1812 — Oct-June 1813 (esp.), Peripneumony/Lung Fever (pneumonia), VT, esp. Burlington–4350-6400
–4,350-6,400 Blanchard tally for VT using Roberts for low end of range and Gallup for high.
Vermont (4,350-6,400)
— >6,400 Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases in the State of Vermont… 1815, p. 75.
–5,650 Civilian citizens (average of 25 deaths in 226 towns of 6 sq. miles.)
— 750 Soldiers.
— >6,000 Thompson. History of Vermont Section VIII. “Diseases of Vermont.” 1842, p. 221.
— 4,350 Roberts. “Lung Fever Epidemic of 1812.” The Vermont Encyclopedia, p. 190.
–1440-1573 Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.
Breakouts by locality, where noted:
— 10 Arlington, Bennington Co., Jan-June. Gallup. Sketches…Diseases…[VT]. 1815, 72.
— 70 Bennington, Bennington Co. Gallup. Sketches of…Diseases in…[VT]. 1815, p 73.
— ~60 Benson. March-mid-May, 1813. Hemenway (ed.). Vermont His. Gaz. 1877, p. 415.
— >10 Brandon. Was “an epidemic” and “extensively fatal” starting in Dec, for ~4 months.[1]
Mr. & Mrs. Sterns, 1812. Hemenway (ed.). Vermont His. Gaz. 1877, p. 459.[2]
Edward Cheney, Jan 24, 1813, aged 64. Hemenway. VT His. Gaz. 1877, 445.
Ebenezer Wooster and wife, Jan 21 and 24, 1813. VT His. Gaz. 1877, p. 453.
–700-800 Burlington, Chittenden Co., four months. Gallup. Sketches of…Diseases… 1815, 70.
–200-250 Burlington, over the winter. Campbell. “…Pestilence…Burlington’s…1812.” p. 146.
— 60->63 Castleton, 1813. Hemenway (ed.). Vermont His. Gaz. 1877, p. 516.[3]
— ~80 Clarendon, Rutland County. Gallup. Sketches of…Diseases in…[VT]. 1815, p 73.
— 40-50 Dorset, Bennington County. Gallup. Sketches of…Diseases in…[VT]. 1815, p 73.
— >2 Fair Haven. Jemima Brainard, Dec 5, 1812, aged 62. Vermont His. Gaz. 1877, p.726.[4]
— 60-70 Manchester, Bennington County. Gallup. Sketches of…Diseases in…[VT]. 1815, p 73.
— >10? Middletown (“many” in 2-3 yrs). Hemenway (ed.). Vermont His. Gaz. 1877, p. 830.
Deacon Elisha Clark, 1813. Hemenway (ed.). Vermont His. Gaz. 1877, p. 824.[5]
— 44 Pomfret Windsor County. Gallup. Sketches of…Diseases in…[VT]. 1815, p.72.
— 70-80 Pownal, Bennington County. Gallup. Sketches of…Diseases in…[VT]. 1815, p 73.
— 44 Reading, Windsor Co., Jan-June. Gallup. Sketches of…Diseases in…[VT]. 1815, p 73.
— 40-50 Rueport, Bennington County. Gallup. Sketches of…Diseases in…[VT]. 1815, p 73.
— 20 Sandgate, Bennington County. Gallup. Sketches of…Diseases in…[VT]. 1815, p 73.
— 30 Shaftsbury, Bennington County. Gallup. Sketches of…Diseases in…[VT]. 1815, p 73.
— 5 Sharon, Windsor County. Gallup. Sketches of…Diseases in…[VT]. 1815, p.72.
— ~30 Shrewsbury, Rutland County. Gallup. Sketches of…Diseases in…[VT]. 1815, p 73.
— 1 Sunderland, Bennington County. Gallup. Sketches of…Diseases in…[VT]. 1815, p 73.
— ~54 Woodstock, Windsor County. Gallup. Sketches of…Diseases in…[VT]. 1815, p 72.
Also
Massachusetts (20)
–Jan 6, 1813 to May 7. Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.[6]
–6 Charlestown, U.S. Marine Hospital, Feb 21-March 3, 1813. Austin. Marine-Hosp. Ser., 270.[7]
–1 Chelmsford, Middlesex County. Vital Records of Chelmsford, Massachusetts to end of 1849.
Sarah Gould. 57 yrs Feb 11 Vital Records of Chelmsford, p. 398.
–9 Kingston, Plymouth Co., ~Apr 1-15. Vital Records of Kingston, [MA] to the Year 1850.
Betsy Drew 43 yrs April 1 Vital Records of Kingston, p. 340.
Nehemiah Drew 70 yrs March Vital Records of Kingston, 342.
Lydia Everson 54 yrs April 15 Vital Records of Kingston, p. 345.
Dr. Jabez Fuller 59 yrs April 12 Vital Records of Kingston, p. 352.
