lornajarrettblanchard

–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 10^th 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 7^th, and Mrs. S. the 11^th 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.]

–268-325  Blanchard tally of State and local breakouts below.

 

Massachusetts            (           8)

–6  Granville, Hampden County. Vital Records of Granville, Massachusetts to 1850.

Henrietta Cooley         14 yrs  April 6             Vital Records of Granville. p. 191.

Melissa Cooley           9 yrs    March 31         Vital Records of Granville. p. 192.

Oliver Cooley             5 yrs    April 2             Vital Records of Granville. p. 192.

Rebeckah Cooley        12 yrs  1812                Vital Records of Granville. p. 192.

Richard D. Cooley      11 yrs  April 5             Vital Records of Granville. p. 192.

Elizur Curtiss            ~15 yrs April 9             Vital Records of Granville. p. 193.

–2  Woburn. Baldwin, Charles Candee. The Baldwin Genealogy, From 1500 to 1881. 1881.

Nathum Henry,           11 yrs  March 15         Baldwin Genealogy to 1881, p. 637.

Thomas Jefferson Henry, 5 yrs, March 16.    Baldwin Genealogy to 1881, p. 637

 

New Hampshire         (>133-147)

–133-147  Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below (especially Feb 28-Apr 18).

Breakout of Spotted Fever deaths by locality, where noted.

–53  Acworth, Cheshire County, Feb 28-May 13. Farmer/Moore. NH Gazetteer. 1823, p. 65.[1]

—  3  Amherst, Hillsborough County. Secomb. History of the Town of Amherst, NH. 1880.

Nathum Baldwin        ~12 yrs.           Secomb 1883, p. 491.

Thomas J. Baldwin     ~16 yrs.           Secomb 1883, p. 492.

Sally Noyes, Jr. about 3 yrs.               Secomb 1883, p. 709.

–40  Antrim, Hillsborough Co., Feb-March. Cochrane. History of…Antrim, [NH]. 1880, p. 92.[2]

Nahum Baldwin        ~12 yrs.             Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p. 349.

Samuel Butler                         19 yrs.             Cochrane. History of…Antrim…. 1880, p. 396.

Susan Butler. (Notes she was young; does not note date.) Cochrane. Antrim. 1880, 395.

Joanna Cochran           7 yrs., April.    Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p. 426.

Mary W. Cochran       10 yrs., Apr 2. Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p. 428.

Peggy Duncan.                                    Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p. 471.

John Dunlap, within a few days of older brother Jonathan. Cochrane 1880, p. 479.

Jonathan Dunlap.                                Cochrane. History of…Antrim, [NH]. 1880, p. 479.

Curtis Fairbanks          ~14 yrs.           Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p. 487.

James M. Flint            ~  5 yrs.           Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p. 497.

Caroline Hall               ~  3 yrs.           Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p. 524.

Mrs. Rebecca Hayward          March. Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p. 530.

3 children of Josiah & Rebecca Hayward. Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p.530.

Betsey Hopkins           15 yrs.             Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p. 546.

Mrs. Mary McNiel     Feb 22. (“lived but a few hours”). Cochrane. Antrim History, p.605.

Robert Nesmith           ~9, Feb 9, (1^st death). Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p. 617.

Daniel Nichols, deacon and selectman. Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p. 92.

Mrs. Daniel Paige, Feb (2^nd death).    Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p. 92.

Mrs. David Paige        March.             Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p. 632.

John Smith                  ~10 yrs.           Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p. 681.

Sarah W. Wallace, wife of James.      Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p. 520.[3]

Child of Sarah & James A. Wallace.  Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p. 520.

Mr. Jesse Wilson        42 yrs., Mar 21. Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p. 770.

Jesse Wilson Jr.          ~9 yrs.             Cochrane. History of…Antrim. 1880, p. 771.

—  ?  Concord, Rockingham County. Farmer/Moore. A Gazetteer of…[NH]. 1823, p. 107.[4]

—>4  Hillsboro, Hillsborough County. 9 days in March. Wife and 3 children of Josiah Hayward.[5]

—  1  Lyman, Grafton County. Farmer/Moore. A Gazetteer of the State of [NH]. 1823, p. 180.[6]

–13  Lyndeborough, Hillsborough Co., 13 days in Feb. Farmer/Moore. NH Gazetteer. 1823, 181.[7]

Daughter of Edward Bullard, 10 yrs.  Donovan/Woodward. History of Lyndeborough, 633

Mr. David Butterfield, ~37 yrs.          Donovan/Woodward. History of Lyndeborough, 682

Deborah Clark, 18 yrs, Feb 19.           Donovan/Woodward. History of Lyndeborough, 700

Hannah Clark, 19 yrs, Feb 19.            Donovan/Woodward. History of Lyndeborough, 700

Son of Mr. Haggett.                            Donovan/Woodward. History of Lyndeborough, 633

Mrs. Hannah Killam, Feb 19.             Donovan/Woodward. History of Lyndeborough, 633

Olive Manning, 6 yrs. Feb 12.            Donovan/Woodward. History of Lyndeborough, 804

Sarah Manning, 4 yrs, Feb 12.            Donovan/Woodward. History of Lyndeborough, 804

Mr. Jacob Manning.                            Donovan/Woodward. History of Lyndeborough, 633

Proprietor of Parker Tavern.               Donovan/Woodward. History of Lyndeborough, 423

—  2  New Boston. Cochrane and Wood. History of Francestown, New Hampshire. 1895, p. 804.

Betsey Loring, age not noted.            Cochrane & Wood. History of Francestown, p. 804.

Thomas Loring, 10 yrs.                       Cochrane & Wood. History of Francestown, p. 804.

—  1  Wilmot, Merrimack Co. Maria Tenney, May 10, 6 yrs. Tenney The Tenney Family., 131.

–16->30  Windham, Rockingham County. Blanchard range from Cochrane and Farmer below.

–>30  Cochrane and Wood. History of Francestown, N.H. to 1891. 1895, p. 167.[8]

—  16  Windham, March 30-April 18. Farmer/Moore. NH Gazetteer. 1823, 265.[9]

 

Vermont                     (127-170)

–6,000  Winter of 1812-1813.  Hayes. History of…Town of Rockingham, Vermont. 1907, 409.[10]

—     70  Bennington, Bennington Co. Hayes. History of the Town of Rockingham, Vermont. 409.

—       4  Plymouth, Windsor County. Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases in…VT. 1815, p. 69.

–44-52  Pomfret, Windsor County. Blanchard range using Gallup (~52) and Hayes (44).

–~52  Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases…VT. P. 69, citing Ware.[11]

—  44  Hayes. History of the Town of Rockingham, Vermont. 1907, 409.

—  9-44  Reading, Windsor County. Blanchard range using Gallup (9) and Hayes (44).

—  9  Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases in…VT. 1815, p. 69.

–44  Hayes. History of the Town of Rockingham, Vermont. 1907, 409.

—       ?  Rockingham, spring. Hayes. History of the Town of Rockingham, Vermont. 409.[12]

—   ~30  Shrewsbury, Rutland County. Hayes. History of the Town of Rockingham, 409.

—       ?  Woodstock, Windsor County. Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases…VT. 1815, p.69.[13]

 

Narrative Information

 

New Hampshire

 

Cochrane and Wood: “This year (1812) was memorable in this vicinity on account of the ravages of the Spotted Fever, so called. In Windham, whence many Francestown settlers came, the deaths from this cause in the month of April were more than one each day. In Antrim this disease broke out Feb 7, 1812, and spread rapidly, there being two hundred cases and forty deaths in two months. The sufferer usually died in less than twelve hours from the time of being taken….

 

“But in Francestown it was reported that there was not a case of this fever ever known; and why this town, lying midway between Antrim [40 deaths, Feb-March 1812] and New Boston [40 deaths, 1814], should be except while their losses were so heavy, was a question agitated n many minds, and one to which no satisfactory answer was ever given. And this question was made conspicuous by the fact that there were fatal cases of this fever in New Boston very near to the line of this town!

