Page updated 08/12/2004.
A good story is told of the courageous conduct of the wife of Capt. McGilvery, master of the ship Mary Goodell, which was captured by a rebel privateer, and subsequently released, and arrived at Portland. Mrs. McGilvery was on the voyage with her husband, and when the ship was boarded by the pirates, she was asked by them for a supply of small stores for their use, as they were rather short. She immediately replied that she had nothing but arsenic, and would gladly give them a supply, but that they could have nothing else from her. Seeing the national flag near at hand, they started to secure it, when she sprang forward, and grasping the flag, threw it into a chest, and placing herself over it, declared they should not have it unless they took her with it. Finding the lady rather too spunky for them, they retired without further molesting her.
Notes:
July 14, 1861, Sunday - "This morning, after breakfast, went down to Custom House wharf, and procuring passage in a sailboat, crossed over to Peak's Island — young lady aboard and three other men and a boy. Had a very agreeable sail— saw the Mary Goodell, a vessel overhauled by the privateer Jeff. Davis. Saw C—s — found my trunk and went back to Portland accompanied byC—s, who eat dinner with me at U. S. Hotel." Diary of Jason Niles
visitors since 07/07/2004
Page updated 08/12/2004.