Reports of the battles of Lexington and Concord reached Machias in early May 1775, leading Benjamin Foster to rally Machias residents at Job Burnham's tavern. Machias merchant captain Ichabod Jones sailed his ships "Unity" and "Polly" to Boston with a cargo of lumber and purchased food for sale in Machias. British troops encouraged Jones to deliver another cargo of lumber for construction of their barracks in Boston. Admiral Samuel Graves ordered HMS "Margaretta", under the command of James Moore, to accompany Jones' ships to discourage interference from Machias rebels. When the ships reached Machias on 2 June 1775, James Moore ordered the liberty pole removed; and Machias townspeople refused to load the lumber. Foster plotted to capture the British officers when they attended church on 11 June, but the British avoided capture and retreated downriver aboard "Margaretta". On 12 June Foster pursued "Margaretta" aboard the packet boat "Falmouth". After "Falmouth" ran aground, O'Brien and his five brothers, Gideon, John, William, Dennis and Joseph, seized the "Unity".