 

Cochrane on Antrim, NH: “In the winter of 1811-12, the spotted fever broke out in Antrim, — the most fatal scourge that ever swept over the town….In the midst of this long and terrible winter [1811-12] came the spotted fever. The first case occurred Feb. 7, 1812, the first subject being a child of Samuel Weeks… This child recovered. On the following day, Robert Nesmith, child of Dea. Jonathan, was taken, and lived but a few hours. This first victim died Feb 9, 1812. Then cases followed rapidly in all parts of the town. Dea. Nesmith’s child died on Sunday, and was buried the following day. The next death was that of Mrs. Daniel Paige, sick only a little over half a day. Persons would be taken with a violent headache, or, as in the case of Mrs. Abraham McNiel, with a pain in the little finger, or in some other strange way, and, in severe cases, the victim usually died in less than twelve hours. There were two hundred cases and forty deaths, in two months. Everybody wore mourning till the deaths became so numerous it was impossible to provide mourning apparel. It was hard to find well persons enough to take care of the sick. At many times there were two or three funerals per day, and on one day there were four funerals and four processions up the hard, snowy road to the cemetery on the hill. Sometimes they threw a little snow and dirt over the coffin, and then left the grave unfilled till spring. All ages were taken, from sixty years down to the infant of days. Daniel Nichols, Esq., surveyor, deacon, and nine years selectman, fell a victim. None were attacked by it who were over sixty years of age. The ‘Cabinet’ at Amherst printed reports from Antrim mournful indeed, week after week….For ten weeks all work was suspended except what was absolutely necessary, and people gave their attention to the care of the sick and the burial of the dead. As this was a new disease, physicians did not know how to manage it, and most of them adopted the roasting process. Thes they carried to such an extreme that many were actually roasted to death. Families held themselves ready to apply the roasting or sweating process, at a moment’s warning, night or day. With hot bricks, hot stones, hot blocks of wood, hot rooms, hot drinks, and piles of clothes, the poor creature, burning with fever, was roasted out of the world. But, after many deaths, experience and the ‘sober second thought’ brought about a more merciful and successful treatment. Houses were kept lighted all night, and for more than a month there was one body, or more, awaiting burial all the time. But, as the spring advanced, the disease took a milder form, and entirely ceased about the middle of April. In other towns this scourge was felt. In Acworth there were fifty-three deaths, and many fatal cases occurred far and near. In some towns the disease returned in milder form when cold weather came again, but not here; and it is not known that there has been a case among us since that lamentable winter.” (Cochrane, Rev. W. R. History of the Town of Antrim, New Hampshire…to June 27, 1877. 1880, pp. 91-93.)

 

Donovan and Woodward or Lyndeborough: “The spotted fever, which had proved fatal in many of the New England towns, prevailed in Lyndeborough in 1812, with its accustomed virulence. It is stated that thirteen persons died as victims of it in as many days. A copy of the New Hampshire Patriot, on Concord, February 25, 1812, contains the following notice:

 

Died. In Lyndeborough, of the Spotted Fever, a daughter of Mr. Edward Bullard, aged 10 — two children of Mr. Asa Manning — a son of Mr.____ Haggett — Mr. David Butterfield — Mr. Jacob Manning — two daughters of Capt. Clark — a son of Mr. Jacob Wellman.

 

“Our town records state that ‘Mrs. Hannah Killam and Deborah Clark, both daughters of Capt. William and Sarah Clark, died February 19, 1812;’ thus harmonizing with the above notice.” (Donovan/Woodward. History of the Town of Lyndeborough, [NH], 1735-1905. 1906, p. 633.)

 

Vermont

 

Gallup on VT: “1812, The spotted fever[14] prevailed the winter of this year in Pomfret more than it did in 1811. It was very severe in many cases. By report of Dr. Ware, 52 persons died of it this, and the preceding year.[15] Some of these cases proved fatal before medical assistance could be procured.

 

“More severe cases occurred in the south parish in Woodstock in some neighborhoods, this winter, than the winter before; but the whole number of cases in the town, was not perhaps one to seven, that occurred the year before. In Reading, 60 cases, nine fatal; mostly in thirty hours after the attack. In Plymouth, 30 cases, and four deaths.” (Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases in the State of Vermont…to the year 1815…, 1815, pp. 68-69.)

 

Hayes on VT: “Spotted Fever. During the spring of the years 1812 and 1813 Rockingham, as well as other near-by sections of New England, witnessed the rise and spread of what was then considered a singular disease, called ‘spotted fever,’ but afterwards it took the name of ‘malignant fever.’ The disease is supposed to be the same as that now known as cerebro-spinal meningitis and was not thought to be contagious. The number of cases in the town of Rockingham cannot be ascertained.

 

“During the time the epidemic raged there were seventy deaths in Bennington; Pomfret and Reading each forty-four, and Shrewsbury about thirty.

 

“In Vermont the number of deaths during the winter of 1812-13 reached six thousand, or about one death in every forty inhabitants.[16]

 

“In the month of March, 1813, seven persons died of the disease in as many days in the town of Walpole.

 

“Among the papers of Capt. Charles Church, a prominent resident of this vicinity, was found the following receipt, which it is understood was one of the most efficacious used at that time. Certainly if the patients survived the medicine, they surely ought to have survived the disease.

 

Cure for the spotted fever. To 1 quart of Lime add 1 Gallon of Water. To 1 Quart of tar add two Quarts of Water. Let these stand in separate vessels until they froth, skim the froth, pour them together. To this mixture add 8 ox. Salt Peter, 4 ox. Opium, take a glass when going to bed and repeat the same in 4 or 5 hours.

 

“The following account of this epidemic in the neighboring town of Alstead, N. H., was published in an historical sermon delivered in Alstead in 1826 by Rev. Seth S. Arnold, A. M.:

 

In 1812 and 1814, the spotted fever made its appearance in the place, and spread terror and anxiety among the inhabitants. Its ravages were alarming and filled every heart with dismay. The disease was uncommon, and the subjects of it were suddenly attacked, greatly distressed and soon called from time to eternity. At first the physicians were unacquainted with it and generally had but little time to make any application. Some families were almost entirely cut off. Mr. Gary was bereft of his wife and all his children, four or five in number, in a very short time. Sylvester Partridge had four children carried from his house to the grave in one day. About ninety deaths were occasioned by this disease in the two years above mentioned. And the same epidemic extended into the neighboring towns.

 

In 1813, a malignant fever also prevailed, which swept off sixteen persons, besides those that died with other complaints.”

 

(Hayes. History of the Town of Rockingham, Vermont. 1907, pp. 409-410.)

 

Sources

 

Archaicmedicalterms.com. Accessed 2-16-2018 at: http://www.archaicmedicalterms.com/English/EnglishM.htm

 

Baldwin, Charles Candee. The Baldwin Genealogy, From 1500 to 1881. Cleveland, OH: The Leader Printing Company, 1881. Google preview accessed 2-17-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=LYoJAwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Cochrane, Rev. Warren Robert, and George K. Wood. History of Francestown, N.H., from its earliest settlement, April, 1758, to January 1, 1891, with a brief Genealogical Record of all the Francestown. Nashua, NH: James H. Barker, Printer, 1895. Google preview accessed 2-17-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=llGDthBQqTMC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Cochrane, Rev. W. R. History of the Town of Antrim, New Hampshire, from its earliest settlement, to June 27, 1877. Manchester, NH: Mirror Steam Printing Press, 1880. Google preview accessed 2-16-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=yAPPmgRzUj4C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Cutter, William Richard (Ed.). Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts (Vol. 4). NY: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1908. Google digital preview accessed 2-16-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=nn1yyHiYJFYC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Donovan, Rev. Dennis. and Jacob A Woodward. The History of the Town of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire, 1735-1905. Tufts College Press, H. W. Whittemore & Co., 1906. Google preview accessed 2-17-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=7n9n5W-Uf2MC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Farmer, John, and Jacob B. Moore. A Gazetteer of the State of New-Hampshire. Concord: Jacob B. Moore, 1823. Google preview accessed 2-15-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=45Y-AAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

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

 

Hayes, Lyman Simpson. History of the Town of Rockingham, Vermont…1753-1907. Bellows Falls, VT: Published by the Town, 1907. Google preview accessed 2-16-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=ULmlDG8KLjYC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Secomb, Daniel F. History of the Town of Amherst, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire… 1728-1882. Concord, NH: Evans, Sleeper & Woodbury, 1883. Google preview accessed 2-17-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=RWY2u4sZDxcC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Tenney, M. J. The Tenney Family or the Descendants of Thomas Tenney of Rowley, Massachusetts, 1638-1904 (Revised). Concord, NH: The Rumford Press, 1904. Google preview accessed 2-17-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=0y9WAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&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 Granville, Massachusetts to the year 1850. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1914. Google digital preview accessed 2-17-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=MyIlAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[1] “The spotted fever appeared in this town Feb. 28, 1812, and from that time to May 13, there occurred 53 deaths, of which 53 were by the fever. Population in 1820, 1479.” Cochrane and Wood (History of Francetown, p. 167), also note 53 deaths.

[2] Cochrane, writing with George K. Wood, in the History of Francetown, N.H. notes, “forty deaths in two months.”

