John Fellows

John Fellows (July 7, 1735 – August 1, 1808) was a Brigadier General who served as an aide-de-camp to George Washington and participated in several major battles during the American Revolutionary War. He also wrote and published a book involving the Battle of Bunker Hill containing some controversial accounts of the battle.

Biography

Born in Plainfield, New London County, Connecticut Colony, Fellows settled in Sheffield, Massachusetts around 1750.

He fought in the French and Indian Wars. During the Revolution he was present during the British Siege of Boston under George Washington. After the battles of Lexington and Concord he led a regiment to Boston and fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill. In August 1776 Fellows commanded a brigade at the Battle of Long Island covering Washington's retreat after the loss.

Fellows commanded a regiment in the Continental Army at Roxbury, Massachusetts until the end of 1775. On June 25, 1776, he was appointed by the Massachusetts General Court to be brigadier general of the militia reinforcements which was being assembled for the Continental Army at New York.

On Sep 15, 1776 the British General Howe landed a large force of troops at Kips Bay on the East River near what is now 34th street in NYC. Feeble defense by the American militia of General Parsons and General Fellows soon ended in a rout of American forces. The failure to stop and oppose the enemy was a great disappointment to Washington. General Washington was said to be so distraught at seeing the rout, that he drew his sword and charged down the hill towards the advancing British forces, only to be restrained by an aide at the last moment. His army narrowly escaped annihilation.

Fellows also commanded troops at the battle of Battle of White Plains, the Battle of Long Island and the Battles of Saratoga.

A native resident of Massachusetts Fellows belonged to the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts.

Fellows helped in the development and settlement at Canandaiga, New York. In 1790 he built the first saw mill at Mud Creek, East Bloomfield, New York in 1790. The 1790 census shows him living in Ontario County, New York.

Fellows was also the Sheriff of Berkshire, Massachusetts.

John was appointed proprietor of the town of Wolcott, Vermont. (Ref; Vermont Historical Gazetteer, Vol 2, page 778.)

Fellows died on August 1, 1808 in Sheffield, Massachusetts, and is buried in Bernard Cemetery in Sheffield, Massachusetts.

Controversial book

Fellows' nephew, called John Fellows Jr to distinguish him from is uncle , was likewise present at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and published a book in 1843 entitled, The Veil Removed, where he presented numerous letters and statements from veterans of the battle regarding the contested conduct of General Israel Putnam from men who were present at the Battle. The letters provided accounts on Putnam's whereabouts and performance during the Battle, the issue of which created a long standing controversy during the first half of the 19th century.