Fact or Lore - Heroes in the making

Along the Chesapeake Bay, the small historical town of Havre de Grace has an almost unbelievable heroic story.  The question is how much of the story is fact and how much is folklore?  I decided to visit the 36-foot Concord Point Lighthouse area to learn more.   

​During the War of 1812, the American militia was stationed near the waters protecting the land from a British invasion at Concord Point.  One evening, a young man spotted foreign vessels coming towards the town.  It was the Brits!

All the soldiers ran from their posts except for one young man named John O' Neil. John began firing a cannon towards the potential intruders. The cannons recoiled, injuring John! John fled for his safety. The British invasion began. John was immediately captured and was told he would hang the following day.

John's large family lived in this beautiful home nearby. His sixteen-year-old daughter, Matilda, ran to the shore and jumped in a wooden rowboat. She furiously fought the waves trying to get out to the British vessels to beg for her father's life. The British captain was so impressed with Matilda heroic actions, he gave her his prized gold-lined snuff box and promised to release her father. John was released as promised.

After the War of 1812, John became the town commissioner and lighthouse keeper until his death.  In 1914, the city honored John with a monument holding the exact cannon he fired.  His grandson conducted the raising of the flag during the ceremony. 

Today, some argue these two heroic events have been greatly exaggerated. Others swear to its accuracy. I prefer the latter. We all need a good heroic story once in a while. By the way, the city of Havre de Grace was one vote away to becoming the capital of the United States in the forming years of the nation. A beautiful historic park tells it all. A beautiful, quaint city to visit!