[3] “She did up her washing, finishing it at three p.m., and was perfectly well, but suddenly sickened and was laid out in death before the next morning.”

[4] Notes the spotted fever first made its appearance in Concord in 1812 and then again in 1813, 1816 and 1817 and “a number fell its victims.”

[5] William R. Cutter (Ed.). Historic Homes and Places and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs (Vol. 4). P. 1859. Josiah Hayward was born in Braintree, MA, thus his mention in this book.

[6] “The spotted fever in 1812, attacked 70 persons, of whom only one died. Pop. 1270.”

[7] “In the winter of 1812, the spotted fever prevailed here, of which 13 persons died within about as many days. The number of deaths for the last 10 years has been 160. Pop. 1200.” We changed “winter” to February in that Donovan and Woodward’s boon on the History of Lyndeborough, also notes 13 deaths “in as many days,” but specifically notes two of the deaths were on Feb 19. Thus if all were within 13 days, all would have had to be in February.

[8] Our number based on “In Windham…deaths from this cause in the month of April were more than one each day.”

[9] “The spotted fever appeared at Windham in 1812. From March 30, to April 18, there died 16 — 3 adults, and 13 children. 13 died in 8 days. Pop. 889.”

[10] Highlighted in yellow to denote that we do not use this number in our tally. No sources cited; written almost 100 years later. Does not approach numbers we have collected for 1812 and 1813 in all of New England. We speculate this came from an 1842 book by Thompson on the History of Vermont, wherein he notes 9p. 221 of Section VIII) that about 6,000 died in Vermont during an 1812-13 epidemic of Peripneumony/lung fever (most likely influenza/pneumonia).

[11] Hayes (History of the Town of Rockingham, Vermont. 1907, p. 409), notes forty-four.

[12] Writes that Rockingham “witnessed the rise and spread” of “spotted fever” but could not ascertain the effect.

[13] “…more severe cases occurred in the south parish…in some neighbourhoods this winter…” Does not note deaths.

[14] “Cerebro-spinal fever or epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis, popularly called spotted fever, is an infectious disease occurring sporadically or in epidemics…” (Archaicmedicalterms.com.)

[15] In his narrative for the year 1811, Gallup does not note any deaths in Pomfret. We are including all 52 here.

[16] It should be noted concerning 6,000 deaths in Vermont during the winter of 1812-13, that this was written almost 100 years later, without source attribution.

–~20  North shore of Long Island (mariners from foundered or grounded vessels). Prime.

—>1  Sloop Rosette, Smithtown Bay, off Smithtown, Long Island. Chapman, p. 600.[1]

—>3  Vessel and crew of Capt. Conkling (including Capt. Conkling). [We assume >3.]

 

Narrative Information

 

Hedges: “The evening of December 23d, 1811, was wild, hazy, and with some fog…. Somewhere about one or two o’clock that night commenced a sudden, terrific north east snow storm. In Thomson’s History of Long Island, Vol. I, p. 276, it is stated: ‘An immense amount of property was destroyed and many lives lost. It is supposed that more than sixty vessels were cast ashore upon the north side of Long Island; most of which were destroyed or so greatly injured as to be of little value. Whole crews were lost; the mercury fell to eight degrees before the storm abated. The snow continued to fall, the wind increased almost to a tornado and swept over the plains with desperate intensity. It raged for twenty-four hours….Many vessels were driven upon Lloyd’s Neck, Eaton’s Neck and Gardiner’s Island. Thirty-six bilged and stranded vessels were counted in one day. The day previous had been remarkably pleasant, and the transition from warm to cold was so great that in many instances human beings perished, on land as well as on water. Sheep expired in great numbers, domestic fowl were frozen to death and…cattle were overcome by the severity of the cold. Almost every vessel from Hurlgate to Montauk was driven on the shore.’

 

“Capt. Conkling and his vessel and crew were lost in Long Island Sound at this time. He was a resident of Amagansett. Hence old people called this the ‘Conkling Storm,’ and sometimes the ‘Christmas Storm.’….” (Hedges. A History of the Town of East-Hampton, N.Y. 1897, pp. 153-154.)

 

Ludlum: “The Day-Before-Christmas Storm of 1811 along the shores of Long Island Sound possessed all the elements which would now qualify for the designation of ‘Eastern blizzard’ — near-zero temperatures, gale force winds, and thick, driving snow….

 

Prime: “The remarkable snow-storm of Dec. 23^rd, 1811, was the most destructive of both life and property of any that is known to have occurred on the northern shore. The preceding day was remarkably warm and fair. The change took place suddenly in the night, the mercury falling almost to zero. A snow-storm commenced, accompanied with a tremendous wind, which lasted without intermission for 24 hours. Between 50 and 60 vessels foundered in the Sound, or were driven on the northern shore of the island in that terrible night. In some cases, the entire crews perished, while in others, those who survived, were objects of greater commiseration than the dead, being horribly frozen. The writer can speak with entire confidence on this subject, as he was an eyewitness to some of the ravages of that awful tempest. About 20 perished within 10 miles of his residence, 4 of whom, from one vessel, he assisted in burying, on Christmas day; and in administering to the necessities of 3 wretched survivors of the same crew. The bodies taken up from the shore were completely covered with ice of an inch in thickness, through which the features of the face appeared in all the ghastliness of death. That storm will never be forgotten by the last surviver [sic.] of that generation….” (Prime. A History of Long Island. 1845, pp. 39-40.)

 

Sources

 

Chapman Publishing Co. Portrait and Biographical Record of Suffolk County, (Long Island) New York. New York and Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co, 1897. Google digitized. Accessed 10-27-2017 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=t_5HAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Hedges, Henry P. A History of the Town of East-Hampton, N.Y., Including an Address Delivered at the Celebration of the Bi-Centennial Anniversary of its Settlement in 1849. Sag-Harbor: J. H. Hunt, Printer, 1897. Google digitized. Accessed 10-27-2017 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=woQ-AAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Ludlum, David M. Early American Winters 1604-1820. Boston: American Meteorological Society, 1966.

 

Prime, Nathaniel S. A History of Long Island, From its Firs Settlement by Europeans, to the Year 1845…in Two Parts. New York: Robert Carter, 1845. Google digitized. Accessed 10-27-2017 at:

https://books.google.com/books?id=e_IH2lYdHecC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1] We do not know how many people died when the Rosette was lost on Dec 24. Our source tells the story of one person on board that day, a merchant and farmer by the name of Samuel Hutchinson. (Chapman Publishing Co. Portrait and Biographical Record of Suffolk County, (Long Island) New York. 1897, p. 600.)

— 34 Blanchard estimated death toll.*

— 40 US Dept. Navy. “Casualties: US Navy and Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured…”
— 40 US Dept. Navy, Naval Historical Cen. “US Navy Ships Lost in Selected Storm/Weather”
–~35 Savannah Republican and Evening Ledger, GA. “Port of Savannah.” 10-24-1811, p. 7.
— 35 Wikipedia. 1810s Atlantic hurricane seasons. 10-27-2022 edit.)
— 34 Fraser. Lowcountry Hurricanes: Three Centuries of Storms at Sea and Ashore. 2006, pp. 62-63.

*Blanchard note: The most detailed account is Fraser, relying on local reporting. His death toll of 34 is very close to the Savannah Republican report of “about” 35, based on noting “about 25” crewmen onboard. If there were in fact 24 crewmen, then Fraser and the Savannah Republican would be in alignment. We find Wikipedia frequently unreliable, but their death toll of 35 is consonant with what we believe the actual death toll of 34 to be, based on there being a survivor. Though normally reliable, the US Naval Historical Center is clearly not reliable in this instance. In one of their listings they have this loss taking place far north in the Chesapeake Bay, which is clearly inaccurate. In that there is a St. Mary’s City, MD, which is on the S. Marys River, which empties into the Potomac River just above where it empties into the Chesapeake Bay, we speculate that whomever made this entry, saw “St. Marys” and assumed it was a reference to St. Marys City in MD. The other Navy report is correct as to place and date, but lists 40 fatalities. We can only speculate that a gunboat of this size usually carried a complement of 40, and that this explains the death toll of 40.

Narrative Information

Fraser: “As British ships persisted in harassing American vessels and impressing seamen along the coast or on the high seas, American hostility increased. The lowcountry’s privileged classes felt threatened, and local governments at Savannah, Beaufort, Charleston, and Georgetown authorized the construction of fortifications and the drilling of militia, and they asked Congress for gunboats to protect the coasts. It was one of these U.S. gunboats that was caught in a storm off Cumberland Island [GA barrier island] in early October 1811.

