Hon. Phanuel Bishop

Born on September 3, 1739 in Rehoboth, MA to John and Hannah (Woodward) Bishop. On February 13, 1762, he married Elizabeth Hunt, daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Thomas) Hunt. Together they had at least seven children: Nathaniel Hunt, Zelinda (died in infancy), Zelinda, Elizabeth, Phanuel Jr, Lucy, and William. Phanuel attended the common schools and was an inn keeper. The inn was located at what is now the intersection of Greenwood and Pawtucket Avenues, and Pleasant Street. His son, Phanuel Jr, took over the inn at some point.

Phanuel Bishop served as a soldier in the American Revolutionary War with the rank of Captain. His company answered the call to the alarm of April 19, 1775. The colonists, known as Minute Men, marched from Rehoboth to Lexington and Concord and fought in what was the first major military action of the Revolutionary War. His service lasted eight days as the role of Minute Men was to be ready at a moment’s notice to be deployed to specific battles. Once the battle was over, soldiers returned home.

He was commissioned on March 28, 1776 as captain in Colonel Thomas Carpenter’s

(1st Bristol Company) Regiment. This regiment, also known as Carpenter's Regiment, of the Massachusetts Militia, was a significant local unit that served during the Revolutionary War, seeing action in New York and participating in the Rhode Island Campaign in 1778, where Carpenter was noted for bravery. This militia regiment, composed of men from towns like Rehoboth, was active from 1776 to 1780. It is not clear how long Phanuel Bishop served.

Bishop was also on a list of men who were drafted as “one-seventh men” to serve in the Continental Army dated May 15, 1777. This typically refers to a specific drafting quota used by local towns or counties to meet recruitment demands. To meet these numbers when voluntary enlistment failed, local governments would divide their male population (generally those aged 16-60) into groups. From each group, often every seventh man was required to be drafted for service. According to military records, Phanuel was fined ten pounds for non-service.

After his service, Phanuel Bishop returned home to Rehoboth. He became a prominent political leader in Massachusetts. He served in the Massachusetts State Senate from 1787-1791 and later in the Massachusetts State House of Representatives in 1792, 1793, 1797, and 1798. From March 4, 1799 to March 3, 1807 he was elected to serve as a Democratic-Republican in the United States House of Representatives. He died on January 6, 1812 at the age of 72. He is buried in Newman Cemetery in Rumford, RI. His gravesite is marked with a slate stone.

Hon. Phanuel Bishop is remembered for his service in the fight for American independence. His contribution helped secure freedom for future generations.