Mentor joins in the celebration of the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding by honoring the Revolutionary War veterans who settled – or were interred – in the city of Mentor.
Mentor City Council has declared August 1, 2026, as “Israel Fox Day” in the city of Mentor.
Israel Fox was born in Glastonbury, CT, in 1755. Records indicate that he served 4 enlistments in the Revolutionary War. He enlisted in 1776 for three months with Colonel Elizur Talcott. In 1777, he enlisted for three months with Captain Hale under Colonel Woodbridge. In 1779, he enlisted again for three months, perhaps with Captain Hale under Colonel Woodbridge. In 1780, he enlisted for six months with Captain Phelps.
Fox was a member of Wolcott’s Regiment – the 19th Connecticut Regiment known as “Wolcott’s Regiment” which participated in the Siege of Boston as well as the Battle of Long Island.
Fox witnessed the execution of Major John Andre, the British officer who was hanged as a spy on October 2, 1780, in Tappan, New York. Andre was caught attempting to enable Benedict Arnold’s plot to surrender West Point to the British.
Fox was listed as a resident of Mentor in 1832 from which he secured his pension. The circumstances and and exact date of his death are unknown. He was buried in Mentor Pioneer Cemetery and later interred at the Mentor Municipal Cemetery 63-13-3.
We thank Israel Fox for his service to our country as well as contributing to the foundation of our community.