In researching Robert Lord Jr., my 9 great-grandfather who resided in Ipswich, Massachusetts, I came across an account regarding the death of his son Joseph (1638-1677). The account read, “upon the death of Joseph, son of Robert Lord Sr., of Ipswich, who was killed in the woods about two miles and a half from Ipswich meeting house, that he with others was felling a tree and a limb, as it fell, hit another tree breaking it and it fell upon said Lord killing him.” Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts (p.397)
A remarkable thing about researching New England history is the depth and extent that they recorded their lives and in this case, deaths. The History of Ipswich, Essex, and Hamilton (p. 202-4) records some rather notable deaths:
Feb 21st 1787 – Francis a child of William Cogswell of Chebacco (Essex, MA) died by falling into a kettle of boiling chocolate.Oct 16th 1727 – We are informed from Ipswich that on Wednesday night last a young woman of that place being more merry than wise dressed herself in men’s apparel intending a frolic at a place some distance off but as she was riding through a river or pond her horse in all likelihood threw her into the water where she was taken up the next day drowne.
September 1771 – At the Hamlet, a child of Mr. Bolles died by drinking scalding water from a tea pot.
Jan 5th 1814 – Betsey Telock AE 49 is burnt to death. It has been commonly reported that she came to her end by spontaneous combustion from the inordinate use of ardent spirits. But it is the opinion of the gentleman who first discovered her body soon after the flames in her room were extinguished that she caught her bed clothes on fire with a candle and thus lost her life.
The History of Ipswich, Essex, and Hamilton also mentioned the Dark Day, a day many New Englanders believed carried prophetic meaning. The true cause is believed to have been a massive forest fire combined with a thick cloud cover and fog.
May 19th 1780 – Darkness came on like that of an eclipse. By 9 o clock a.m. persons could not see to weave. Candles were lighted to dine by. As the day began prematurely to put on the appearance of twilight cattle lowed and fowls went to roost. The darkness of the succeeding evening was almost palpable. Many feared and trembled lest the end of all things had come. They alone are truly wise who seek the Lord when the bow of his mercy is over them, as well as, when they hear his thunders and behold his lightnings. (p.202)
General George Washington, who was encamped with his Continental Army in nearby New Jersey, commented on the strange weather in a May 18 diary entry. “Heavy and uncommon kind of clouds,” he wrote, “dark and at the same time a bright and reddish kind of light intermixed with them…” (Remembering New England’s Dark Day)
Additional Stories about the Dark Day:
On the dark day, May 19th, 1780. Library of Congress
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