March 17, 2025
Introduction: In this article – to help celebrate St. Patrick’s Day today – Melissa Davenport Berry describes the exciting exploits of an Irish American hero during the American Revolution. Melissa is a genealogist who has a website, americana-archives.com, and a Facebook group, New England Family Genealogy and History.
“The news of Captain Jeremiah O’Brien’s brilliant naval victory spread rapidly through the land, and everywhere the colonists were stirred with the ambition to emulate his splendid achievement. This victory caused great rejoicing throughout the country.”
–William John Abbott, American journalist and historian
For this St. Patrick’s Day – a day when we celebrate all things Irish – here is a story honoring Revolutionary naval hero Captain Jeremiah O’Brien (1739-1818), a descendant of a County Cork, Ireland, family who settled in Maine in the early 18th century. He was the eldest son of Morris and Mary (Keene) O’Brien. The O’Briens were pioneers of ingenuity and devoted patriots of freedom.
Battle of Machias
Captain O’Brien is famed for carrying out the first naval victory of the American Revolutionary War when he captured a British ship off the coast of Machias, Maine, on 12 June 1775. This event was colorful and courageous.
This painting depicts the action off Machias, Maine, in 1775, in which the British armed schooner HMS Margaretta was captured by a party of Americans, led by Captain Jeremiah O’Brien.
Captain O’Brien’s obituary, fittingly headlined “Another Revolutionary Patriot Gone,” tells an outline of his valiant deed in Machias, which was also where he died on 5 October 1818.
This article reports:
Died – In Machias, Me., on the 5th instant, Jeremiah O’Brien, Esq., Collector of the Customs for the District of Machias, in the 79th year of his age. In the year 1775, May 12th, with men unused to the din of battle, with 32 muskets and 3 rounds of powder, he attacked and captured his Britannic Majesty’s schooner, Margretta, completely armed with swivels, small arms, hand grenades, [and] boarding pikes, and commanded by Lieut. Moore, and manned with 35 men, after a sanguinary conflict, in which nearly half the enemy were killed and wounded. This was the first British flag that ever struck to the American people. During the Revolutionary War, his life was bravely and actively devoted to his country. The poor in him have lost a sympathetic friend and benefactor.
Lexington of the Sea
“This affair was the Lexington of the seas, for, like the celebrated conflict, it was the rising of the people against a regular force – was characterized by a long chase, a bloody struggle, and a victory. It was also the first blow struck on the water after the War of the American Revolution had actually commenced.”
The above quote, penned by American author James Fenimore Cooper in History of the Navy of the United States of America, is cited in this newspaper article from the Irish World entitled “Lexington of the Seas.”
The article details how the battle unfolded – or, at least, one version of the event. The story has taken on a life of its own, and I have posted some reliable sources at the end of this blog article for readers to consult.
The fact is Captain O’Brien is a hero, but this story has other daredevils including his feisty brothers and the brave, spirited lot of town folk in Machias. The cartoon below, from the Seattle Daily Times, depicts how this historical event unfolded. I include some images from reenactments and content from archives.
The opening panel of this cartoon strip reads:
News of Lexington and Concord aroused the citizens of Machias, Maine, against British oppression, and they raised a Liberty Pole. Since they had no flag they left a tuft of greenery on the treetop to cheer as a symbol of freedom.
Below is a photo reenacting this action.
More text from the cartoon strip:
Arriving at Machias with two sloops [the Unity and the Polly, owned and commanded by Machias merchant Ichabod Jones] to get lumber for British barracks in Boston [and to discourage interference from Machias rebels], Captain [James] Moore of the British armed schooner Margaretta demanded – “That Liberty Pole must go or we’ll fire on your town!”
A defiant Machias, Maine, prepared for trouble.
The town meeting voted to keep the Liberty Pole – and not to sell lumber to the British! Machias sent to nearby towns for help…
This is a photo of reenactors at Burnham Tavern, where locals conspired against the Brits.
Hannah and Rebecca Weston ran 16 miles through the woods carrying gunpowder and lead which Jonesborough men hurrying to Machias had overlooked.
Women melted cherished pewter teapots and spoons for bullets.
The Yanks plotted to capture Captain Moore at church. But he leaped through the window when he saw armed men coming down the river on logs. He and his officers escaped to their ship.
Jeremiah O’Brien, with five brothers, Benjamin Foster, Joseph [Weston] and others seized the British sloop Unity. Bringing pitchforks, axes, scythes, and a few old firearms, they chased the Margaretta – electing Jeremiah captain on the way. “We can do it, boys!” he vowed.
As his men boarded the schooner, Jeremiah O’Brien shouted, “In America’s name I demand your surrender!” – Captain Moore refused and was fatally wounded.
After an hour’s fight, O’Brien hauled down the British flag, and [Weston] the pennant of the captured Margaretta, June 12, 1775.
Years later a ship was named in his honor, the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, a Liberty ship built during World War II.
More coming on Captain O’Brien and his family, including his daughter Lydia Whiney O’Brien, who married Aaron Simmons Sherman, a direct descendant of Mayflower passengers Edward Doty and Richard Warren.
The couple left many descendants and will be featured soon in my “Mayflower Descendants: Who’s Who” series. Stay tuned!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!
Explore over 330 years of newspapers and historical records in GenealogyBank. Discover your family story! Start a 7-Day Free Trial
Note on the header image: shamrocks and stars for St. Patrick’s Day. Illustration credit: https://depositphotos.com/home.html
Sources to consult:
- Life of Captain Jeremiah O’Brien, Machias, Maine: commander of the first American naval flying squadron of the War of the Revolution. Published by Captain O’Brien’s grandson Andrew Magoun Sherman in 1902.
- Captain Jeremiah O’Brien: Maine Mariner.