USA > Maine > Washington County > Machias > Narrative of the town of Machias, the old and the new, the early and late > Part 7
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FIRST SETTLEMENT.
Having taken the usual incipient measures of defence of that period, viz : appointing a committee of safety and erect- ing a liberty pole as a symbol of their resolution, they awaited the course of events. In a few days, two merchant vessels in British employ, belonging to Capt. Ichabod Jones of Boston, arrived from Boston for the purpose of obtaining pickets and planks, to be used by the English in the de- fense of that city, which they then occupied and which they were anxious to hold against the attacks of the Americans. These vessels which confirmed to the people of Machias the reports of the battle of Lexington, and thereby more clearly revealed the actual condition of things, were convoyed by a British armed schooner, mounting four 4 pounders and sixteen swivels. She was called the Margaretta, and was com- manded by one Moore, an Irishman, a brave young man, possessed of many deserving qualities. The Captain of the Margaretta went on shore and inquired who erected that liberty pole? He was told it was done by order of the town of Machias. He said it must be taken down, or the town would be fired upon. A Mr. Jones being present. a merchant of Boston, but who owned a store in Machias and had considerable weight with the people, advised Capt. Moore to suspend his determination, until the people could assemble in town meeting ; perhaps the town would agree to take down the liberty-pole. The town met, as was proposed, and was in considerable favor with the English Captain. persuaded him to defer the execution of his threat, untli a second town meeting could be called: it being stated, that the first was not fully attended. The second meeting was to
be held on the ensuing Monday. Meanwhile the in- habitants of Machias secretly sent to Pleasant River village, about (twenty miles distance) and also to the people of some other places in the region, to come to Machias, as they were unwilling to take down the liberty-pole, and expected an attack from the Margaretta. On Sunday, Capt. Moore attended religious services at the church, opposite to which his vessel lay, and at a small distance. Some of the people brought their guns to meeting, but kept them concealed.
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John O'Brien carried his gun, and hid it under a board. He observed Capt. Moore when he entered the church, and took a seat directly behind him. in order to take him prisoner in case of alarm. Moore in the time of religious service looked out of a window up the river and saw at the distance of one-half or three-fourths of a mile men crossing the river on the logs with guns in their hands. These were the men, whom the people of Machias had sent for, coming to take part in the affray. The English Captain at once realized the peril of his situation. As there were no pews in the meeting house, which was in an unfinished state, but temporary seats merely, he made his way over them as rapidly as possible to the nearest window which was open, from which he escaped. He made his way directly to the boat, and on board his vessel. The vessel, after firing a few shots, made sail down the river. The people followed some distance, firing small arms, but she was soon out of their reach.
An incident may be mentioned here which is exceedingly indicative of the spirit of the times, and is worthy of being recorded. The men who came from Pleasant River settle- ment were greatly in want of powder, having but two or three charges each. The wife of one of the party, having found a horn of powder after they were gone, followed them twenty miles through the woods, (there being at that time no road) to bring it to her husband, and arrived with it the next day after the party had reached Machias.
The next day after their arrival, which was Monday and was the day appointed for the second town meeting, a party of volunteers took possession of a lumber sloop, and began the pursuit of the schooner. She was overtaken in the bay of Machias, at two leagues distance from the head of it, be- ing becalmed. The sloop, which was afterwards called the Liberty, was rapidly brought up by rowing and by boats. But it is to be remembered here that this daring company. which consisted of about sixty men, were without a com- mander. There were six brothers on board, of the name of O'Brien, viz: Jeremiah, Gideon, John(the third son in age,
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the narrator of the present statement, and the only one now living. ) William, Dennis and Joseph. The father, whose name was Morris, yielded to the wishes of his sons in not going on board. Before coming up with the enemy, perhaps three miles distant, Jeremiah O'Brien was unanimously chosen captain. He gave liberty to all who were afraid to follow to leave the vessel, and three men accordingly left in the boat. He brought the sloop alongside of the schooner, but they immediately separated, it being almost calm, and John O'Brien was the only person who jumped aboard the Margaretta. . As he stood on the quarter deck, seven of the English crew discharged their guns at him, almost at the same moment. No ball pierced him. They charged upon him with their bayonets, but he saved himself by jumping over, and swimming to the American vessel, now separated to a distance of thirty yards. JJeremiah O'Brien again brought the sloop alongside; twenty persons were selected to board. armed chiefly with pitchforks. After a short contest the Margaretta was taken, with a loss of four killed and eight or nine wounded on the part of the Americans, and of about ten killed and ten wounded on the part of the British. Among the latter was Captain Moore, who was shot through with a brace of musket balls in the early part of the action, and died the next day, much lamented. He is said to have been the first English naval officer who fell in the American Revolution.
