Chelsea Creek

The Battle of Chelsea Creek, fought on May 27–28, 1775, was the second military engagement of the Boston Campaign and the first in which colonial forces captured a British military vessel. Taking place in the marshy estuary between Chelsea and Revere (then part of Chelsea), Massachusetts, the battle involved colonial militia under General Israel Putnam and Colonel John Stark who sought to seize livestock and supplies from British-held Noddle’s and Hog Islands.

The engagement escalated when British marines and the armed schooner HMS Diana attempted to repel the raid. Trapped by the tide and heavy colonial fire from the shoreline, the Diana was abandoned and burned by American forces, marking a symbolic victory that bolstered morale. Though the site has been heavily altered by urban development, it remains significant as an early demonstration of colonial coordination and resolve. Today, Boston holds many hidden gems with revolutionary roots. Nearby and unknown to many, the old Church of Christ stands at 256 Beach Street in Revere, MA. Before their raids around Chelsea Creek on May 27, over 600 militiamen halted their advance at this colonial-era church. Yet, a block away on Butler Street, one can also find the Rumney Marsh Burying Ground, yet another colonial cemetery that evades the eyes of the average visitor.

Colonial era Rumney Marsh Burying Ground in Revere, MA