The Deposition of Thos Flinn, Master of the Schooner Falmouth Packet taken before me George Deschamps Esqr One of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of Halifax aforesaid this Tenth July in the fifteenth Year of His Majestys Reign Annoque Domini 1775

This Deponent Saith that he sailed from Windsor in this Province in the said Schooner Falmouth Packet whereof he is Master, on the second of June last for Machias to Load Boards, and Arrived there the 10th of said June where he found every thing Quiet. That on the Eleventh day of June being Sunday, in the Evening about 10 oClock a number of Armed Men Attacks a Kings Tender schooner Commanded by Capt [James] Moore (who they supposed Intended to Rescue two Sloops belonging to Mr Ichabod Jones which the People of Machias had seized) they first Desired Capt Moore to strike to the sons of Liberty and come on shore; but on his refusing they fired upon him and he Return'd it  the Firing was smart for about a Quarter of an Hour when Capt Moore cut his Cables and fell down the River, with the Tide near the Mouth of the River where as the Deponent was Inform'd Capt Moore came along side of a Sloop outward bound and took out the Captain one Toby of Sandwich, and one of his Men together with some Stores, That on Monday Morning Capt Moore Weighd Anchor and went down to the Mouth of the River where he came to an Anchor gaving carried away his Gaff, and there he met with a Sloop from Horton [sic!] Commanded by one Rathbone bound into Machias whose Gaff & Boom Capt Moore took away together with a Mr Robert Avery of Horton,² that the same Morng about six oClock about Twenty arm'd men Inhabitants of Machias Among whom were Mr Benjn Forster John Scott John/[Long] and Ephraim Chase came on board the Schooner Falmouth Packet and Demanded the Vessel of this Deponent which was Refused, when they declared it was in vain to Refuse as they would take her by Force, and Insisted on this Deponent and his People Proceeding with them, but on his Peremptorily refusing to go or to suffer his People they put both himself and his people on shore, after which they proceeded down the River together with one of Mr. Jones's Sloops with about Thirty men, on board said Sloop and at the Mouth of the River Engaged and took as this Deponent was Inform'd, the said Kings Tender, in the Attack of which Mr Robert Avery and one Man of the Tender were Killed on the spott & Capt Moore and five others were Wounded of which Wounds the Capt and two others are since dead, the Machias People had One Man Killed and four Wounded, Mr Jones's Sloop was Commanded by Jeremiah OBrian an Inhabitant of Machias.

On Tuesday 13th June this Deponents Vessel was return'd to him when he Proceeded to load his Cargo of Boards, and was loaded ready to sail on the 22d when at the Mouth of the River an Armed Boat in which were John Long Willm Tupper, Wm OBrian Jabez West, Joseph Wheaton and One Young and one Bale and another Man who seized his Vessell, and carried her up the River were they detained him untill the fifth day of July Instant, when the Committee of Safety at Machias gave him a Permit to sail and he Proceeded Accordingly to this place the 6th Instant

Some Days before he sailed they fitted out a Sloop of Ichabod Jones's burthen about Ninety Tons, Armed as this Deponent was Inform'd with four or six Cannon four Pounders, and fourteen swivels, and Manned with about forty Men, and this Armed Vessell left the Town were this Deponent lay on the first Instant said by some with design to fetch Provisions from Philadelphia and by others to Cruize for the Cattle Vessells bound from Windsor to Boston, One Jeremiah OBrian was said to be Master of this Vessell.

One Capt Smith of Machias returned from the Congress while this Deponent lay there and brought from Salem a Vessell with a Quantity of Provisions and Ammunition & they Expected more.

The same Day this Deponent left Machias he spoke to Lieut Knight of the Diligent Cruizing off the Wolves by Grand Manan, who brought him too, as also a Sloop from Machias Commanded by Capt Williams who was on board Mr Knight This Deponent was twice with the Committee of Safety when Mr James Lyons a Minister late of Picton in this Province was Chairman which Committee was Established after the taking the Tender there were two Brigs and a schooner loading when he left Machias

Taken & Sworn to the aforementioned 10th July 1775 before me  George Deschamps Jus. Pc.

Isaac Dankes Mate of the said schooner Falmouth Packet Deposeth that the within Deposition is the same as what he saw & was Informed of, and that it Contains the full substance of what he has to relate Respecting the said Transactions at Machias

Isaac Danks