The news of the capture of the Margaretta caused some . excitement, in Nova Scotia, and two schooners were fitted out from Halifax, for the purpose of retaking her; one of eight or ten guns, called the Diligence, with fifty men; the other called the Tapnaquish, mounting sixteen swivels and carrying twenty men. Hardly a month had elapsed before the people of Machias heard of these vessels coming up the bay. They had the armament taken from the Margaretta, and fitted out the coasting sloop before mentioned, which was afterwards called the Liberty, and, under the former Captain, JJeremiah O'Brien, proceeded down the bay to meet them. They were advancing with this objeet, when they met
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a coaster coming in; they took possession of her, manned her with thirty-five men, and placed her under the orders of a militia Colonel of the name of Foster. Morris O'Brien, the father, followed with a surgeon in a boat; but there was no need of his services; as both the English vessels sur- rendered at the first attempt at boarding them, and without making any resistance. The Diligence surrendered to O'Brien, Tapnaquish to Foster. Between the time of the second engagement and the preceding one with the Marga- retta, the committee of Safety of Machias sent John O'Brien to the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, at Watertown, to report what had been done, and to receive directions. The Congress received the news with interest and approba- tion, and voted their thanks to the individuals concerned.
It should be remarked that the enterprising bearer of the communication returned in time to take a share in the de- feat of the second attempt.
In about three weeks after the failure of this enterprise, another expedition was fitted out from Halifax consisting of a frigate, a twenty gun ship, a brig of sixteen guns and several schooners, containing about a thousand men. The whole squadron having arrived remained in the bay, except the brig., which together with some boats filled with armed men, advanced towards the town. Three miles below the town, at Scott's Point, east side of the river, a breastwork was hastily erected by the inhabitants. There were no cannon and the men, who might be estimated at one hundred and fifty in number, were armed with muskets. Who acted as commander, Mr. O'Brien does not remember, as he was absent at this time from Machias, and had not a personal share in the action, but probably Jeremiah O'Brien and the Colonel Benjamin Foster, before mentioned. The brig and the boats, on coming opposite the breastworks, landed a large body of men, perhaps five hundred. But they were warmly received, and soon driven back ; the Eng- lish losing, as was conjectured, one hundred in killed and wounded; the Americans having three killed and a number wounded. The British brig grounded during the action,
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FIRST SETTLEMENT.
within musket shot of the shore, which was undoubtedly a cause of increased loss on her part. After this repulse, the whole armament returned to Halifax.
About six weeks after this, a third expedition from Hal- ifax of a thousand men landed at Passamaquoddy with an intention to advance through the woods and attack Machias by land. The people made preparations to waylay and resist, which, no doubt, they would have done with success, hut on the second day of their march the British, meeting with many obstacles, became discouraged, and returned.
