Something to remember this July Fourth: The Battle of Noddle's Island, Hogg Island and Chelsea Creek

A historical thought on this July 4 from local historian Michael Laurano:


The Fourth of July is a good time to remember another great American misnomer - the oxymoronic term, the so called "Battle of Chelsea Creek" which in all truth was the "Battle of Noddle's Island, Hogg Island and Chelsea".

The series of skirmishes encompassed by that term which took place in late May of 1775 between the Americans and the British was never until the very late 19th century at the very earliest referred to even as the "Battle of Chelsea " nor until 1906 as the "Battle of Chelsea Creek". That was for good reasons. The bellicose actions took place on Noddle's Island (East Boston), Hogg (or Hog) Island (Orient Heights) and Chelsea (today's Beachmont, Revere, Winthrop and Chelsea), in 1775 Sales Farm, Rumney Marsh, Pullin Point and Winnisimmet.

Some of the fighting and the culmination by the burning of a British vessel, The Diana, certainly did place along the shores of the intervening waterway between present day East Boston and Chelsea now known as "Chelsea Creek". That body of water was not however known as "Chelsea Creek" in 1775 nor for a half century afterwards. The term "Chelsea Creek" name was affixed to "Chelsea Reach" in the 1830s by Gen William H. Sumner the principal behind the development into "East Boston" of once bucolic Noddle's Island, an oasis of culture and gracious civility in Boston Harbour burned and rendered barren by the bellicose events of 1775

"The designation "Chelsea Creek" appears on no legitimate contemporaneously drawn map of 1775 and nowhere else until the 1830s. No person actually at Noddle's, Island Hogg Island or Chelsea who participated in the fighting in 1775, American or British, left written recorded reference to the "Battle of Chelsea Creek". 1775 newspaper accounts of the skirmishes which sent an electrifying shock of courage throughout the rebellious American Colonies made reference only to the events "on Noddles Island", or "on Hogg (sometimes spelled "Hog") Island" or "at Chelsea" and never "Chelsea Creek" The American "rebels" who participated as belligerants there so recorded and 1775 British Admiralty records read the same as well.

That said, it is also true that on account of the determined efforts of some folk who have partisanly picked up on what was a mistake (one would like to think it was that, born only of ignorance and not deliberate) first made in 1906 by a New Hampshire magazine writer named Lamb have tenaciously promoted the "Battle of Chelsea Creek" mantra. Though that may be a rightful exercise in American free speech it is however still not the truth. Perhaps the erroneous term was first conceived in a spirit of compromise. In 20th century terms it would be an easy mistake perhaps to make.

In 1775 I shared in the same spirit of comprise at the BiCentennial celebration and referred to the "Battle of Noddle's Island and Chelsea Creek". However, given the 21st century internet's revolutionary access to early maps and documentation from and contemporaneous with 1775 to allow this transgression to continue unchallened would be only be to continue to give license to a wrong. A truthful and accurate account of American history deserves better.

Many recent writers while acknowledging the many indisputable facts of the matter still continue to repeat this grave misnaming error which flies in the face of accuracy and truth.

One such recent writer of American history while accurately attesting to the focus of these events as having happened on Noddle's Island judiciously says (the battle)..."has come to be called the Battle of Chelsea Creek". To that this writer would add with emphasis...The Battle of Noddle's Island, Hogg Island and Chelsea" vs. the "Battle of Chelsea Creek" is not over yet !

On this Fourth of July holiday of 2016 a salvo in this naming battle is issued in the form of the following threefold challenge to anyone who wishes to persist in promoting the misnamning error of the "Battle of Chelsea Creek":

First: Produce a legitimate map of from the 1775 era drawn prior to the 1830s designating the tidal waterway flowing between what is now East Boston and Chelsea as "Chelsea Creek".

Second: Produce a legitimate recorded account by any person who was actually there and participated in the skirmishes between the Americans and the British in 1775 that makes reference to "Chelsea Creek".

Third: Produce a legitimate 1775 newspaper account of the events that took place on Noddle's Island, Hogg Island and at Chelsea that made reference to "Chelsea Creek".

Happy Fourth of July to all.
    
Michael A. Laurano
malauran (at) aol.com

In memory: The life of Bill Bagley recalled at funeral: "Drink the Good Wine First”

Submitted by Michael Laurano

“Bill” Bagley, Jr. Memorial Service Held Saturday 3/21/15 -    Standing Room Only -

The immense Romanesque  Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Revere Massachusetts once aptly described as a veritable “basilica” by the late Boston Cardinal William O’Connell is the largest church building in its vicinity. The church was filled beyond full seating capacity on Saturday morning, March 21st, for a memorial Mass celebrated “in loving memory” of East Boston native and retired pharmacist, William Morgan (“Bill”) Bagley, Jr.

Scores of persons, many recalling and speaking of Bill’s kindnesses during the years he practiced pharmacy in East Boston and Winthrop, others coming from out of State, some from Europe and Asia, arriving by car, bus, and taxi  began to fill the church parking lot an hour before the service began at 11:00 AM. The celebrant and homilist Rev. Brian McHugh of Somerville, Mass. said that upon arrival he had difficulty in finding a parking space. Streaming in to the piping of a lone kilted bagpiper on the front plaza later arrivals found “standing room only” inside the cavernous ornate edifice for which construction began in 1926 as an Italian “national parish” church. Artistically restored in recent years it is now the impressive house of worship for an area comprising three former Roman Catholic parishes.
    
The Processional Hymn was the traditional Irish melody, “Morning Has Broken”.  The first reading, Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, was by Bill’s Niece, Cheryl Kiernan. The second reading, 2 Corinthians 4:13-5-1, was by Bill’s brother, Robert Bagley. The Offertory Hymn sung in Latin was “Ave Maria” during which the Presentation of the Gifts of Bread and Wine was made by Caroline Kiernan and Elizabeth Kiernan, Bill’s Grandnieces, and Will Goodwin, Bill’s Grandnephew. The Communion Song was “Taste and See”. The Commendation meditation tune was “I Have Loved You”. The Recessional Hymn was from the 1994 film The Lion King “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” composed by Elton John.
 
At the outset of the service “Bill” was eulogized by his Wife of 43 years, Carol Vahey. She spoke of Bill’s pleasant nature which never failed and the good humor he maintained during his long confrontation with life threatening kidney disease beginning in 1987 later requiring a kidney transplant. Carol recounted Bill’s boundless and irrepressible generosity relating stories from their adventuresome worldwide travels together during her work years posted in London and Hong Kong and Bill’s retirement with Bill soon learning how to say “keep the change” in Mandarin Chinese. Carol confirmed Bill’s limitless love for his family and his friends relating that in this regard “Nothing was left unsaid.” 
 
The printed program for the order of service bore a likeness of “Bill” with the inscription “Drink the Good Wine First”. After the church service attendees were invited to join the family “to toast Bill” at the Hyatt Harborside Hotel at Logan Airport, East Boston. The hotel parking lot also quickly filled to capacity. Inside in the Hyatt’s 2nd floor large reception area it was again “standing room only”.