Washington County ME Archives Obituaries.....O'Brien, Jeremiah September 5, 1818
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Elizabeth-Town gazette (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821: October 06, 1818
In Machias, on Saturday the 5th Sept. Colonel Jeremiah O’Brien, Collector of the
port of Machias, aged 79 years. He was a Revolutionary Patriot...
Among the patriots who served their country with faithfulness and vigour, Col.
O’Brien shone conspicuous. The deep interest which he always took, in whatever
concerned the well-being of his country, during the revolutionary contest, as well
as in every succeeding period of its concerns, entitles his memory to the love and
veneration of his countrymen. His undaunted bravery and resolution; his generosity
and benevolence; his gentleman-like deportment; and his ardent love of country,
while they secured him the warm esteem and friendship of those with whom he
associated, and to whom he was personally known, rendered his character peculiarly
interesting to his countrymen at large.
It was Col. O'Brien, who, if not the first, was one of the first that dared to
encounter the overwhelming naval power of England, at the commencement of the
revolution. He it was, who was among the first to teach his countrymen that the
cause of independence must be supported at all hazards; that the same bravery and
resolution, which inspired an attempt to throw off the yoke of foreign power, were
necessary to insure a permanency in the measure, and establish the liberties of his
country. It was he who taught his countrymen, by his example, to meet the enemy on
the element where they boasted the most power, and pointed out to them the path
which led them to the acquisition of an imperishable name. Although Colonel O’Brien
could not boast of victories as splendid as those of a Hull Decatur, Bainhridge, of
a Jones Porter, Perry or M’Donnough, he could boast of making the proud flag of
England yield, for the first time, to American bravery and the cause of
independence. 
We have it not in our power to detail all the services Col. O’Brien has rendered to
his country. We have but few facts in our possession. The following is an extract
from a small pamphlet lately published on our “ Naval History.” It gives a few
incidents of his first essay in the cause of liberty. His succeeding actions were
many and serviceable. 
“ Soon after the battle of Lexington, a British tender, with two sloops under her
convoy, arrived at Machias. Their object was to obtain a supply of ship-timber.
This, the patriotic inhabitants of this place refused them. Upon this the commander
of the tender anchored opposite the town, and threatened to bum it down, if his
demands were not instantly complied with. Capt. O’Brien immediately headed a party
of Americans, who took possession of one of the British sloops, within gun-shot of
the tender. They then ordered the tender to strike, which she refused, when they
commenced so brisk a fire upon her that she was forced to cut her cables, and with
the other sloop proceed to sea. Capt. O'Brien pursued with 32 men, on board the
captured sloop, and succeeded in getting possession of the tender, by boarding. The
loss, on both sides, was about twenty men kilted and wounded. The British tender
mounted 4 guns and 14 swivels. Her crew consisted of 36 men. Her captain was killed
in the action. With the guns of the tender, and others he had purchased, Captain
O’Brien fitted out a privateer, mounting 8 carriage guns and 19 swivels, having on
board a crew of 42 men. He proceeded on a cruise. Of this the Governor of Halifax
was soon informed, who immediately ordered out two armed schooners to capture him.
Each of these schooners had on board upwards of 40 men. Capt. O’Brien, meeting them
in the Bay of Funday, captured one of them by boarding, before the other could come
alongside to her assistance. The other also was taken by him. Both were brought safe
to Machias. Capt. O’Brien conducted the prisoners to Cambridge, and delivered them
to Gen. Washington, who approved his conduct, and recommended him to the
Massachusetts government to be appointed to a naval command. He was accordingly
appointed to command the two prizes he had taken. The one he named the Liberty, the
other the Diligent. Each mounted 8 carriage guns.”    Eastport Centinel. 

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