“U.S. gunboat No. 2 sailed from Charleston for St. Marys [GA] on September 29 under the command of Lieutenant John J. Lippincott. The vessel, staffed by four midshipmen and twenty-nine crewmembers, carried one civilian passenger, Mrs. R. Smith, who was to join her service-connected husband. [35 in all] The schooner-rigged gunboat reached Cumberland Island on Friday morning, October 4. Unable to enlist a pilot to navigate the tricky local waters, Lippincott ‘stood off’ the island in view of a ‘high sea’ and watched the weather turning ‘very bad.’ By morning the wind was from the northeast and ‘increasing to a heavy gale.’ likely near hurricane force. With part of the crew below deck, Lippincott ordered all hatches secured and trysail rigged. He then headed the gunboat east into the wind in an attempt to stabilize the vessel in the turbulent sea, but with the wind and seas still rising, the vessel was unable to maintain headway, and Lippincott ordered the trysail reefed. The vessel wallowed helplessly. Within minutes a ‘heavy sea broke on board’ and knocked it over. To right the gunboat, Lippincott ordered the mast cut away. Terrified and afraid of drowning, the crew below ‘forced open the hatches’ secured earlier and the ‘Gun-Boat instantly filled [with water] and went down,’ taking with it those who opened the hatches. Those aboard who were lucky enough to be pitched into the heaving sea ‘tried to save themselves from instant death’ by clinging to the great sweeps or oars, spars, or rigging. But after ‘struggling a while with the waves,’ they too ‘shared the fate of those who went down with the vessel.’

“Crewmember John Tier, who had managed to grab and hold to a large oar, soon found himself alone in a rolling sea. He clung to the oar for twenty-nine hours until rescued by Captain Gould of the schooner Dolly out of Rhode Island. Tier was the sole survivor of thirty-five aboard gunboat No. 2. The sinking ranks as one of the greatest sea disasters off Georgia’s coast.”

USN, Naval History and Heritage Command: “Gun Boat #2 sank in gale off St. Mary’s Georgia. 40 died. 5 Oct. 1811.” (USN, Naval History and Heritage Command. “U.S. Navy Ships Lost in Selected Storm/Weather Related Incidents.” 6-3-2005.)

USN, Naval History and Heritage Command: “Gun Boat #2 sank in gale in Chesapeake Bay [sic]. 40 lost. 5 October 1811.” (USN, Naval History and Heritage Command. “Casualties: US Navy and Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured in Selected Accidents and Other Incidents Not Directly the Result of Enemy Action.” 1-19-2006.)

Wikipedia: “[Hurricane] III. On October 4 a major hurricane hit near St. Augustine, Florida. Many homes were destroyed, and 35 people drowned in the sinking of a U.S. gunboat.” No source cited. (Wikipedia. 1810s Atlantic hurricane seasons. 10-27-2022 edit.)

Newspaper

Oct 14, Savannah Republican: “Charleston, October 14.

“Arrived, schooner Kitty-Ann, Richardson, St. Mary’s, 1 day. A very severe gale was experienced at St. Mary’s on the 4th and 5th inst. – Two or three houses were blown down, and several ships in the river drove on shore; among them, ship Mary, Forbes, of New York, not expected to be got off; ship Superior, Coffin, of Bath, expected to be got off; and ship Baltic [? unclear], Adams, of Portsmouth, got off without damage. – An American brig from West Indies, put into St. Mary’s on Thursday last, having lost part of her sails and spars in the gale.” (Savannah Republican and Evening Banner, GA. “Port of Savannah.” 10-19-1811, p. 9.)

Oct 24, Savannah Republican: “Charleston, October 22

“Loss of Gun-Boat No. 2. – The United States’ gun-boat No. 2 (schooner rigged) under the command of Mr. Lippincott, of the navy, sailed from this port on the 28th ult. [September] bound to St. Mary’s. On Friday morning, 4th inst. they made Cumberland island, but being unable to procure a pilot, they, at night, stood off, weather very bad and a high sea – on Saturday morning, the wind increasing to a heavy gale from N.N.E. the vessel was hove to under a trysail, with her head to the eastward; about 11 A.M. the gale increasing took in the tri-sail, and in about five minutes after a heavy sea broke on board which hove the boat on her beam ends – they immediately attempted to cut away the mast, but that part of the crew which was below, in their alarm, forced open the hatches, which had been secured early in the gale, and the Gun-Boat instantly filled and went down. Several of the crew attempted to save themselves from instant death by clinging to the floating sweeps, spars, &c. but one only of the number escaped to tell the mournful tale; all the rest, after struggling awhile with the waves, shared the fate of those who went down with the vessel.

“The man saved is named John Tier, and what is very remarkable, he was one of the men saved from the wreck of Gun-Boat No. 157, lost on Charleston bar on the 17th May last. This man was picked up the next day, after having been 29 hours upon an oar, by Capt. Gould, of the schr. Dolly, or Rhode Island, and landed at Amelia island. – the names of the persons lost are: [We break paragraph into separate lines.]

John J. Lippincott, acting master, a native of Pennsylvania;
James W. Gunning, midshipman, of Wilmington, N.C.;
John Todd, do. [ditto]; of this city;
Francis Taylor, do. do.;
Samuel Liber, do. do.’
Samuel Robertson, boatswain;
Wm. Wright, gunner;
Thomas King, purser’s steward;
Samuel Cameron, carpenter;
Mrs. R. Smith, a native of Liverpool, going on to her husband, who is a carpenter in the United States service;
And about 25 seamen.”

(Savannah Republican and Evening Ledger, GA. “Port of Savannah.” 10-24-1811, p. 7.)

Sources

Fraser, Walter J. Jr. Lowcountry Hurricanes: Three Centuries of Storms at Sea and Ashore. Athens and London: University of Georgia Press, 2006. Google preview accessed 8-16-2017: https://books.google.com/books?id=4iDbukwvWL0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Lowcountry+Hurricanes&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj60M2Tgd3VAhXH54MKHfaeC_QQ6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=Lowcountry%20Hurricanes&f=false

Naval History and Heritage Command. “Casualties: US Navy and Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Injured in Selected Accidents and Other Incidents Not Directly the Result of Enemy Action.” 1-19-2006. Accessed 3-10-2017 at: https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/c/casualties-usnavy-marinecorps-personnel-killed-injured-selected-accidents-other-incidents-notdirectly-result-enemy-action.html

Savannah Republican and Evening Banner, GA. “Port of Savannah.” 10-19-1811, p. 9. Accessed 12-7-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/savannah-republican-and-savannah-evening-ledger-oct-19-1811-p-9/

Savannah Republican and Evening Ledger, GA. “Port of Savannah.” 10-24-1811, p. 7. Accessed 12-7-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/savannah-republican-and-savannah-evening-ledger-oct-24-1811-p-7/

United States Navy, Naval History and Heritage Command. U.S. Navy Ships Lost in Selected Storm/Weather Related Incidents (website). 6-3-2005. Accessed 3-10-2017 at: https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/u/us-navy-ships-lost-in-selected-storm-weather-related-incidents.html

Wikipedia. 1810s Atlantic hurricane seasons. 10-27-2022 edit. Accessed 12-7-2022 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1810s_Atlantic_hurricane_seasons#1811_Atlantic_hurricane_season

— 252  Blanchard compilation of numbers for Baltimore and New York City.

Maryland       (135)

— 135  Baltimore, Oct-Apr 1812. Cordell. The Medical Annals of Maryland. 1903,  p. 678.

—   95  Baltimore, Oct-Jan 1812. Quinan. Medical Annals of Baltimore… 1884, p. 25.[1]

—   40  Baltimore, Feb-Apr 1812. Quinan. Medical Annals of Baltimore… 1884, p. 26.

Massachusetts (  2)

–2  Boston. Medical and Surgical Journal (Boston). “Small-pox and Revaccination.” 2-10-1881.

New York       (117)[2]

—  117  NYC. American Medical Association. Transactions of the AMA (Vol. I). 1848, p. 105.[3]

Pennsylvania  (   1)

— 1  Southwark section, Philly, June 27. Adams Sentinel and General Advertiser. 6-28-1811.[4]

 

Narrative Information

Quinan: “1811….95 died from smallpox in October, November, December and January, 1812.”

