Irish Group Commemorates Brig St. John in Cohasset on October 6, 2013
The Massachusetts Ancient Order of Hibernians Plymouth Division 9, is
holding its annual commemoration of the Brig St. John on Sunday, October 6, 2013, to remember the 99 Irish immigrants who drowned off the coast of Cohasset, Massachusetts in October, 1849.
The event starts at 1:00 pm with a mass at St. Anthony’s Church, 129 South Main Street
in Cohasset, followed by a reception at the church hall. Then the participants will walk over to the Cohasset Central Cemetery
for a brief wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of the Celtic Cross, which was
placed there by the Ancient Order of Hibernians in 1914.
The Brig St. John was traveling with 104 passengers and 16
sailors from Galway to Boston
Harbor on October 7th,
1849, when it encountered a Nor’ Easter that was raising havoc with the coast.
The storm pushed the boat south as the Brig St. John unsuccessfully tried to
anchor near Minot Light. Local residents made valiant attempts to save lives
and spent days trying to recover bodies of the drowned victims. Most of the passengers were lost at sea, but
the bodies of 45 victims were recovered from the surf and laid to rest in the
cemetery.
This event is free and open to the public. For more information call Dr. Bill O’Connell
at 781-585-8181.
To learn more about Irish history in Massachusetts, visit IrishHeritageTrail.com.
To learn more about Irish history in Massachusetts, visit IrishHeritageTrail.com.
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