"Hark! What grumbling Noise" - Wild Weather in 1768 New England

We thought it was time to once again visit some of the wild and unusual weather events of 18th Century New England. Today, we’ll discuss a series of violent storms that pounded New England 250 years ago this summer.

On August 1, 1768 a cold front passed through New England. Period accounts assert that during the storm rain fell in torrents, wind gusts leveled trees and the vivid lightning struck and killed two cows belonging to Hartford’s Caleb Bull. In Norwalk, a barn owned by the “widow Benedict” was also struck by lightning and quickly caught fire.

Meanwhile, in Boston, a lightning bolt struck the residence of a “well-known victualler, Mr. Shirley.” At the home of one Dr. Sprague, lightning struck the chimney and travelled down into a china closet, destroying several saucers and plates. The bolt continued through several curtain rods and then into an imported clock located on the main floor. The device exploded into several fragments which were were found throughout the room.

At the residence of a barber known as “Mr. Davis”, a lightning bolt also struck his chimney and travelled down the side of the house before entering a closet. The heat from the electrical charge melted several alead weights and nail heads. Two of Davis’ children were also struck, thrown across the room and rendered unconscious.

At the home of a Temple Street carpenter, the damage from lightning strikes was so severe it melted pewter plates, shattered glass and a damaged a kitchen hearth.

Several days later, a poem describing the tempest appeared in the Essex Gazette.

“Hark! What grumbling Noise comes thro' the yielding Air! Is it the Cannon's Roar! The Din of War? No! — 'Tis the Voice of God; he Thunder rolls, And flashes Lightnings to the distant Polls. The Clouds impregnate with electric Ire, Join and disjoin, and fold the Skies in Fire: At which the Thunders burst with dreadful Roar, Sweep through the Skies, and grumble on the Shore! But still the Sound augments: while through the Air Surprising Lightnings gleam with frightful Glare! See! — from the Weft the gloomy Tempest rife: Successive Flashes fire the burning Skies ! — Such is the Noise, and such the Lightnings Chine. They both proclaim the Author is DIVINE!— Are fuch his Terrors, when his kind Command Bids pregnant Clouds water the thirty Land ! What firy Vengeance will he then display, In that great, awful and consummate Day; When down the Skies to Judgment he descends; To crush his Foes; and to reward his friends! When round his shining Throne (no more of Grace) Shall stand a numerous I loft, the human Race! Angels and Devils! When the fov'reign Lord Shall judge the whole, and give a just Reward! — Amazing Thought!”

About a month later, New England was hit once again by wild weather. During the evenings of September 7 and 8, 1768, a powerful storm accompanied by high winds, hail and vivid lightning struck southeastern Massachusetts. According to one account, a bolt of lightning struck Daniel Mann’s tavern in Wrentham. The bolt travelled down the side of the building, shattered a glass window and entered the parlor room. Unfortunately for , heMann was hosting a social gathering at the same time. One of the guests recalled there was a “flash of lightning . . . followed by an explosion, apparently as loud as the discharge of a cannon. Large sparks were seen, and the air in the room smelled as if impregnated with sulphur.” A large clock in the room was damaged and toppled over onto a guest. A subsequent inspection of the device revealed that the steel spring that held the pendulum in place had melted. The coat of a second guest was scorched on the right shoulder. 

Curiosity seekers who visited the tavern in the days after noted “the ceiling and doors of the room were much damaged and two of the floor boards were raised and split . . . A tree near the house was also struck.”

During the same tempest a ten year old Rehoboth boy was struck and killed by lightning.

In Mendon, Dr. William Jennison’s barn was struck by lightning. The structure, as well as all of its contents, quickly burned to the ground. In Uxbridge, Joseph Reed was knocked unconscious when a bolt travelled down the chimney and into his kitchen. When he awoke, he found his fireplace and floorboards all destroyed.

A few days later, yet another storm struck the region. In Charlestown, the bake house of Thomas Rayner was hit by lightning. The roof caught on fire and suffered considerable damage. Meanwhile at a nearby bolting mill a young apprentice was hit by lightning and knocked off his feet. As he recovered, he noted the bolting cloth inside the mill was burned and the mill damaged.