| 1. | Robert Francis Brien was born 26 Feb 1899, Aquaforte, Newfoundland; died 13 Dec 1991, Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; was buried Abt 15 Dec 1991, St. Patrick's Cemetery, Watertown, Massachuetts, United States. Other Events:
- Baptism: 6 Mar 1899, Holy Trinity RC Parish, Ferryland, Newfoundland
Notes:
Ellis Island Passenger Manifest for S.S. Rosalind from St. John's, NF arriving Brooklyn, NY - November 16, 1922.
Robert O' Brien - 23, male, single, fisherman, from Aqueforte (sic), NF. Robert's next of kin there was his father, Patrick O' Brien. His destination was Boston Mass and this was his first time in the U.S. He had paid his own passage and was in possession of $150. Robert stated that he was going to stay with a friend, W. Sullivan, 49A Saratoga St. Boston, MA. His intention were to settle permanently in the U.S. Robert is described as being in good health, 5' 6'' tall, with a light complexion, brown hair and blue eyes.
The Boston Globe - ROBERT F. O'BRIEN, CAPTAINED DORY FISHING SCHOONER; AT 92
Author: By William P. Coughlin, Globe Staff - Date: 12/14/1991 Page: 41 - Section: OBITUARY
Robert F. O'Brien, one of the last of Boston's and Gloucester's dory fishing schooner captains, died of cancer yesterday at his Watertown home. He was 92. In Capt. O'Brien's heyday, when Boston was the world's top fishing port, a vessel would return here with at least 100,000 pounds of cod, haddock and flounder, or more than 20 times a shipload today. The big dory schooners and 130-foot steam and diesel beam trawlers jostled for space at the noisy dock every day.
Capt. O'Brien's two-masted, 95-foot schooner Putnam nested 13 to 17 dories on deck, which were dropped over the side on the fishing grounds with two fishermen each. Trips averaged seven to nine days, and Capt. O'Brien recalled one trip in 1948 when his vessel landed 200,000 pounds -- a record in a time of records.
A native of Aquaforte, Newfoundland, Capt. O'Brien came to Boston in 1922. He is widely remembered for the accident in 1942 off Cape Cod when the Putnam was struck and cut in two by a steamship in a wartime convoy out of Boston. Capt. O'Brien and his crew of 23 narrowly escaped in their dories after the steamer sailed on. Only one man was injured. Capt. O'Brien and his men, adrift without radios or lifejackets, were picked up by a Coast Guard cutter that spotted his flashlight blinking in the darkness.
A fisherman for 50 years, Capt. O'Brien also fished in the famed Boston schooner Adventure with Capt. Leo Hynes, now of Nashua. Hynes was the Boston Fish Pier's all-time high line fishing captain of the 1930s -- the man who caught the most fish per trip.
Capt. O'Brien also skippered an ex-minesweeper converted as a fishing vessel in early 1950s, and he alternated as mate and crewman on the Boston beam trawlers Flying Cloud, Arlington and Challenge.
He leaves his wife, Margaret (Carey); a daughter, Mary B. Ryan of Watertown; a son, Robert J. of Belmont; six grandchildren and a great- grandson.
A funeral Mass will be said Monday at 10 a.m. in St. Patrick's Church, Watertown. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery.
Robert — Margaret M. Carey. Margaret was born 3 Mar 1903, Witless Bay, Newfoundland; died 23 Jan 1998, Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. [Group Sheet]
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1899 - 1991 (92 years)