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discovering made themselves Master of her, & ran her ashore. Mr. Moore than anchored within Fifteen Yards,
with an Intent to retake her, & get her off; he was hailed on Shore by the Rebels, once more desiring him to
strike to the Sons of Liberty, threatening him with Death if he resisted, upon Mr. Moore's replying he was not
ready yet, they fired a Volley of small Arms, which was returned from the Schooner with Swivels and Small
Arms. The Firing continued about an hour and a half, Mr. Moore then cut the Cable, drop't down Half a Mile
lower, & anchored near a Sloop laden with Boards. In the Night they endeavored to Board us with a Number of
Boats & Canoes, but were beat off by a brisk fire from the Swivels & obliged to quit their Boats, four of which
in the Morning were left upon the Flats full of holes; we had but one Man Wounded. We hauled the Sloop
alongside, took in some Planks, & made a Barricadoe fore & Aft to defend ourselves from the Small Arms. The
Captain of the Sloop being well acquainted with the River, carried us down at Daybreak, during the Passage we
were continually fired at from the Shore, having a smart Breeze, in jibing, carried away our Booms and Gaff:
we saw a Sloop at Anchor about a League off, Mr. Moore came to an Anchor, sent his Boat aboard her, &
brought her alongside, took her Boom and Gaff & fixed them in the Schooner, A Sloop & Schooner appeared,
we immediately weighed Anchor & stood out for the Sea, they coming up with us very fast, we began to fire our
Stern Swivels, & small Arms as soon as within reach. When within hail, they again desired us to strike to the
Sons of Liberty, promising to treat us well, but if we made any resistance they [would] put us to Death, Mr.
Moore seeing there was no possibility of getting clear, luffed the Vessel too and gave them a Broadside with
Swivels & Small Arms in the best manner he was able, and likewise threw some Hand Grenadoes into them;
they immediately laid us Onboard, the Sloop on the Starboard Quarter, the Schooner on the Larboard Bow. At
that Instant Mr. Moore received two Balls, one in his right Breast, the other in his Belly the other Officer was
slightly wounded in the Side, one Marine killed, two more Wounded, & two Seamen. The Rebels took
Possession of the Schooner, & carried her up to Mechias, in great triumph, with their Colours flying. they
carried Mr. Moore down into his Cabbin, & asked him why he did not strike when they hailed him, he look'd up
and told them "he preferred Death before yielding to such a sett of Villains" -- The Rebels had two Killed and
four Wounded, one of which expired soon after, Mr. Moore was carried to Mr. Jones's house, where he expired
the day following in the afternoon, the 18th the Rebels marched those Men belonging to the Schooner (who
were not wounded) to the Congress. Mr. Moore telling them before his death, that I was a pressed Man, I
obtained my Liberty, & went Passenger in a Brig to Halifax, for which I paid four Dollars.
Another firsthand account is provided with the notes for James Lyon.
Joseph Getchell, Jr. and his two sons, Joseph the 3rd and Benjamin, all had official service in Machias
companies during the Revolutionary War after the colonial governments formally organized for war against the
British.
Joseph Getchell was also in Capt. Stephen Smith's Co. Enlisted Sept 14, 1775, and was discharged Dec. 31,
1775. Also, Joseph Getchell took part in an expedition against St. John's in Capt. Jabez West's Co. from May
through July 1777. He enlisted again in a company of artillery raised for the care of ordinance stores and
service at and for the defense of Machias from Dec. 13, 1777 through June 1, 1778.
Joseph Getchell also built the first saw mill erected in eastern Maine.
The following excerpt from early York County, Maine, deeds -- as printed in the Downeast Ancestry newsletter -
- appears to reference this Joseph Getchell and his first wife prior to his coming to Machias.
JOSEPH & MERCY GETCHEL OF WELLS (V.32: F.4n) Joseph Getshel Jun. of Wells, husbandman, and
Mercy, his wife, spinstress, for 50 pounds received of (her) father Benjamin Hatch of Wells. Refers to land
given by (their) grandfather Samuel Hatch to (father) Benjamin Hatch, the land where Benjamin now dwells.
Dated 21 Feb. 1751, 24th yr. of George II.
More About Joseph Getchell:
Baptism: 26 Jun 1726
Notes for Mary Berry:
18