05/13/2026
As the 250th anniversary of our country nears, Fort Caspar Chapter, NSDAR, continues to remember our patriot ancestors who dedicated themselves to securing our freedom. Today, we celebrate the 295th birthday of CAPTAIN OZIAS BISSELL, SR. of Connecticut —a soldier whose lifetime of service exemplified devotion to his country. Happy Birthday, Captain Bissell!
The Bissell family had deep roots in America, immigrating from England in 1633. Ozias’s father, John Bissell, served as a captain during the French and Indian War. Following in his father’s footsteps, Ozias enlisted in 1755 and served as a lieutenant. In 1762, when the colonies supplied troops for a British expedition against France in the West Indies, Ozias again answered the call to duty. During that campaign, he was captured and imprisoned in Havana, Cuba, where he endured eight months of confinement.
When the Revolutionary War began, Ozias responded immediately to the Lexington Alarm of April 19, 1775, enlisting as a lieutenant. He was later appointed by the Continental Congress as Captain of the Second Company, 4th Regiment, under Colonel Huntington, and was engaged at the Siege of Boston. In 1776, Captain Bissell fought at the Battle of Long Island, where he was wounded and again taken prisoner. His sacrifices continued in 1779 while serving as Captain of a Foot Company in Colonel Wells’ Regiment, when he was captured at Horseneck and held prisoner for an additional six months.
The Bissell family’s legacy of service extended well beyond Ozias himself. Shortly before his death, Ozias noted that he, his sons, and his grandsons had collectively contributed more than 120 years of service to their country. At least three of his sons served in the Revolutionary War, one of whom tragically died aboard a prison ship.
Captain Ozias Bissell, Sr. lived to the remarkable age of 93. In recognition of his service, he received a pension of $240 per year. He is laid to rest in East Cemetery, Highland Park, Manchester, Hartford County, Connecticut.
A record of Captain Bissell’s patriotic service is preserved in the DAR Ancestor Search database. If you are interested in discovering whether you, too, have a patriot ancestor in your family tree, the database is free and available to the public.
https://www.dar.org/genealogy