Joshua Holmes 63 yrs April 7 Vital Records of Kingston, p. 359.
Zeruah Holmes 64 yrs April 6 Vital Records of Kingston, p. 361.
Sarah Ring 44 yrs April 9 Vital Records of Kingston, p. 373.
Sarah Sever 2 yrs April 15 Vital Records of Kingston, p. 380.
Tabitha West 63 yrs April 6 Vital Records of Kingston, p. 392.
–4 Lancaster, Worcester County. The Birth…and Death Register…of Lancaster, [MA]…, p 357.
Mrs. Eunice Goss 66 Jan 6, 1813
John Sullivan Vincent March 12
Mr. Isaac Rugg 67 April 1
Mr. David Phelps 50 May 7
New York ( ?)
–? Greenbush. Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases in…Vermont. 1815, p. 70.[8]
–? Plattsburgh. Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases in…Vermont. 1815, p. 70.[9]
–? Sackets Harbour. Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases in…Vermont. 1815, p. 70.[10]
Narrative Information
Campbell: “At the close of 1812, some of the troops [War of 1812] moved to quarters in Plattsburgh, and the 1,600 left behind in Burlington endured the long winter’s wait. As so often happens when soldiers are crowded together in unsanitary conditions, disease plagued the Northern Army…
“The Champlain District faced a terrible ordeal during the winter of 1812-1813. A deadly epidemic struck, beginning in the camps in Burlington and Plattsburgh and spreading throughout northern Vermont to the middle and finally the southern sections of the state. Peripneumony notha — a violent and highly contagious form of pneumonia — filled the lungs with blood and was accompanied by high fever and chills. Death often came within days or even hours after the onset of the first symptoms. Fatalities peaked in December with 150 deaths in the Burlington camp; by Mann’s calculations a total of 200-250 soldiers, at least one in eight, died over the winter…..” (Campbell. “Propaganda, Pestilence, and Prosperity: Burlington’s Camptown Days During the War of 1812.” Vermont History, Vol. 64, No. 3, Summer 1996, p. 146 of p. 133-146.)
Gallup: “The autumn of 1812, and winter of 1813, ushered in the most severe epidemic disease, that has ever afflicted the inhabitants of Vermont, the epidemic Peripneumony, or disease of the lungs. It seemed to have the features of the disease, that had been in the state for about two years, called spotted fever; the chief difference seemed to be, that now the greatest force of local affection fell upon the lungs. What elementary changes should produce an aptitude in the pestilential influence to affect, in a special manner, the lungs, must be left for speculative philosophers to suggest. Thu unity of the hurtful principle is chiefly inferred, from many places being affected with this disease, in some measure, a year or two before, whilst spotted fever more commonly prevailed; from spotted fever’s occurring at the same time with this in many places; and from the common features, and sudden fatality of both diseases….
“The disease appeared at the northward before it did in the county of Windsor, perhaps about one month. It appeared amongst the soldiers at Burlington [War of 1812], some weeks before it did amongst the inhabitants of that place. Very near the time it appeared at Burlington [VT] among the soldiers, it appeared also among the soldiers at Plattsburg and Sackett Harbour [NY], and also in the camp at Greenbush, opposite Albany [NY]. No satisfactory account has ever been given the publick (sic) relative to the ravages of this disease at Burlington. I have solicited information from resident physicians there; but have received none. By information from some of the most respectable inhabitants of that place, and also from others residing there at that time, I am warranted in stating, that for some time, it was common for eight or twelve to die in a day. The whole number is said to be not less than seven or eight hundred in four months. Several dead bodies were carried through this place in sleighs, to be interred among their friends. The number of soldiers stationed at this encampment was about twenty-five or twenty-eight hundred.
“Perhaps the fatigue and exposure of a camp life to men not accustomed to it, might have a share in rendering the soldiers the first victims of the disease. The depression of mind from a repulse immediately before under general Dearborn, in an attempt to invade Canada, may also be noticed.
“The disease was not, however, confined to the camps. As the pestilential state of the atmosphere progressed to a degree of greater violence, the disease appeared among the inhabitants in the most comfortable condition; first in the northern section of the state, and immediately after in the middle, and southern sections. It is said to be about three weeks after it was very severe among the soldiers at Burlington, before the inhabitants were much affected. It, at length, became distressing and very mortal among the citizens of that place; and in about one month from its first appearance, it was pretty general over this and the adjoining states. The pestilential diathesis of the atmosphere, was not at its zenith until the first week in March. In this month, it raged with its greatest severity.
“It is said, that many of the soldiers died in four or eight hours after the attack, and a few in two hours. It was fatal also in some places among the citizens, nearly in as short time. The common fatal period was about the fourth or fifth day….
“On account of the want of any regular returns of deaths in the towns in this state, it is impossible to ascertain the number that died of this disease.
