He was the captain of the brig, St. John, when it was wrecked on Grampus Ledge, on the coast of Massachusetts in October 1849 with the loss of over one hundred lives.
The passengers were mainly refugees from the west coast of Ireland, fleeing the Great Famine.
Weather very thick, he came inside of Minot's Light House, and there saw a brig lying at anchor, just inside of breakers, at a place called Hooksett Rock, tried to wear up to the brig, but found he could not fetch up, and threw over both anchors, which dragged.
The captain caught a rope hanging over the quarter, and was drawn on board by the first mate.
When the long boat was got clear, a number of passengers jumped over to swim to her, but all perished.