Israel, son of Thomas (3) and Abigail (Dewey) Dewey, was born at Westfield, Massachusetts, March 3, 1713, died November 23, 1773, at Great Barrington, Massachusetts, where he had settled February 7, 1757, with a wife and ten children, from Westfield. October 10, 1756, he bought a mansion house near Sheffield (Great Barrington). He was the real pioneer of the Berkshire Deweys, whose influence in the town he helped to found still remains; a man of great force of character. He settled first about a mile above the village upon which the government building known as the "Old French Fort" was located; four years later he removed to the village and built a dwelling house on the site now occupied by "Housatonic Hall," a seminary for young ladies. He also erected lumber and flour mills, held offices in town and church, and took active part in the growing town; he held a written theological discussion with Dr. Samuel Hopkins, pastor of the Congregational church, which was included in the life of Dr. Hopkins by Professor Edward A. Parks, of Anderson Seminary, and in other ways manifested a scholarship and breadth of intellectual view rare in his day. After his decease his younger sons continued the milling business until they removed to farms purchased in the vicinity. He married, September 19, 1734, at Westfield, Lydia, daughter of Consider and Elizabeth (Bancroft) Mosely, born February 19, 1716, at Westfield, died June 19, 1787, at Great Barrington. Children: