By Paul Sylvain

Nathan Beal of East Machias is a local historian and direct descendant of Ebeneezer Beal, who was wounded by a hand grenade tossed by HMS Margaretta’s commander, Midshipman James Moore, in the June 1775 Battle of Machias. He shared the story of the events of that historic day at the Sept. 27 rededication of a monument in memory of John McNeil, James Coolbroth and Robert Avery, who were killed in that battle, and Ebeneezer Beal and John Berry Jr., who were wounded. Here is a transcript of McNeil’s telling of the story in his own words.