After these transactions, the Liberty and Diligence were commissioned by the State of Massachusetts, and sent out on a cruise. Captain Jeremiah O'Brien commanded the Liberty, having with him his brother William, as Lieuten- ant. A Captain Lambert commanded the Diligence. with John ()'Brien as First Lieutenant. Under these two com- manders, these two vessels were a year and a half or more in the State's service, chiefly on the northern coast. for the purpose of affording protection to American ships. After that time these two vessels were laid up. After leaving the Diligence, in which he had acted as First Lieutenant. John O'Brien, in company with a number of others, built at Newburyport an armed ship, letter of marque, called the Hannibal, mounting twenty guns. He went in her as Com- mander, to Port au Prince, in San Domingo. After his re- turn, the Hannibal was fitted out as a cruiser, under the command of Jeremiah O'Brien, John not being on board at that time, manned with a hundred and thirty men. Off New York the Hannibal fell in with an English fleet of merchantmen, coming in under convoy. She was imme- diately chased by two frigates and in forty-eight hours time was taken. Captain O'Brien was detained in the famous guard-ship called the Jersey, about six months, enduring the dreadful wretchedness which was the lot of the numer- ous American prisoners confined on board that vessel. Ho was afterwards carried to Mill Prison, in England, and re- mained there a number of months. Designing to attempt an escape he purposely neglected his dress and whole per- sonal appearance for n month. The afternoon before ma-
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
king his escape he shaved and dressed in decent clothes, so as to alter very much his personal appearance, and walked out with the other prisoners in the jail yard. Having secreted himself under a platform, and thus escaping the notice of keepers, he was left out of the prison, after it was shut for the night. He escaped from the yard by passing through the principal keeper's house, in the dusk of the evening. Although he made a little stay in the bar room of the house, he was not detected, being taken for a British soldier. In company with a Captain Lyon and another American, who had also ecsaped from the prison, and were concealed some- where in the vicinity, he crossed the channel in a boat to France, and came to America.
In the meantime Capt. John O'Brien was not inactive. The next vessel of which he found himself in command was the Hibernia, a fast sailer but small, carrying only six three-pounders. in the Hibernia he attacked, and, after some fighting, took the English armed vessel General Patti- son, from New York bound for England, having on board a considerable number of officers, in addition to those of her own crew, pierced for twenty guns, and mounting sixty-one six and nine pounders, with six swivels, and commanded at the time by Captain Chiene. The same day he took a merchant vessel loaded with masts, and carrying twelve six- pounders. Both arrived safe. He was engaged in other enter- prises and battles, but these statements will suffice to give some idea of the efforts of this brave and patriotic family.
Note .- The account in the above of killed and wounded on board the Margaretta was taken from a letter of Captain Joseph Wheaton, recently of Washington, D. C., who was at the time of the engagement one of the American crew. The letter was written a few years ago to Capt. O'Brien. The latter, although present in the action, did not recollect distinctly the number but he placed full confidence in Mr. Wheaton's statements.
Note .- The above sketch of the O'Brien family is copied from the Collections of the Maine Historical Society, Vol. 11, Page 242, Willis Reference Room-Public Library-Port land, Me.
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FIRST SETTLEMENT.
JOHN O'BRIEN, Born in Scarboro, 1750; died in Brunswick May 8, 1832.
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FIRST SETTLEMENT.
The foregoing statements were made in their own hand writing, by the three of the more active participants in the battle of the Margaretta. They give a clearer idea of the conception and execution of the conflict than has heretofore been generally known.
Sylvanus Scott settled on a farm lot near the Rim, one of the first in 1763. In 1777 when the British were in the river they burned his house and destroyed all his other buildings. His wife, who was then in poor health, was driven into the woods who, with her eleven children all girls, from their hiding place saw the torch applied to their dwelling and the destruction made complete.
Several of the Scott family took part in the battles of Machias in 1775, '76, '77. John Scott was a Lieutenant under Col. Benjamin Foster. His brother Jesse was taken prisoner on the attempted invasion of Nova Scotia, near St. John and kept imprisoned for six months. Simeon was shot, he being one of the same expedition, on the St. John River by an American tory ! Mark Scott was one of the crew under Captain Ephraim Chase, when he captured the barges crew of British marines at Bucks Harbor, when said crew came ashore after wood and water.
Leonard Scott, of Leonard Scott & Co. of New York City, 1850 to 1865, who published the North American Reviews, was the son of Mark Scott, the latter a son of Sylvanus Scott. Leonard Scott in his letter to the Machias Centennial Committee, May 9, 1863, said "Though not a native or resident of Machias, I have always felt a lively interest in its history from the fact that my grand parents on both, paternal and maternal side, were among its first settlers. My grandfathers, Samuel Scott, Benjamin Berry, were the first white men of record that ever entered Machias harbor and to explore its river, forests and marsh lands; this was in 1762 :- from the report they made on their return to Scar- borough the same fall it was that, in the following May, the "Sixteen Scarborough pilgrims were induced to settle at Machias. "
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HISTORY OF MACHIAS.
