New Bedford in Bristol County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

The Rescue of Six Fenians

Photographed by Adam Margolis, September 15, 2025

1. The Rescue of Six Fenians Marker

Inscription. 1876 - 1976
To Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of
The Rescue of Six Fenians
Robert Cranston · Thomas Darragh · Michael Harrington
· Thomas Hassett · Martin Hogan · James Wilson

By the bark Catalpa of New Bedford from the Colony
of Australia to the United States of America.

Captain George S. Anthony
John J. Breslin, Chief Of Rescue Party
John T. Richardson, Ships Agents
John Doyle O’Reilly, Rescue Organizer

This marker placed by the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick

Erected by Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.

Location. 41° 38.085′ N, 70° 55.676′ W. Marker is in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in Bristol County. It is at the intersection of North 6th Street and Market Street, on the left when traveling north on North 6th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 23 N 6th Street, New Bedford MA 02740, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the South Coast.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in New England,

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and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Admiral Forrest P. Sherman U.S.N. (within shouting distance of this marker); Frederick Douglass (within shouting distance of this marker); Joseph Theodore (within shouting distance of this marker); Trading Places (within shouting distance of this marker); Lewis Temple (within shouting distance of this marker); Whaleman’s Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Vietnam Veterans Honor Roll (about 300 feet away); Captain Paul Cuffe's Atlantic World (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Bedford.

Also see . . . Catalpa rescue (Wikipedia). The Catalpa rescue was the escape, on 17–19 April 1876, of six Irish Fenian prisoners from the Convict Establishment (now Fremantle Prison), a British penal colony in Western Australia. They boarded a whaleboat,

Photographed by Adam Margolis, September 15, 2025

2. The Rescue of Six Fenians Marker

were taken aboard Catalpa, and escaped to New York. (Submitted on December 18, 2025, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 12, 2025, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. This page has been viewed 51 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 12, 2025, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.