“From pretty satisfactory accounts from the Rev. Mr. Chapin, minister of the north parish in Woodstock [Windsor Co., VT], the number of deaths in both parishes by this disease the present year, were about fifty-four, in about five months. Whole number of deaths for the year, seventy-four. The town contains about 350 families, and the enumeration in 1810, was 2,672 souls. Five physicians.
“By the statement of Dr. Ware, of Pomfret [Windsor Co., VT], it appears that ‘In December last, the lung fever began, and continued until about the middle of May, 1813. Forty-four adults died with it in that time.’ The correctness of Dr. Ware will serve as a specimen for other towns where the neglect of physicians has deprived us of any statement on this disease. He further observes, ‘where the practice of bleeding, puking, and purging was pursued, free expectoration promoted, and kept up, and heating stimulating means carefully avoided, the patients generally recovered.’
“Dr. Page, of Sharon, states that abut forty persons had the pulmonic fever in that town, and that five died.
“Dr. Littlefield states, that the epidemic began at Arlington about the middle of January, and disappeared about the first of June. ‘It was not so fatal in this, and some of the adjacent towns, as in some other parts of the state. In Arlington, 10 deaths; in Sandgate, 20; in Sunderland, 1. From the best information, and some personal knowledge, I should say, in Manchester, 60 or 70; in Dorset, 40 or 50; in Rueport [Rupert], 40 or 50; in Shaftsbury, 30; in Bennington, 70; in Pownal, 70 or 80,’[11]
“‘I have been credibly informed, that in Clarendon about 80 died; in Castleton, 60; in Shrewsbury, about 30. By the statement of Dr. Bowen, of Reading, it appears, that 44 died of this disease from the first of January to the 10th of June 1813, and 29 of other complaints; of which last number, were fifteen infants; four still-born, and eleven in fits, or unknown complaints. Four hundred cases of the epidemic and forty of the deaths, were after the first of March. The town contains about 1600 inhabitants.’
“Our correspondent further remarks, that previous to the first of March, he bled from two to four times, from 12 to 24 oz. each; his success was very great. But after this time he bled but little. In the latter period, the pulse was hardly perceptible; a sense of suffocation, the surface pale and cadaverous, or more commonly, a bloated purple color, similar to a finger with a ligature on it; numbness, &c. From four to ten hours after the attack, the surface of the body would be often covered with spots or blotches like blood blisters; some of the bigness of a pea, others the size of a man’s hand. Total loss of sight, insensibility, and other signs of approaching dissolution are mentioned. Sixteen adults died within six, or thirty hours after the attack, twelve of whom before any medical aid could be procured….” (Gallup. pp. 69-73.)
“I very much regret my not being enabled to make a more particular statement. Great difference exists in the number of inhabitants in different towns, and also, the number of deaths by this disease. It must be considered a low estimate to say, that the towns throughout the state averaged 25f deaths. About 226 organized towns of six miles square, make 5,650 deaths. Add to this 750 soldiers, which makes the number of deaths by this disease alone 6,400, in about five months. — Census for 1810, 217,913 inhabitants.” (Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases in the State of Vermont… 1815, p. 75.)
Hemenway on Benson, VT: “…in the latter part of February, 1813, these [spotted fever cases] were followed by the typhoid pneumonia, or lung fever, which became a prevailing and frightful epidemic. Its principal ravages were in the months of March and April, and there were no new cases after the middle of May following. There were about 60 deaths from this disease in less than 3 months, of whom the larger part were adults. The Rutland Herald (weekly) for May 12, 1813, contains notices of fifteen of these deaths. The same disease prevailed as an epidemic, at the same time, generally throughout the State. (See Thompson’s Vermont, Civil Hist. Part II, p. 220, et seq.)” (Hemenway {ed.}. The Vermont Historical Gazetteer…Vol. III, Orleans and Rutland Counties. 1877, p. 415.)
Hemenway on Middletown, VT: “For 2 or 3 years following 1811, it was very sickly here, more so probably than has ever been known here before or since. An epidemic which in that time prevailed in many parts of the State carried to the grave many of the best citizens of the town. Aside from that time there has not at one time, to my knowledge or information, been any unusual amount of sickness.” (Hemenway {ed.}. The Vermont Historical Gazetteer…Vol. III, Orleans and Rutland Counties. 1877, p. 830.)
Thompson: “The spotted fever [1811-1812] was followed by the epidemic peripneumony, or lung fever, which proved to be the severest epidemic ever experienced in Vermont. This disease resembled that which immediately preceded it, excepting in having its chief location upon the lungs, and being longer in reaching its crisis. It commenced in this State, among the troops of the United States army, stationed at Burlington, in the autumn of 1812, where it proved very mortal, carrying off from 10 to 12 a day, for several weeks before it began to spread among the inhabitants. But, by the beginning of the year 1813, it had become general throughout the State; and in the course of the winter, it swept off from 20 to 60 of the most respectable and useful inhabitants of almost every town. The whole number of deaths in the State, by this disease during the winter, was estimated at more than 6000, or one death to every 40 inhabitants.”[12] (Thompson. Thompson, Zadock. History of Vermont, Natural, Civil and Statistical. 1842, p. 221.)
