Remember, Honor, Teach: these ideals are at the heart of everything we do here at Wreaths Across America. From our National Wreaths Across America Day held each December to our educational programs for younger generations, Remembrance Tree Program and many other initiatives, our mission is clear: to never forget the sacrifices that our fallen U.S. veterans have made for us.

On June 17th in partnership with the Hannah Weston Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, we will do exactly that by commemorating the defense of Machias, Maine — Remembering the men and women who came to the defense of the small coastal town, Honoring their lives and memories and Teaching our children and communities about what transpired in the port of Machias in early June, 1775.  

When loyalist sea merchant Ichabod Jones landed in the small port of Machias, Maine, on June 2, 1775, shortly after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, he surely did not expect the greeting he received from the townspeople. Jones brought his two merchant ships accompanied by British military ship the Margaretta to Machias to obtain much needed supplies for the British troops in Boston. The war had just begun in April and already the British were in danger of losing Boston to George Washington and his Continental Army. Fresh supplies from the northern port of Machias would be brought to Boston to help the British army in their fight against the revolutionaries.

When Jones and his ships arrived in the port at Machias, they were refused supplies by the townspeople. In response, Jones ordered the Margaretta’s captain James Moore to bring the vessel within firing distance of the town, threatening the town with violence should they continue to resist. A local militia leader, Colonel Benjamin Foster, secretly gathered 30 men from Machias and other nearby local militias and several days later, on June 12, chased Moore and Jones from the town with muskets, pitchforks and axes. 

Under the command of local captain Jeremiah O'Brien, the militia chased the merchant ships and the Margaretta by ship out of the port and into Holmes Bay. Musket shots were exchanged, but ultimately O’Brien and his crew captured the Margaretta and the merchant ships. In what would become the first naval battle of the American Revolutionary War, two Machias men, John McNiell and James Coolbroth, were lost in the battle.   

In addition to the militia, the citizens of Machias and surrounding towns honored our country with their bravery in defense of the town. Among those was 17-year-old Hannah Weston from nearby Jonesboro. Weston was pregnant when she and her sister-in-law Rebecca collected 40 pounds of powder and ball and traveled on foot for 16 miles to bring the Machias militia ammunition reinforcements as they fought to capture the Margaretta. The two young women traveled through thick, unbroken forest and when Rebecca became exhausted by the journey along the way, Hannah took on Rebecca’s half of the load and carried all of the ammunition for the remainder of their journey to Machias.

 

This year marks the 243rd Anniversary of the Defense of Machias and Wreaths Across America is proud to join the Hannah Weston chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in remembering the bravery and strength of the people of Machias, Colonel Benjamin Foster, Captain Jeremiah O’Brien, John McNiell, James Coolbroth and Hannah Weston of Jonesboro. We are honored to host the event with Daughters of the American Revolution, a lineage-based, non-profit organization for women descended from American Revolutionary patriots that works to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism throughout the United States.