Ebenezer Learned was born at Oxford, Massachusetts, the son of Col. Ebenezer Learned and his wife, Deborah Haynes. He was descended from William Learned who was admitted to the First Church in Charlestown, in 1632, and in 1640 was one of the first settlers of Woburn.
Career
During part of the French and Indian War he served as captain of a company of Oxford men in Colonel Ruggles' regiment. He was one of the leading spirits in the Revolutionary movement in his native town. On September 29, 1774, he was chosen delegate to the Provincial Congress at Concord, and on January 12, 1775, to that at Cambridge. Shortly after the battle of Lexington he arrived in Cambridge at the head of a body of minute-men and was assigned, April 21, 1775, to the right wing of the American army. While he was not present on the field of Bunker Hill, his men were under fire at Roxbury during the course of the action.
On Januaty 1, 1776, he was commissioned colonel of the 3rd Continental Infantry. He helped to arrange the understanding between Washington and Howe respecting the evacuation of Boston, and on March 17, 1776, he unbarred the gates with his own hands to admit the patriot forces. While the British fleet lingered in the harbor, his men were detailed to keep nightly watch upon it with the use of whale-boats. His regiment was presently ordered to New York, but on account of ill-health he resigned in May 1776.
Returning to Oxford, he continued to render various services to the Revolutionary cause. Not content to sniff the smoke of battle from afar, he accepted a commission, voted by Congress April 2, 1777, as brigadier-general, and was ordered to join the northern army under Gates and Schuyler. After collecting the militia at Fort Edward and Fort Anne, he helped to remove valuable stores from Ticonderoga to prevent them from falling into enemy hands. He accompanied Arnold on his expedition to the relief of Fort Stanwix and took a noteworthy part in the battles of September 19 and October 7, 1777, his brigade being publicly thanked by Gates for its valiant behavior in the first-mentioned action.
After Burgoyne's surrender he was ordered to the southward. On March 24, 1778, he was again forced to resign his commission by reason of physical disability. Returning to Oxford, he served the town in civil capacity, representing it at the state constitutional convention in 1779 and as member of the legislature in 1783. For a time he kept a public house on his farm. He was at one time or another selectman, assessor, justice of the peace, and moderator of town-meeting, and was active in church affairs. He died at Oxford.
Achievements
Connections
Learned was twice married: on October 5, 1749, to Jerusha Baker, and on May 23, 1800, to Eliphal Putnam.