 

Sources

Adams Sentinel and General Advertiser. “Wretched Condition of a Family.” 6-28-1811, col. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/pennsylvania/gettysburg/gettysburg-adams-centinel/1811/06-28/page-3?tag=small+pox&rtserp=tags/small-pox?pci=7&ndt=bd&pd=1&pm=1&py=1811&pe=30&pem=1&pey=1812

American Medical Association. Transactions of the American Medical Association (Vol. I). Philadelphia: T.K. and P.G. Collins, 1848, p. 105. Google digitized. Accessed 12-4-2012 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=4-pXAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Cordell, Eugene Fauntleroy, M.D. The Medical Annals of Maryland 1799-1899. Baltimore: Press of Williams & Wilkins Co. for the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of the State of Maryland, 1903. Google digitized. Accessed 1-15-2015 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=Wx8SAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Medical and Surgical Journal (Boston). “Small-pox and Revaccination.” Vol. CIV, No. 6, 2-10-1881, p. 137. Google digitized. Accessed 1-15-2015 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=fNA9AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Quinan, John R., M.D. Medical Annals of Baltimore From 1608-1880, Including Events, Men and Literature, to Which is Added A Subject Index and Record of Public Services. Baltimore: Press of Isaac Friedenwald, 1884. Google digitized. Accessed 1-14-2015 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=xNcRAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

 

[1] Notes at page 26 that in addition, “26 died from smallpox in February, 11 in March, 3 in April.”

[2] There were 21 smallpox deaths in NYC in 1812, but the time-frame is not indicated, so we do not use. (George Gregory, M.D. Lectures on the Eruptive Fevers; as now in the course of delivery at St. Thomas’s Hospital, in London (1^st American Edition with Notes and an Appendix, by H. D. Bulkley, M.D.) NY: S. S. & Wood, Publishers, 1851. (At page 335.)

[3] “Table of the annual numbers of deaths from Scarlet Fever, Measles, and Small-Pox in the city of New York, from the beginning of 1805 to the end of 1847;” page 105 in: American Medical Association.  Transactions of the American Medical Association (Vol. I). Philadelphia: T.K. and P.G. Collins, 1848.

[4] Notes that a Constable found at the Kelly home three Kelly children on the floor with smallpox, one of whom had just died, the mother on the floor intoxicated, and the father having “deserted them.” Cites Philadelphia Sentinel.

–>20 Fraser, Walter J. Jr. Lowcountry Hurricanes. 2006, p.60.
–~20 Rubillo. Hurricane Destruction in South Carolina: Hell and High Water. 2006, p. 56.
— 11 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, pp. 518, 554.
— 11 Grazulis. The Tornado Project. “Worst Tornadoes by State.”
–>11 Blanchard*

*Blanchard note: Though Rubillo notes about twenty deaths and provides information on more than eleven deaths pulled from morning and evening editions of the Charleston Times, there appears to be double counting, in that the second edition notes deaths of slightly differently spelled names that were reported in the first edition. It appears that these names refer to people noted in the first edition, though with slightly differently spelled names. The only detail which does not appear to have been reported in the morning edition is the death of a child who later died from injuries. Our own attempt to compile a listing of deaths, found below, comes to fourteen. However, given the ambiguity associated with the deaths of several unidentified slaves, we are not confident that this listing of fourteen is accurate. Grazulis is in our experience a reliable source, and our only modification to his reporting of eleven deaths is to note that at least eleven people died, perhaps more, but we do not have the documentation to back that up.

Narrative Information

Fraser: “….Sixty to one hundred yards wide, it [the tornado] cut a swath of destruction and death across the city, from Bay Street on the southeast to Boundary Street on the northwest. The tornado roared across Church Street, into Meeting Street, across Tradd Street, tup King to Broad Street. It crossed Queen Street and then sped up Mazyck Street, leveling some houses and sending roof tiles and slate spinning through the air like missiles. It was over in minutes. Leaving the city, the tornado whirled down Boundary Street into the countryside, knocking over trees and fences. Some people, buried when houses collapsed on them, died instantly – a young woman, a French-born physician, a German-born grocer, three mulatto children, and two mulatto men. Others died later from their injuries. The tornado claimed over twenty lives.

Grazulis: “SC Sep 10, 1811 12:30 11k…Charleston…A hurricane-spawned tornado moved to the NW across the center of Charleston. About 60 homes were destroyed or badly damaged, including some large mansions. Eleven people were killed.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes, 1993, p. 554.)

Rubillo: After transcribing the text of The Charleston Times of September 11 which was later repeated in the Savannah Republican noted below, Rubillo goes on to state that the evening edition which we have not located provided additional detail. He writes: “On King Street a double tenement, known by the name of Old Gaul, had the front blown out. Two unidentified mulatto girls and a similarly unnamed white boy were killed there.” He then notes that the same edition reported the death of “a child who had been injured during the storm…”

Newspaper

Sep 17, Savannah Republican: “Charleston, September 11.

“Dreadful Calamity. – It is again our painful duty to detail the awful effects of a dreadful visitation upon our ill-fated city. A Tornado having passed through it, carrying death and desolation in its progress.

“On Sunday evening last [Sep 8], the wind, which had been for some days light and variable, shifted to the north-east, and blowing very fresh through the night, it continued in the same quarter all day on Monday and Monday night; on Tuesday morning it blew with increased violence, and during the shole time from Sunday evening, there was an almost uninterrupted fall of rain. About ten o’clock in the forenoon of Tuesday, the wind shifted to the south-east and at half past twelve o’clock, a tornado, unprecedented here I its extent and effects, crossed a section of our city. It first took effect at Fort Mechanic, situated on the south-east point of the city, and passing from thence in a north-west direction to the pond on the north side of Cannon’s bridge; how far it has extended its ravages into the country we have not yet learnt. In its progress in overturned and completely destroyed a great number of houses and out-buildings, unroofed others, and prostrated trees, fences, and almost every thing coming in contact with it. It is computed, from a hasty view of the scene of devastation, that the loss to the city will fall little, if any, short of that experienced by the calamitous fire in October last. But, in addition to this great loss of property, we have, on this occasion, to lament the loss of several valuable lives.

“The tornado appears to have been about one hundred yards in width – after it had prostrated to flag-staff on Fort Mechanic, unroofed the house within the enclosure of that fort, thrown down the blacksmith’s shop contiguous to it, and unroofed all the houses immediately adjoining the fort, it crossed over to Lynch’s Lane, where it unroofed several houses; from thence to proceeded across Church street, continued to Meeting-street, where several houses were unroofed, particularly the large new brick house of Nathaniel Russell, esq. whose loss in furniture, &c. cannot amount to less than twenty thousand dollars; from Meeting-street it crossed to Tradd-street, where a large three story wooden house on the south side, about half way between Meeting and King-streets, was blown over which crushed two adjoining houses in its fall; and most of the houses on both sides of the street to the corner of King-street were unroofed; or much shattered. It passed up King-street, nearly to Broad-street, unroofing and shattering several houses in its progress, until it reached Broad-street; here, the houses of Dr. Alexander Baron, situated at the corner of Orange-street, and the venerable mansion of the late Dr. Chanler, on the opposite corner, were very roughly handled; the later being old and weak was completely wrenched to pieces; on the opposite side of Broad-street, the premises lately purchased by the St. Andrew’s Society, and occupied by Mr. Henry Ieglesby; the mansion of the late general Macpherson, and some other buildings, were either unroofed or much damaged; passing through Vaux-Hall Garden, it crossed over Queen-street, near to the corner of Friend-street, and shattering several houses in its progress, it went on to the corner of Magazine and Mazyck-streets; two or three small houses fronting on the former of these streets were blown down; and in the progress of the tornado up Mazyck-street several houses were unroofed or otherwise much damaged. One or two houses were prostrated on Beaufain-street. After leaving Beaufain-street, the houses being less compactly situated, the marks of its ravages are not so distinctly to be traced, thou it appears to have lost nothing of its violence. The mansion-house of the honorable Judge Desaussuré was violently assailed, and suffered very considerably; one of the chimneys was thrown down; and a part of the family, who were at the time in an upper room of the house, were precipitated with the falling bricks through two floors into the kitchen. Providentially no lives were lost, except that of a negro girl. Several other houses in the out-skirts of the city were either unroofed or much injured; and we also understand that much injury has been sustained in the village of Islington, but we were unable last evening to obtain any further particulars.

“The most painful part of our duty still remains – it is to record the deaths which have been occasioned by this dreadful disaster – they are, so far as has come to our knowledge, as follows:

“Miss Margaret Cozzens, aged 21 years, killed in a house adjoining Fort-Mechanic.

“Doctor Canten, a native of France…killed by the falling of his house in Beaufain street.

“Mr. Peterson, a native of Germany, Grocer, at the corner of Magazine and Mazyck-streets.

“A free Mulatto Man, in Church-street continued.

“A French Mulatto Girl in King-street.

