1768 – Dec 4, gale, “coaster,” bound for Pownalborough, ME, lost, Kennebec River, ME–12

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 7-22-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–12  Colonial Sense. “New England Weather. 1768 Gale – December 4.” Cites Perley.

–12  Perley, Sidney. Historic Storms of New England. Salem, MA: The Salem Press, 1891, p. 73

Narrative Information

Perley: “On Sunday, December 4, 1768, occurred a southeast rainstorm accompanied by a violent gale…. A coaster commanded by Captain Patterson had been sailed for several years between Boston and the Kennebec river, and on Thursday, three days before the storm, sailed from the last named place, having on board a number of passengers belonging to Pownalborough, Me., who had been up the Kennebec to procure the winter’s supply of provisions for their families, and were now returning with their purchases. They were Captain Thomas Allen, Ralph Chapman, John Barker, Mr. Perry, John Pierce, Mr. Hersey, Mrs. Jonas Fitch and Mrs. Stilfin, a Dutch woman. The crew consisted of Captain Patterson, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Kinney and a negro man belonging to the captain. In the darkness of the night and the terrific gale, they were cast away before they had reached Pownalborough, and the vessel with its freight and every person on board were lost. Mr. Chapman left a widow and seven children, and Mrs. Fitch five children. Only a few things of any value washed ashore, among them being several chests that were dashed to pieces before they could be secured, except the captain’s which was strapped with iron.”

Sources

Colonial Sense. “New England Weather. 1768 Gale – December 4.” Accessed 7-22-2024 at: http://www.colonialsense.com/Society-Lifestyle/Signs_of_the_Times/New_England_Weather/1768_Gale.php

Perley, Sidney. Historic Storms of New England. Salem, MA: The Salem Press, 1891. Google Preview accessed 7-17-2024 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=twkAAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false