Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-22
MEMORIAL TO HEROINE
MONUMENT TO HANNAH WESTON
AT MAcHIAs, ME.
She Carried Ammunition for First
Naval Battle of American
Revolution.

Bangor Correspondence New York Tribune
The people Of Nachias are preparing 10
erect suitable memorial over the grave n
Hannah Weston. an heroic woman. who
rendered notable service I'm connection with
the first naval battle Of the revolutionary
war in carry from her home In JonsSbaro,
to Machias. distance of sixteen miles
through wilderness infested with hostile
Indians. supply Of ammunition to be used
by the patriots under Capt. John oRrien
in the attack upon the British man-of-war
Margaretta. The fight that resulted in the
capture of the M1rgaretta was the first
naval CONFLICT Of the revolution and Is re-
corded as the proudest event in Names
history. The date of its occurrence June
Il. 1115. is to the people Of Machias and All
that region what Apri IL is To Lexington
and Concord. and 1t is due to the efforts of
hannah Weston Chapter. Daughters OF the
American Revolution, that the noble service
OF the Jonesboro heroine is To be camn,em-
Grated
The Margaretta.
When il was found that the presence or
the eastern coast of the Margaretta was 70
lead TO open hostilities. a messenger was
dispatched from Machas through the will
derness to Jonesboro and neighhoring set
Elements to inform the people. and 70 r.
quest all men who were able and willing 10
bear arms to hasten to MaChias To assist
in the defense of the town and in the cap
ture of the hated war vessel The word
spread rapidly through the Settlements and
the people made hasty preparations To- re-
spond to the call for aid. All gathered at
the home of Josiah and Hannah Weston
from which place the start was to be made
Mrs Weston took great interest In the
preparations. and when the start was made
her husband and two of her brothers were
among the volunteers.
She had made careful iuuuiry Of each man
as to the amount of ammunition that he
carried, and she felt confident that more
would be needed if much fighting was done
After their departure she called at each
home in the settlement and gathered up
what powder. lead. pewter spoons etc.
had been left behind. \ collection Of about
thirty or forty pounds was made. and this
was taken to her home. where it was
packed, ready TO be sent to Machas But
not a man able to make the journey was
left In the settlement. and on the follow
ing morning, accompanied by X, bacca
Weston, a sister of her husband she started
to make the hazardous journey.
British Craft Captured.
Mrs. Weston carried the ammunition.
while the younger woman carried Ratchet
and the two days supply of provisions
which they had taken along The distance
to Machias was sixteen miles through a
dense wilderness. with no guide save the
footprints made by the soldiers who had
gone on before, and an occasional blazed
tree
The news Of their arrival was spr, al
through the village. and crowds ~ paopl.
gathered at the house to extend cnngratll-
iations and praise them for their noble act
Captain O'Brien, Colonel Foster and other
prominent Machias men were among the
number and were loud in their praise Of
the two women. They had entered upon the
difficult task because they believed that the
ammunition would be needed IN the batfl.
that was threatening when the word was
sent 20 Jono sboro', but while they were
making their march through the wilderness
the battle had been fought and won Upon
their arrival at M7chias they wer" Informed
that the Margaretta had been captured. and
that her commander. Captain Moor. had
been wounded by a shot fired by Mrs We--
tons brother. Samuel Watts which must
result fatally. This proved to be true. for
or the following day the young British
officer, the first naval officer 10 lose his life
in the revolution, dead, The ammUri-
ton. although ii was not receive :u time To-
be used in the battle, was afterwarl used
in the repulse OF the British wh,u they al
tempted to recaptgre Machias. Mr.. Watts
was subsequently, pensioEed by the govern
mort for his service H. thu Margaretta night
and that rendered to The people Of MaChias
in the later defence of the town.