“Two Mulatto children, either killed or drowned by the falling of a small wooden house which was blown into the Mill Pond at Cannon’s Bridge.

“A Negro Man, belonging to Mr. Dener, Mazyck-street.

“We have also heard of two or three other Negros killed, bud did not learn to whom they belonged….”

Summary of Specified Fatalities

1. Doctor Canten, a native of France, killed by the falling of his house in Beaufain street.
2. Miss Margaret Cozzens, aged 21 years, killed in a house adjoining Fort-Mechanic.
3. Mr. Dener of Mazyck Street; slave of.
4. Mr. Peterson, a native of Germany, grocer, at the corner of Magazine and Mazyck-streets.
5. Church Street. A free mulatto man.
6. Judge Desaussuré’s house; a black girl.
7. King Street, Old Gaul double tenement; mulatto girl.
8. King Street, Old Gaul double tenement; 2nd mulatto girl.
9. King Street, Old Gaul double tenement; unnamed white boy.
10. Mill Pond at Cannon’s Bridge; child from small house blown into the pond
11. Mill Pond. 2nd child from same small house blown into Mill Pond at Cannon’s Bridge.
12. Unidentified slave.
13. Unidentified slave.
14. Unidentified location. Child died from injuries after the publication of the morning ed.

Sources

Fraser, Walter J. Jr. Lowcountry Hurricanes: Three Centuries of Storms at Sea and Ashore. Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 2006.

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.

Grazulis, Thomas P. The Tornado Project. “Worst Tornadoes by State.” Accessed 12-7-2022 at: http://www.tornadoproject.com/alltorns/worstts.htm

Rubillo, Tom. Hurricane Destruction in South Carolina: Hell and High Water. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2006.

Savannah Republican, GA. “Tornado In Charleston.” 9-17-1811, p. 7. Accessed 12-7-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/savannah-republican-and-savannah-evening-ledger-sep-17-1811-p-7/

— >500  Carrigan. The Saffron Scourge. 1961, p. 54.[1]

 

Narrative Information

 

Barton: “”The next most extensive yellow fever epidemic occurred during the cleaning out the same canal in 1811.”[2] (p.100)

 

Carrigan: “Although the records of yellow fever’s visits in the early 1800’s are rather sketchy and sometimes contradictory, during the first two decades of the century New Orleans experienced at least five major outbreaks of the disease: 1804, 1809, 1811, 1817, and 1819.” [p. 40]

 

“The next major epidemic of the early nineteenth century occurred in 1811. In mid-August Governor Claiborne noted that the ‘Fevers of New-Orleans’ had already commenced with ‘Symptoms which forbode much mortality.[3] ….

 

“In a letter of October 8 the Governor informed President Madison that New Orleans continued under the influence of ‘that dreadful Scourge, the Yellow Fever,’ and, as usual, the newcomers suffered the greatest losses, although the old settlers were not entirely exempt from attack. To the Secretary of the Navy in late October he wrote that the fever, still raging, had proved highly destructive to the Marine Corps, having carried off two valuable officers and more than a third of the privates.[4]….

 

“Reports from the Protestant sexton, the manager of Charity Hospital, and Father Antoine added up to a total mortality of 210 in August and 262 in September, and the city recorder listed 241 deaths during the month of October. Of the 713 fatalities during the three-month epidemic period of 1811, probably 500 or more represent yellow fever deaths.” [pp. 51-54]

 

Sources

 

Barton, Edward H., MD. The Cause and Prevention of Yellow Fever at New Orleans and other Cities in America (Third Edition, with a Supplement). New York: H. Bailliere; London and Paris, 1857. Google preview accessed 3-14-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=yEJZDrCO-ZkC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Carrigan, Jo Ann. The Saffron Scourge: A History of Yellow Fever in Louisiana, 1796-1905 (Doctoral Dissertation). Louisiana State University, LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses, 1961. Accessed 3-11-2018 at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1665&context=gradschool_disstheses

 

 

[1] Citing, in footnote 47: New Orleans Louisiana Courier, Oct 2, Nov 6, 1811; Louisiana Gazette, Nov 5, 1811.

[2] Preceding paragraph dealt with “The first epidemic yellow fever that is recorded her, is that simultaneous with excavating the earth, in digging the Canal Carondelet, and more especially its basin in 1797.”

[3] Claiborne to Gallatin, August 19, 1811, Carter (ed.). Territory of Orleans, p. 944.

[4] Carrigan, in footnote 45, cites: Claiborne to Madison, October 8, 1811, Carter (ed.), Territory of Orleans, p. 948; Claiborne to Paul Hamilton, October 28, 1811, Rowland (ed.), Claiborne Letter Books, V, p. 369.

–10 Marshall, Don. Oregon Shipwrecks. Portland, OR: Binford & Mort Pubs., 1984, p. 133.
— 8 Nisbet, Jack and Claire. “The ship Tonquin…sights the mouth of the Columbia River…”
— 8 Wikipedia (Tonquin (1807). 1-15-2020 update.

Narrative Information

Gibbs: “”….The ten-gun Tonquin, under command of Captain Jonathan Thorn, sailed from New York on September 8, 1810, loaded with supplies for the establishment of the new Astor colony, and carrying a thirty-three-man crew made up of Scots Highlanders, gentlemen’s sons and rough Canadian voyageurs….

“Thorn, a naval officer on leave from his regular commission, wore no velvet gloves to soften his iron-handed rule…

“Then the Tonquin and her surly crew finally arrived at the Columbia River entrance, March 22, 1811, the bar was rough with breakers from a strong south-west wind. A less headstrong commander would have waited for milder weather, but not Captain Thorn. He ordered William Fox, his first officer, along with several others, to man the whaleboat and take soundings.

“Knowing the whaleboat was in need of repair and justly fearful of the angry seas, Fox protested bitterly. Thorn merely taunted his cowardice: ‘If you are afraid of the sea, Mr. Fox, you should never have left Boston.’

“So the damaged whaleboat, with Fox at the tiller went over the side of the Tonquin into the raging waters – soon to disappear in the heaving swells. Neither craft nor crew was ever seen thereafter.

“Night came on and the ship rolled violently in the sea. The following day the wind subsided and the Tonquin found anchorage in fourteen fathoms [68 feet] near the north entrance of the river – but she had yet to cross the bar.

“….Because the ship lay in a dangerous position, it was decided that Alexander McKay and David Stuart of the Astor party should man the pinnace and sound the bar channel. The boat was lowered, but within a few minutes it swamped in the surg, the two men narrowly escaping with their lives.

“….As the Tonquin was slowly being carried toward shore, Captain Thorn found his position growing more perilous…Among the cargo carried on the vessel was the frame of a small schooner which was to have been assembled at the new establishment. All hands set to work; shortly they had the craft fitted together. John Aiken was put in charge, assisted by the ship’s sailmaker and the ship’s armorer. When the work was completed, the vessel was manned for one final attempt to guide the Tonquin into safe waters.

“The schooner proved to be more successful than the smaller boats; it eventually located the safe channel. After carefully marking the area, the crew headed back to join the Tonquin, but the currents swept their craft broadside into a curling breaker, tossing her on her beam ends and spilling the crew into the chilling water.

“Thorn would not risk sending aid to the struggling men, as he needed every hand to save the ship from being carried onto the spit. Suddenly the Tonquin struck. Water surged over her decks, and loose gear floated free of its fittings. Shrouds and halyards snapped as the vessel kept poking her prow on the shoal. Foundering seemed imminent…

“Then…the Tonquin drifted free with the tide and was carried over the bar after having struck it repeatedly without sustaining serious damage to her hull….” (pp. 65-68.)

Marshall: “Tonquin 3/22/1811 Ship, American 260 tons….Eight men drowned trying to sound the bar; the following day, two more met with the same fate…”

Sources

Gibbs, James A. Pacific Graveyard. A Narrative of Shipwrecks Where the Columbia River Meets the Pacific Ocean. Portland, OR: Binford & Mort Publishing, 1993.

Marshall, Don. Oregon Shipwrecks. Portland, OR: Binford & Mort Publishing, 1984.

Nisbet, Jack and Claire. “The ship Tonquin out of New York City sights the mouth of the Columbia River on March 22, 1811.” HistoryLing.org Essay 8673. 7-1-2008. Accessed 4-18-2020 at: https://www.historylink.org/File/8673

Wikipedia (Tonquin (1807). 1-15-2020 update. Accessed 4-17-2020 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonquin_(1807)

—>103-108  Blanchard tally of State and local breakouts below.

