Maria Smith

GEDCOM Note

http://history.vineyard.net/hfnorton/tisbury.htm

During the Revolution this harbor was the refuge for many British men-of-war. In 1775 the people of Homses Hole erected a "liberty pole" on Manter's Hill. As another expression of public feeling the women threw all their tea into the hole to show their attitude regarding the Boston Port Bill. A few months later the British ship Unicorn came into the harbor looking for a pole to replace a spar lost in a storm. The captain spying this "liberty pole" sent word to the selectmen that he would purchase "the pole on the hill;" and if they refused to sell it, he would consider it a rebellious act and fire on the town. The selectmen set a price, not daring to do otherwise, and the captain informed them that his men would take the pole the next day. Mr. Daggett, one of the selectmen, upon reaching home related this incident. His daughter Polly made no comment, but as soon as supper was over she went to Parnel Manter, a friend and told her the story. These girls made up their minds that the British could not have the "liberty pole." While the girls were trying to think of some way to save the pole from the British, Maria Allen came in. As the three girls were discussing a plan, suddenly one of them said: "I have an idea, let's blow up the pole." How this could be done was a great problem to the girls. Maria Allen said that there was a ship's auger in her father's shop; they could bore a hole in the pole and fill it with powder. Parnel Manter could borrow her father's powder-horn. Maria secured the auger, Parnel the powder-horn. Then the three girls started for Manter's Hill. They arrived at the pole and started to bore, each taking her turn. Two holes were made and filled to the brim with powder, Polly Daggett giving the hem of her woolen petticoat for wads. Everything now being in readiness, the question was how to ignite the powder. At last Polly solved the problem. She would get a beanpole from a neighboring field, tie the rest of her petticoat hem on it, set it on fire, and push it against the powder. Polly ran home and stole a warming-pan full of hot coals from the fireplace. The critical moment had arrived. Who would dare to touch it off? They lighted the cloth on the end of the bean-pole and all three shoved it against the woolen wads. After the third attempt the wads started to burn; then the girls dropped the bean-pole and ran for shelter behind an old barn. A second later there came a report like that of a cannon; then the splitting and crackling of the pole. The next instant came a second explosion which completely destroyed the pole, making it useless. The girls then hurried home, not mentioning the incident until many years after the war.

The next morning the captain of the Unicorn sent then ashore to get the pole. When they saw the condition it was in they were furious and reported to their commander. The captain went to the selectmen only to learn that they were as puzzled as anyone about the affair. The Unicorn was finally obliged to sail away without obtaining the desired spar.

GEDCOM Source

The History of Martha's Vineyard Charles Edward Banks 30 OCT 2018 16:28:51 Vol. 3 p 445

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Allen-33083

Maria Smith formerly Allen

Born 1758 [location unknown]

Daughter of Ebenezer Allen and Sarah (Chase) Allen

Sister of Jane (Daggett) Merry [half], Timothy Daggett [half], Isaac Daggett [half], Ebenezer Allen and Perkins Allen

Wife of David Smith — married 13 Nov 1788 in Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, Dukes, Massachusetts, United States

Mother of Jane (Smith) Luce

Died 1 Mar 1820 [location unknown]

Profile last modified 3 Apr 2019 | Created 8 Jun 2018

Biography

Maria Allen was born on Martha's Vineyard in 1758, a daughter of Ebenezer and Sarah (Chase) Allen. In 1788 she married, as his second wife, Vineyard master mariner David Smith; the couple had three children. Maria passed away in March of 1820.

Sources

Birth, marriage, and death: Charles Edward Banks, "The History of Martha's Vineyard", Vol. 3, p. 445; see #185 [1] (birth and marriage); also #100 [2] (marriage, with birth & death dates)