The following memorandum of account was found several years after his decease among old papers, account books, &c .. belonging to Capt. Gideon O'Brien.
Dr.
1783. Jan. 22: The Town of Machias in account with Gideon ()'Brien, Dr.
To paid Order to David Prescott, €. 12s.
To 2 shares of the schooner Diligens' pay whilst in the Government Service,
To the one half of one man's time and board when a scouting up the River, for the safety of the town, two weeks.
To the Dublin Saw Mill Chain lost at the Ream in the seige of 1777. being about 75 feet long, with a large dog to it,
The mill chain above mentioned was taken out of the O'Brien saw mill, located on what has been known to all residents of Machias since 1765, as the "Dublin Mill priv- ilege." having been as a whole for many years the property of Morris O'Brien and Sons, and until 1901 a considerable part of the site was in possession of descendents of Morris and his son, Gideon O'Brien : the first mill having been built in 1765. Fire in 1879 swept off all the mills and machinery on the privilege no mill or machinery of any kind having been replaced.
The chain was imported, English make, large, long ham- mered links. A crew of men in August 1777, took the chain in a barge to the Narrows, just below the present (Rim) toll bridge and suspended it across the river, the ends being secured in granite ledges on each shore so as to pre- vent the British armed ships, three of which, each well "manned, armed and equipped, had been dispatched by order of Admiral Graves, who was in command of the Brit- ish war fleet, head quarters at Boston and Naval Station at Port Royal, now Annapolis, with orders "To distroy Machias:" these vessels arrived in September. anchored off
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FIRST SETTLEMENT.
MACHIAS FALLS.
--
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Bucks Harbor. their forces being a constant and continued menace to the residents at Western Falls, Eastern Falls, the middle District and the Lower District, until November when. having been repulsed and defeated in every effort to reach the town, and fearing an ice embargo which would certainly prove disastrous, their commanders ordered the retreat and with that ended all attempts. so far as known, on the part of King George's navy or army "To reduce Machias."
In the spring of 1778 Capt. O'Brien needed his mill chain and sent a crew of men to remove it to his mill. The ice had not entirely melted off the shores and so heavy chain with such appliances as those early days afforded the task of securing and placing it on a raft or barge was slow, tedious and painstaking. The men had succeeded in loosing the end on the South side of the river and a little more than half the length of the chain had been placed on board; while at work on the end at the North shore, the bolt by which it had been fastened. or the granite gave away, and the chain fell into the "deep hole" and came very near dragging the barge and crew with it. The chain was never recovered and still lies in the mud and drift stuff, the accumulation of one hundred and twenty-four years.
First Settlement.
INCORPORATION OF MACHIAS
MAY 12, 1784.
A T a meeting of the Proprietors of the Township of Ma- chias legally warned, -Voted, that James Avery, Esq., be our Agent and that he is hereby authorized and impow- ered to apply in our behalf to the Legislature for a confirm- ation of their grant to the Proprietors :- Also, to have the said Township Incorporated into a Town by the name of Machias. Stephen Jones protem Clerk.
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled :
The Petition of James Avery, Agent for the Proprietors of the Township of Machias, humbly showeth-That in the year 1770, the general Court of this (then) Priovince, grant- ed Capt. Ichabod Jones and seventy-nine others, the said Township of Machias (as will appear by the copy of the Grant herewith presented) on conditions therein mentioned. one of which was the King of Great Britain approving the same within eighteen months, -Said Proprietors settled said Township and fulfilled every condition in their Grant. ex- cept obtaining the King's approbation, which was prevented (being attained) by the contentions, which at that time arose between this Government and the British Ministry.
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Therefore said Proprietors Humbly pray that the honor- able Court will please to confirm said Grant, and also be pleased to Incorporate them into a Town by the name of Machias, and as in duty bound will ever Pray.
J. AVERY.
Boston. May 27th. 1784.
In Senate. May 28. 1784.