Sources
Austin, Surg. H. W. “Historical Sketch of the United States Marine-Hospital Service, at Boston, Mass.” Pp. 267-276 in: Annual Report of the Supervising Surgeon-General of the Marine-Hospital Service of the United States for the Fiscal Year 1896. Washington: U. S Treasury Department, Government Printing Office, 1896. Google preview accessed 2-18-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=HlM9AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Campbell, Karen Stites. “Propaganda, Pestilence, and Prosperity: Burlington’s Camptown Days During the War of 1812.” Vermont History (The Proceedings of the Vermont Historical Society), Vol. 64, No. 3, Summer 1996, pp. 133-146. Accessed 2-18-2018 at: https://vermonthistory.org/journal/misc/Propoganda_pestilence_vol64.pdf
Gallup, Joseph A., M.D. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases in the State of Vermont; From its First Settlement to the year 1815, with a Consideration of their Causes, Phenomena, and Treatment. Boston: T. B. Wait & Sons, 1815. Accessed 2-7-2018 at: https://collections.nlm.nih.gov/bookviewer?PID=nlm:nlmuid-2555005R-bk
Hemenway, Abby Maria (Editor). The Vermont Historical Gazetteer: A Magazine, Embracing A history of Each Town, Civil, Ecclesiastical, Biographical and Military (Vol. III, Orleans and Rutland Counties). Claremont, NH: Claremont Manufacturing Co., 1877. Google preview accessed 2-7-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=vJUbAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Nourse, Henry S. (Editor). The Birth, Marriage and Death Register, Church Records and Epitaphs of Lancaster, Massachusetts, 1643-1850. Clinton, MA: W. J. Coulter, Printer, 1890. Google preview accessed 2-18-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=RBN5AAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Roberts, Jason. “Lung Fever Epidemic of 1812.” P. 190 in The Vermont Encyclopedia (John J. Duffy, Samuel B. Hand, Ralph H. Orth, editors). Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Press, 2003. Google preview accessed 2-18-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=uTBCXqOou0YC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q=lung%20fever&f=false
Thompson, Zadock. History of Vermont, Natural, Civil and Statistical, in Three Parts. Burlington, VT: Chauncey Goodrich, 1842. Google preview accessed 2-3-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=8BUzAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Vital Records of Chelmsford Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849. Salem, MA: The Essex Institute, 1914. Google digital preview accessed 2-18-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=PpElAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Vital Records of Kingston Massachusetts to the Year 1850. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1911. Google preview accessed 1-27-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=8TEgg3nzpIcC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[1] This is our number. We know of two deaths before it became a “dreadful epidemic” lasting four months during which time it “was extensively fatal.”
[2] “Mr. Stearns and his wife were the first two cases of what was commonly termed the ‘winter fever,’ that dreadful epidemic of 1812-13, which was so extensively fatal, especially to the adult portion of its subjects. They were attacked, however in April, 1812, and with symptoms precisely like those which attended the cases when the first appeared as an epidemic, in Dec. after. They both died — Mr. S. the 7th, and Mrs. S. the 11th of April — and within about 3 days of their attack. These were the only cases of the kind that occurred in this town, until the month of December following, when it prevailed and was extensively fatal for about 4 months.”
[3] “The most mortal epidemic was of typhoid pneumonia in 1813, of which 63 died, chiefly adults.” Gallup writes (p. 73) that he had been “credibly informed that in…Castleton, 60 [died]…”
[4] It is noted that she “was the first person in town who died of the epidemic of 1812.” Thus, at least one more.
[5] “Dea. Elisha Clark was one of the first victims of the epidemic which prevailed here in 1813.”
[6] In the records below we only searched for the term “lung fever” and thus note here only those deaths so identified.
[7] Chart: “Deaths in the United States Marine Hospital at Charlestown, Mass., from October 1, 11809, to December 31, 1813.”
[8] “…appeared…also in the camp at Greenbush, opposite Albany.”
[9] “…it appeared…among the soldiers at Platsburg…”
[10] “It appeared…among the soldiers at…Sacketts Harbour…”
[11] All of the towns Dr. Littlefield makes reference to are in Bennington County, Vermont.
[12] Cites: Gallup [Dr. Joseph A. Gallup]. Epidemics of Vermont. [Sketches of Epidemic Diseases in the State of Vermont: From its First Settlement to the Year 1815… Boston: T.B. Wait & Cons, 1815.]