Commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the Embarkation of the Invasion of Quebec
From September 15-19, 1775, troops from Colonel Benedict Arnold expeditionary force to invade Quebec encamped in and around Newburyport. On September 19, the troops, including Timothy Bigalow of Worcester, boarded ships headed to Maine to travel up the Kennebec River and through the Maine wilderness to Quebec.
Join us as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the embarkation of the Invasion of Quebec
- Revolutionary War Encampment
- Recreation of the March to the Docks
- Recreation of the Dedication Service
- America 250 Patriots Marker Installation
- Exhibition at the Custom House Museum
- Reproduction “bateaux”
- Find Your Patriot Genealogy Workshop
- Speakers on Benedict Arnold, the expedition and Newburyport during the revolution
Experience history come alive as we recreate this dramatic confrontation at its original location. Watch as historical reenactors portray the tense standoff between British troops and Salem’s citizens.
Be part of this remarkable commemoration as we honor troops that served in this
the courage, wisdom, and restraint shown by both sides during this critical moment in American history. This event offers a unique opportunity to witness and understand how our patriot ancestors .
- Brigadier-General James Brickett-Old Newbury Chapter, NSDAR
- Central Congregational Church
- Colonel Timothy Bigelow Chapter, NSDAR
- Custom House Museum
- Lowell’s Boat Shop
- Museum of Old Newbury
- Newburyport Daily News
- Old South Presbyterian Church
- Sons & Daughters of the First Settlers of Newbury, MA


Please donate to help defray the costs of the marker and celebration.

About Benedict Arnold's Quebec Expedition
In September 1775, during the early stages of the American Revolutionary War, Colonel Benedict Arnold led an expedition of 1,100 Continental Army troops from Cambridge, MA, to Quebec City. This mission was part of a dual strategy to invade the British Province of Quebec, complementing General Richard Montgomery’s concurrent advance via Lake Champlain.
Arnold’s expedition made a critical stop in Newburyport, MA, in September 1775. The town served as a key launching point for the journey as Arnold and his troops prepared to head into the wilderness. Newburyport was chosen because of its strategic location near the mouth of the Merrimack River. While in Newburyport, Arnold secured provisions and equipment necessary for the challenging expedition. From Newburyport, Arnold’s men departed by water, traveling along the coast and into the Kennebec River system to begin their arduous overland march through the Maine wilderness toward Quebec.
The expedition’s journey through Maine was fraught with unforeseen difficulties, including arduous portages along the Kennebec River and the use of leaky boats that spoiled essential supplies like gunpowder and food. Inaccurate maps and inclement weather further compounded the hardships, leading over a third of the men to abandon the expedition before reaching the watershed between the Kennebec and Chaudière rivers. The descent down the turbulent Chaudière River resulted in additional losses of boats and provisions due to the troops’ inexperience with white-water navigation.
By November, Arnold’s contingent was reduced to 600 starving men after covering approximately 350 miles—double the anticipated distance—through treacherous terrain. Upon reaching the outskirts of the Saint Lawrence River, they received assistance from local French-speaking Canadiens to cross into Quebec City on November 13 and 14. Despite their efforts to besiege the city, the attempt was unsuccessful, prompting a withdrawal to Pointe-aux-Trembles. There, they awaited Montgomery’s forces, who, upon arrival, led a combined but failed assault on Quebec City.
In recognition of his leadership during the grueling expedition, Arnold was promoted to brigadier general. Today, the path taken by his troops through northern Maine is commemorated as the Arnold Trail to Quebec, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with several geographic features named after participants of the expedition.

NSDAR Marker Installation at Old South Presbyterian Church
The First Presbyterian Church and Society Church, known as Old South, has a storied history deeply intertwined with the founding of the United States. The church’s origins trace back to 1740 when the famous English itinerant preacher and friend of Benjamin Franklin, the Reverend George Whitefield passed through Newburyport. In 1743, a group of Whitefield’s converts formed a new society and, in 1756, built a meetinghouse on the corner of Federal (formerly King) and School Streets. Whitefield died in 1770 while preaching in Newburyport and is buried in the crypt under the pulpit at Old South making the site a place of historical significance.
Old South played a pivotal role in the American Revolution under its first pastor, Reverend Jonathan Parsons. Parsons was a vocal advocate for independence, serving on Newburyport’s Committee of Correspondence and rallying the community against British oppression. From mourning the Boston Massacre victims by tolling of the church bell to organizing a boycott of British tea, Parsons mobilized his congregation in acts of resistance. Notably, on April 23, 1775, he gathered volunteers to join the Continental Army at Bunker Hill under Major Ezra Lunt. Also in 1775, Old South was visited by Benedict Arnold and Aaron Burr, attended a service at the church before departing on the ill-fated Quebec Expedition.
Members of the congregation actively supported the Revolutionary cause. During the Siege of Boston in 1775, William Combs sent ships to the Caribbean to gather arms for Washington’s Army and sunk ships at the mouth of the Merrimack River to save Newburyport from attack. Several of Parsons’ descendants also contributed significantly to the war effort including his son, Samuel Holden Parsons, who rose to the rank of Major General in the Continental Army.
Old South’s legacy is further enriched by its architectural features, including its 1803 Paul Revere-cast bell, the “whispering galleries,” trompe l’oeil ceiling, historic organ, and pew spittoons. Today, the church welcomes hundreds of visitors annually, offering a tangible connection to America’s revolutionary past.
To honor Old South’s profound contributions to the American Revolution, the Brigadier General James Brickett-Old Newbury Chapter, NSDAR, plans to beautify a paved space in front of the church, adjacent to the front steps, and to install an NSDAR America 250 Patriots Marker in September 2025.
Please donate to help cover the costs of the marker and its installation.



