther Bartholomew. Esther’s father, Jepthai Bartholomew, was also a soldier who served alongside George Washington during the famous Battle of Trenton. Israel and Esther welcomed three children into their family: William, Asenath, and Esther.
Following Esther’s passing in 1821, Israel moved in with his daughter Esther, her husband Daniel Kenyon, and their three children. In 1855, Joseph Naper extended an invitation to Israel to attend Naperville’s first 4th of July Celebration.
Israel Warner departed from this world on January 22, 1862, at the remarkable age of 93. He became the first of his family to be laid to rest at Big Woods Cemetery. His grandsons, who fought in the Civil War, also found their final resting place alongside him. William Kenyon passed away near Vicksburg in 1863, and Israel Kenyon followed in 1864. Today, they rest together at Big Woods Cemetery, leaving behind a lasting legacy of service and resilience.