Read and thereupon ordered that this Petition together with the Petition from the Proprietors of Chandlers River : the Petition from Pleasant River, Lower Township: the Petition from Pleasant River, Upper Township, be com- mitted to the committee appointed the 28th October last to examine into all trespassers and illegal entries, on the unappropriated lands in the county of Lincoln. Sent down for concurrence.
S. ADAMS, President.
In House of Representatives. May 28, 1784. Read and co curred.
S. A. OTTS. Speaker.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. June 5th. 1784.
The Committee for examining Claims, etc., in the County of Lincoln have. pursuant to the directions of both Houses. considered the Petition of James Avery in behalf of certain persons, who call themselves Proprietors of the township of Machias and ask leave to report. that it appears to your Committee, that the grantees have complied with all the conditions mentioned in their Grant. excepting that of ob- taining his Britanie Majestic's consent, which has now be- come unnecessary for the purpose of completing their title: That the inhabitants of Machias, at a very early period of the late contest between Great Britain and America, in a distinguished manner effectually exerted themselves in the cause of the United States: in consequence thereof were subjected to great suffering and hardship: therefore your committe are of opinion, that it is expedient and reasonable that the Prayer of said Petition be granted and that the Petitioners have leave to bring in a bill for confirming their
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grant and Incorporating the same into a Township. All which is submitted.
SAMUEL PHILLIPS, JR., NATHANIEL WALLS, NATHAN DANE.
In Senate, June 5th, 1784.
Read and accepted and the Petitioners have leave to bring in a Bill accordingly. Sent down for concurrence.
S. ADAMS, President.
Read and concurred.
S. A. OTIS, Speaker.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
In the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four :- An act for confirming a grant for a certain tract of land called Machias in the County of Lincoln, and for incorporating the said tract of land and the inhabitants thereof into a Town by the name of Machias.
Whereas a certain tract of land called Machias in the County of Lincoln, was in April one thousand seven hundred and seventy, Granted by the General Court of the late Prov- ince of Masssachusetts Bay, to Ichabod Jones and twenty- nine others, his associates their heirs and assigns upon cer- tain conditions in the said grant expressed, a plan of which tract, setting forth the extent and Boundaries thereof, was on July 5, 1771, presented to, received and accepted by the said Court, and whereas the condition in the said grant, has been completed with to the satisfaction of this Court, and it is represented by the Inhabitants of said tract, that they are subject to many inconveniences, in a state of unincorpora- tion ;- Therefore be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled and by the authority of the same, that the before mentioned grant of the aforesaid tract of land extending and bounded as follows, viz :- beginning at a Dry Rock at a place called the Eastern Bay, near the house of Mr. Samuel Holmes and extending North ten degrees West ten miles; then West ten degrees East eight miles; then East ten miles, North eight miles to
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the first mentioned bound, is hereby ratified and confirmed unto the said Ichabod JJones and his said associates, his and their heirs and assigns forever :- And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the said tract of land, extended and bounded as aforesaid together, with the Inhab- itants thereof be and hereby are incorporated into a Town by the name of Machias with all the powers, privileges and immunities that Towns in this Commonwealth have and en- joy according to the Laws and Constitution of the same :- Provided nevertheless that if it shall appear to the General Court, that if any settler on the aforesaid tract of land. other than a Proprietor has not had a reasonable quantity of the said tract of land assigned and confirmed to him by the Proprietors aforesaid, this Legislature doth hereby re- serve the right of assigning and confirming to such settler a reasonable quanitity thereof upon application made for that purpose within two years from the passing of this act. any thing in the same to the contrary notwithstanding :- Provided also that the several lots in the said tract of land appropriated to the use of Harvard College, to the first. ordained minister to the use of the Ministry and to the use of the school, be truly reserved for those purposes :- And it is further enacted that Stephen Jones. Esq. be and he hereby is impowered to Issue his Warrant to some principal inhabitant of the said Town requiring him to call a meeting of the inhabitants thereof for the purpose of choosing such officers as by Law towns are empowered to choose in the month of March annually.
In the House of Representatives, JJune 22, 1784.
This Bill having had three several readings passed to be enacted.
S. A. OTIS, Speaker.
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