Before Bunker Hill

Skirmish at Grape Island

• When: May 21, 1775
• Where: Grape Island, located in Hingham Bay off the coast of Weymouth
• Casualties: None
• Result: British technical victory, Patriots moral victory

A few British soldiers landed on Grape Island in Hingham Bay to gather provisions from a farm owned by Loyalist Elisha Leavitt. The militiamen in Hingham could not get to the island right away because of the low tide. By the time they did arrive, the British were already leaving. A brief exchange of gunfire occurred as the ships retreated, and the British got away with a few tons of hay.

The militiamen then burned Leavitt’s farm to the ground, destroying 80 tons of hay, and moved his cattle to the mainland. They allegedly wanted to destroy Leavitt’s house in Hingham as well, but left it undamaged after he offered them food and alcohol. The British would not be able to take supplies from the island again.

Battle of Chelsea Creek

• When: May 27 and 28, 1775
• Where: Various locations in Boston Harbor
• Casualties: Patriots, 4 wounded; British, 2 killed and several wounded
• Result: Patriot victory

To stop the British from raiding farms on the harbor islands and coastal towns, the Massachusetts Committee of Safety ordered the Patriots to remove livestock and other supplies from Noddle's Island, Hog Island, Snake Island, and coastal Chelsea. A few days after the incident on Grape Island, the British spotted a group of colonial soldiers burning hay on Noddle’s Island.

The royal marines then landed on the island to fight the colonists. The two-day battle that followed took place on the islands, salt marshes, and mudflats of the harbor. Several ships and barges came to provide support to the British, including the HMS Diana. The Diana got stuck in the shallow waters of Chelsea Creek and her crew abandoned ship. Colonists took everything of value off the ship before setting it on fire.

The Colonists removed or destroyed livestock and other supplies, keeping them away from the British. The capture and destruction of the Diana would also prove to be a morale booster. The British placed canons on Copp’s Hill and sent a group of army regulars to secure Noddle’s Island. 

Battle of Machias

• When: June 11 and 12, 1775
• Where: Machias Bay in Eastern Maine
• Casualties: 10 residents of Machias killed and 3 wounded; 5 British killed and 9 wounded
• Result: Machias victory

The first naval battle of the war took place in Maine, which was then part of Massachusetts. A local merchant with suspected Loyalist ties wanted to ship a load of lumber from Maine to Boston on two of his ships. A British ship, the HMS Margaretta, was accompanying the merchant ships.

The people of Machias decided to arrest the merchant and the captain of the British ship after meeting at a tavern. While they detained the merchant, the British captain escaped the harbor on the Margaretta and was pursued by locals on two ships. Damage to the Margaretta allowed the other ships to catch up, and the captain was fatally injured in the ensuing battle. His crew eventually surrendered.

The people of Machias expected the British to attempt to take revenge for the loss and built up their defenses. An attack by the British in 1777 was quickly repelled by the local militia and their Native American allies.

Learn More

Grape Island

• Battle of Grape Island Commemoration Day - From the Hingham Historical Society
• A Forgotten Battle - From the Patriot Ledger
• Hingham will observe ‘Battle of Grape Island Day’ - From the Patriot Ledger

Chelsea Creek

• HUB History, Episode 186 - A Forgotten Battle on Boston Harbor (podcast)
• Study on Battle of Chelsea Creek - From the Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources
• New Study Shines Fresh Light on Battle of Chelsea Creek - From the Chelsea Record

Machias

• Burnham Tavern and the Revolutionary War Downeast - From the Millbridge Historical Society
• The First Naval Battle of The American Revolution - From the Friends of Liberty Hall
• The First Naval Battle of the Revolution at Machias, Maine - From the Maine Historical Magazine

Resources at the BPL

• 1775: A Good Year for Revolution - Book by Kevin Phillips
• Seeds of American Liberty: the Epic Battles of Lexington and Concord, Chelsea Creek and Bunker Hill and the Building of the Bunker Hill Monument - Book by Jack J. Alves
• American Revolution in Massachusetts, Spring 1775 - Boston Public Library Research Guide

Upcoming Genealogy Programs

Interested in learning about your ancestors who served in the Revolutionary War? Check out these upcoming events! Registration required.

• DNA & Your Revolutionary Ancestors - May 29, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm      
  • Online Lecture, part of the Local & Family History Series
• Genealogy: Researching Your Revolutionary War Ancestors - June 25, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm      
  • Online class