Maine Memory Network

Contributed by Maine Historical Society

Description

Joseph Wheaton of Machias, serving as a government official in Washington, D.C., in 1818, wrote to Gideon O'Brien and recounted his memory of the capture by Machias residents of the British schooner Margaretta in 1775.

The incident is often called the first Naval battle of the Revolution. O'Brien was one of the brothers of the commander of the expedition, Jeremiah O'Brien. Wheaton notes, "with respect to the affair of taking the Margarette Schooner so far as my recollection serves was thus..."

The colonists banded together aboard the Unity, commandeered a local sloop and went in chase of the Margaretta, exchanging fire and finally capturing her. The captain was killed.

The ship was taking lumber to Boston.

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About This Item

• Title: Letter recalling capture of Margaretta, Washington, D.C., 1818
• Creator: Joseph Wheaton
• Creation Date: 1818-04-23
• Subject Date: 1775
• Location: Machias, Washington County, ME
• Media: Ink on paper
• Local Code: Coll. 422, vol. 1 pg. 37
• Collection: Maine Historical Society manuscript scrapbooks
• Object Type: Text

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Cross Reference Searches

Standardized Subject Headings

• Diligent (Ship)
• Manuscripts
• Margaretta (Ship)
• Naval battles--Maine
• Taupnougouche (Ship)
• United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Prizes, etc.
• Wheaton, Joseph--Letters

People

• Hains, Job
• Jones, Ichobod
• Miller, Robert Avery
• O'Brien, Gideon
• O'Brien, Jeremiah
• Wheaton, Dennis
• Wheaton, Joseph

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For more information about this item, contact:

Maine Historical Society
485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website

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