Andrew Bearce

Quick Facts

Date of Birth:

1756

Place of Death:

Stillwater, NY

Date of Death:

September 19, 1777

Andrew Bearce (born 1756) of Dover, New Hampshire, hailed from a very large family of Halifax, Massachusetts origin. It’s unclear when Andrew moved to New Hampshire, but he was living in Dover by 1776 when he took up the call to fight against British tyranny.

Andrew enlisted as a private soldier in Colonel Enoch Poor’s 8^th Continental Regiment that spring. Assigned to Canada, the regiment was ousted by British forces that summer and was transferred to Washington’s command later in the fall. Andrew participated in the “Ten Crucial Days” campaign which included the epic Battles of Trenton and Princeton.

When new regiments were being formed for the 1777 campaign season, Andrew wasted no time to reenlist. He joined Captain Rowell’s company of Colonel Nathan Hale’s 2^nd New Hampshire Regiment and was appointed to the rank of sergeant. Unlike most of his compatriots, his chose to enlist for the entire war.

The 2^nd New Hampshire Regiment was stationed at Mount Independence in Vermont by the time of the 1777 British invasion from Canada. Andrew evacuated with the rest of the American Northern Army in early July and fought in the July 7 Battle of Hubbardton. The regiment was battered in the battle and suffered substantial casualties, including Colonel Hale (who was captured).

But Andrew survived and participated in the desperate summertime retreat to Fort Edward, Saratoga, Stillwater, Halfmoon, and finally, the Mohawk River. But with thousands of reinforcements, new artillery, and a replacement commander, the Northern Army moved up to Bemus Heights (just north of Stillwater) for the final confrontation with the British.

As a regiment of General Benedict Arnold’s Division, the 2^nd New Hampshire Regiment was deployed to fight against the British in the September 19 Battle of Freeman’s Farm – the First Battle of Saratoga. Andrew was killed in the fighting that day and was probably buried by the victorious Redcoats near where he fell. He was 21-years old.