 

New Hampshire         (>10)

–>1  Bath, Grafton Co. Jackson. History of Littleton, NH (Vol. II of III). 1905, p. 134.[1]

—  7  Rindge, Cheshire County. Blanchard tally of sources below.

—  6  Rindge, Cheshire County. Capnken. “Spotted Fever Outbreak. Find A Grave.

—  Isaac Gibson, 55, Dec 6. Buried at Meeting House Cemetery, Rindge, NH.

—  Elvira Jewett, ~18 months, Dec 27. Buried at Meeting House Cemetery, Rindge, NH.

—  Harriet Jewett, 5 years, Dec 1. Buried at Meeting House Cemetery, Rindge, NH.

—  Jeremiah Norcross, ~67, Dec 1. Buried at Meeting House Cemetery, Rindge, NH.

—  Jeremiah Norcross, Jr., ~20, Nov 25. Buried at Meeting House Cemetery, Rindge, NH.

—  Steele, Samuel, ~20, Dec 13. Buried at Meeting House Cemetery, Rindge, NH.

—  1  Rindge. Emerson Hubbard, ~8, Dec 18. Stearns. History of the Town of Rindge, NH. p. 560.

–>2  Windham, Rockingham County. Percy McAdams, 5-yrs, March 19.[2]

 

Vermont                     (93-98)

—        ?  Barre, Washington County. “The disease was severe in…Barre, and vicinity…”[3]

—    >19  Barnet, Caledonia County, as of March 1 when it was “still raging.”[4]

—      >5  Derby, Orleans County. (Five Kendall family members, one was 7, another 9.[5]

—        0  Greensborough, Orleans County, starting March 19, several dozen cases, no deaths.[6]

—        0  Hardwick, Caledonia County, starting March 19, several dozen cases, no deaths.[7]

—        ?  Randolph, Orange County. “The disease was severe in Randolph…”[8]

—        8  Reading, Windsor County, Feb (3 deaths) & Dec (5 deaths).[9]

—        1  Sherburne (Killington), Rutland County. Nathan Whitney, about 30 years old.[10]

–60-70  Woodstock, 1811. Thompson. History of Vermont. 1842, p. 221.[11]

–60-65  Woodstock area, Jan-Apr. Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases…Vermont. 1815, 65.

 

Narrative Information

 

Gallup: “1811. The disease called spotted fever, made its first appearance in this town [Woodstock] and vicinity this year, in the month of January….This disease appeared in a decided form about the 23d of January, although some cases happened a few weeks previous, showing a petechial[12] character….” [p. 63]

 

“….the month of April was rather milder than usual. The spotted fever continued very severe through this month.

 

“For about two months the greatest proportion of cases were confined to the village where it began; after about the 20^th of March, the greatest proportion were in the more distant neighbourhoods. The adjoining towns suffered most severely the following year [1812].

 

“The number of new cases were about the same each week until about the 23d of March; perhaps thirty-five each week, in the neighbourhood and vicinity. As no correct account was kept, and as this village is situated near the corner of several towns, no exact limits are set.

 

“The week previous to the 23d was attended with the greatest number of deaths….” [p. 64]

 

“I have no means of giving the number of cases, only as a matter of opinion. Perhaps there might be five hundred and fifty, or six hundred, reckoning five miles each way from the court house. The number of deaths by this disease in five months, was between sixty and sixty-five in the above limits. About eight of this number died before medical assistance could be procured….

 

“The disease, in the course of the winter, appeared in a great proportion of the towns in the state, particularly in the eastern part extending to the line of Canada, and even very considerably into that province. From information, which I believe to be correct, from twenty to thirty perished in most of the towns in that region. In the town of Barnet [Caledonia County, VT] as published in the newspapers of the 1^st of March, out of thirty cases, nineteen proved fatal, and the disease was still raging. The deaths were generally sudden, and caused great alarm and consternation among the people.

 

“The disease was severe in Randolph, Barre, and vicinity. Many fatal cases occurred in that region, but I am not favored with any statement from physicians in that quarter. Many cattle are said to have died in this region about this time. I have been credibly informed, that the spotted fever prevailed in the new settlements of Lower Canada, in the summer of this year, and the following spring; and also, that blood-letting was very useful. [end of p. 65]

 

“The attacks and progress of this disease were generally sudden. Children sometimes went to school apparently in perfect health, who would return home distressed, and, in some instances, be corpses in three or four hours. More often, they would awake in the morning in a comatose and distressed state, with a very quick pulse, and die in a few hours. It was not confined to children. Many cases occurred in men and women, possessing every appearance of the most firm and athletic habits, being prostrated before it in a few days, and sometimes in a few hours, with apparent symptoms of debility or asthenia.[13] They would often be incapable of describing their feelings, from an imbecility or aberration of intellect, and commonly expire in a comatose state.

 

“Dr. Ware mentions, that in Pomfret, this year a number of foxes were found dead; and that some were killed at mid-day by children, near dwelling houses, to the amount of about a dozen. What their disease was he could not determine. Also squirrels, about this time, were seldom seen, and are not yet so plenty, as before. They were supposed to be destroyed by pestilence. Disease appeared also among sheep and geese.

 

“Spotted fever appeared in Reading, the latter part of February; about 35 cases; only 10 or 12 severe; three deaths. In December, 20 cases, five deaths. He bled from one to five times, sweated, gave also Vol. Tinet. Gum Guaiac. Ether, &c. He places [end of p. 66] no reliance on pukes and purges, at this time and place. In other places he used them, but the result is not given.

 

“It is a common observation, and I believe just, that the greatest number of severe and fatal cases of spotted fever, occurred in families most destitute of the common necessaries and comforts of life. Although many cases happened under circumstances the reverse of this, yet the cases could, for the mot part, be referred to some unusual fatigue, or particularly exposure. In families more destitute, not only the liability to have the disease excited, is greater, but also, when attacked, the means necessary for opposing its rapid and fatal tendency, are not usually at hand; neither are they applied with that solicitude and attention, which is characteristic of the more provident….”

(Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases in the State of Vermont. 1815, pp. 63-67.)

 

Gallup in Chapter VI on History and Symptoms: “….Whatever may be considered the cause, we find the subject which is attacked, possessed of an unusual degree of nervous mobility, or oscillatory state of action. This condition is manifested to exist in the living moveable powers of the system, by the great variety of symptoms; in the uncertain duration of the disease; and in [end of p. 225] the rapid changes, which take place from one kind and degree of action to another. These circumstances obtain so effectually, that the disease an be said to possess a great versatility of character; and we are at a loss for a set of discriminating symptoms to distinguish it by, unless we resort to the method taken by some of considering its eccentricity of character as pathognomonic of the disease. This, however, is acknowledged to be too vague. It will be suggested in the shortest manner, that the disease may be distinguished more satisfactorily by a peculiar derangement in the physiognomy generally, than by any invariable internal diagnostic symptoms. To a person a little conversant with the disease, and taking all circumstances into consideration, there will be no great difficulty in naming the disease, if any one is anxious about it, especially in the epidemic season.

 

“The most constant symptom, that has occurred to our observation, is a pain in the forehead between the eyes, similar to the pain that accompanies angina epidemica. A great part of patients, that have the use of their reason, will either complain of this, or answer that they have it, in a short time after the attack; or as soon as the fugitive nervous symptoms have a little subsided….

 

“The first symptoms generally are extreme lassitude and desire for rest; at the same time a sense of faintness [end of p. 226] at the stomach, with desire for food, which is often called for with impatience. A coldness to the touch is immediately discovered in the skin, and this last has sometimes a purplish color; more commonly, however, the skin, at the attack, looks clear….” [p. 227]

 

“The eruption, which has given name to this disease, is not a constant attendant, and has as great mutability in its appearance, as can be attached to the pathological character of the disease. The proportion of cases, which had distinct eruptions, may be estimated at about one sixth. Notwithstanding a considerable part of the remainder had some kind or other of cutaneous affection, greater or less, denoting them to be of the same family; but this gives not discriminating character to the disease, as many cases occurred, in which not the least vestige of eruption could be traced….The actual appearance of the eruption gives no relief….The eruptions appeared at different periods of the disease; perhaps most commonly on the second day. They sometimes resemble petechiae, or flea bites…of a dark hue; sometimes of a brighter red colour. They are very numerous; of the size of a pin’s head, or less. The red colour is most favourable. When numerous and of a darkened colour, along with a dusky appearance in the skin, they exhibit a very forbidding aspect. The eruption sometimes appears in blotches and patches of a red colour, and undefined in size…” [pp. 232-233 from 223-280.] (Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases in the State of Vermont. 1815.)

 

Jackson: “Spotted fever (cerebro-spinal meningitis) was first observed in this country, in 1806, in Medfield, Mass., although it had been known in Europe in 1505, where it prevailed to an alarming extent. In April, 1807, it appeared in Connecticut, and continued to prevail in different towns in the State, through the years 1808 and 1809. It is said to have appeared in Deerfield, N.H., as early as 1807, but did not prevail as an epidemic throughout the State until two or three years later, and remained as late as 1815 or 1816. In 1809, 1810, and 1811 it prevailed quite generally throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and Canada. Its march was very erratic, as may be seen from the fact that the disease prevailed in Bath in 1811, in Walpole, Bethlehem, and Littleton [all NH] in 1812, In Gilmanton and Croydon in 1813, in Boscawen in 1814, while Warren was not reached till 1815, when it prevailed in that place with fearful malignancy. During the period named, it prevailed in the State in other localities than the towns above mentioned, but these instances are give to show the peculiarities of its progress.” (Jackson. History of Littleton, New Hampshire (Vol. II of III). 1905, p. 134.)

 

New York Courier and Enquirer, June 22, 1832, Letter to the Editor: “Gentlemen…. In the spotted fever, or cold plague, as it is called, which prevailed in Vermont, New Hampshire, &c. in 1811….because a hideous disease appeared in a new form, it therefore was thought to require a new, or unheard-of treatment. At that period, too, we had the advisers and that the advocates of opium, camphor, wine, brandy, and all the family of stimulants. Bleeding was recommended by some — sweating by others. Under this mode of treating, the disease proved fatal in three to six cases our of ten, where medical aid could be procured; but in those parts of the country, particularly in the western part of the state where the population was too scattered to enable the sick to obtain medical aid, the mortality was not half so great…” (Reprinted in Cobbett. Cobbett’s Weekly Political Register, Vol. 77, No. 9, London, England, 9-1-1832, p. 526.)

 

Sources

 

Capnken. “Spotted Fever Outbreak. Find A Grave. Accessed 2-15-2018 at: https://www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/291708?page=1#sr-88029202

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meningitis. 4-10-2017. Accessed 2-15-2018 at: https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html

 

Cobbett, William. Cobbett’s Weekly Political Register, Vol. 77, No. 9, London, England, 9-1-1832. Google preview accessed 2-15-2018 at:

https://books.google.com/books?id=UM47AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Farmer, John, and Jacob B. Moore. A Gazetteer of the State of New-Hampshire. Concord: Jacob B. Moore, 1823. Google preview accessed 2-15-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=45Y-AAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

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

 

Jackson, James Robert. History of Littleton, New Hampshire (Vol. II of III). Cambridge, MA: University Press, Cambridge. 1905. Google preview accessed 2-15-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=zck1AAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Mayo Clinic. Meningitis. 12-23-2017. Accessed 2-15-2018 at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/meningitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350508

 

Newenglandkendalls.com. “Twelfth Generation.” Accessed 2-15-2018 at: http://www.newenglandkendalls.com/TTWL/Kendall12011/Kendall12022/b805.htm

 

Osler, William, M.D. (Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical School, Baltimore). “Lecture: The Arthritis of Cerebro-Spinal Fever.” Boston Medical and Surgical Journal. Vol. CXXXIX (139), No. 26, pp. 641-643, 12-29-1898. Accessed 2-15-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=grI1AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA641&lpg=PA641&dq=1811+new+england+%22spotted+fever%22&source=bl&ots=8GHf55k9P9&sig=eL9hgqE4ddC5ba0f_rYEpqzVVaw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwit6YHpzKjZAhVPGt8KHUY1DgAQ6AEIVzAN#v=onepage&q=1811%20new%20england%20%22spotted%20fever%22&f=false

 

Stearns, Ezra S. History of the Town of Rindge, New Hampshire…1736-1874, with a Genealogical Register of the Rindge Families. Boston: Press of George H. Ellis, 1875. Google preview accessed 2-15-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=hCNAAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Stone, M.T. Historical Sketch of the Town of Troy, New Hampshire, and her Inhabitants…1764-1897. Keene, NH: Press of Sentinel Printing Company, 1897. Google preview accessed 2-15-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=NioTAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Thompson, Zadock. History of Vermont, Natural, Civil, and Statistical, In Three Parts, With a new Map of the State, and 200 Engravings. Burlington, VT: Chauncey Goodrich, 1842. Google preview accessed 2-7-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=8BUzAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Worster-Drought, C. “The Diagnosis of Cerebrospinal Fever (Meningococcal Meningitis): Incorporating the Differential Diagnosis of Meningitis.” Post-Graduate Medical News, April, 1944, pp. 99-107. Accessed 2-15-2018 at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2478081/?page=1

[1] Notes it “prevailed in Bath in 1811.” Farmer and Moore note in Gazetteer of the State of New Hampshire that (p. 77-78) “In 1811, the spotted fever visited this pace [Bath], but did not prove very fatal.” We assume that the notation that it was not very fatal presumes at least one death, or else the note should have been “did not prove fatal.”

[2] We note “at least” 2 deaths in that of note that “She was the first person in Windham who d. of the spotted fever.”

[3] Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases…Vermont. 1815, 65.

[4] Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases…Vermont. 1815, p. 65.

[5] Newenglandkendalls.com. “Twelfth Generation.” Accessed 2-15-2018.

[6] Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases…Vermont. 1815, 66.

[7] Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases…Vermont. 1815, 66.

[8] Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases…Vermont. 1815, 65.

[9] Gallup. Sketches of Epidemic Diseases…Vermont. 1815, 66.

[10] Stone, M.T. Historical Sketch of the Town of Troy, New Hampshire, and…Inhabitants…1764-1897.  1897, p. 555.

[11] Highlighted in yellow to denote not including in our tally in that Thompson is basically a rewrite of Gallup, and we do not know why death toll was changed from 60-65 to 60-70.

[12] Small red, purple, or brown spots on the skin that commonly appear in clusters and may look like a rash. (Mayo Clinic. “Petechiae.” Accessed 2-13-2018 at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/petechiae/basics/definition/sym-20050724

[13] Abnormal physical weakness or lack of energy.

–59 Marvin. History of the Town of Winchendon. 1868, p. 360.
–45 children. May 29-Dec 30, 1810.
–14 children. Feb 17-Dec 10, 1811.
–54 Hyde. History of the Town of Winchendon. 1849, p. 60.

Narrative Information

Hyde: “Seasons of great Mortality, Sudden Deaths, &c…. In 1810, the canker-rash prevailed here: the whole number of deaths that year, was 54; 45 of which were of children.” (Hyde. History of the Town of Winchendon. 1849, p. 60.)

Marvin: “In 1810-11, there was a fearful malady among the children. From May 29, 1810, to December 30, forty-five children fell victims, nearly all of whom died of the same disease. In the Church records kept by Mr. Pillsbury, ‘Quinsy,’ or ‘Canker,’ is written against their names. It is thought by aged persons, who remember this sickness, that it was the same form as that now known by the name of ‘diptheria [sic].’ Between February 17, 1811, and December 10, of the same year, fourteen children died, mostly of the same complaint, making fifty-nine deaths of children in about twenty months. Some families lost all their children. In August, 1810, seven died; in September, twelve; in October, fourteen. The sickness prevailed in different parts of the town, but raged with special virulence in the south part, extending from Capt. Whitcomb’s, on the south-east, to Mr. Thos. Wyman’s on the west, nearly four miles. The former lost two, and the latter four children. Capt. Stoddard lost three; Mr. Gideon Balcom, three; Mr. James McElwain, three. The seventh district lost more than half of the children within its limits. In other districts, Lieut. Isaac Morse lost two; Mr. Hapgood, four; Mr. Seth Tucker, Sen., two, and Mr. Jacob Hale, two. There has been no year since when so many children have died, although the population has been more than doubled. Nor has there been a year when so large a proportion of persons of all ages have died; not even during the late war. Indeed there has been no prevailing sickness since, unless perhaps in one year. In 1849 there were eight cases of death by scarlet fever….” (Marvin. History of the Town of Winchendon. 1868, p. 360.)

Sources

Hyde, Ezra. History of the Town of Winchendon, from the Grant of the Township by the Legislature of Massachusetts in 1735, to the Present Time. Worcester: Henry J. Howland, 1849. Google preview accessed 2-1-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=-WJZAAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Marvin, Abijah Perkins (Rev.). History of the Town of Winchendon (Worcester County, Mass.,) From the Grant of Ipswich Canada in 1735, to the Present Time. Winchendon: By author, 1868. Google preview accessed 2-27-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=v2CuIDaPtaIC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false