Concord New Hampshire Educator & Astronaut, Sharon Christa (Corrigan) McAuliffe (1948-1986)

Posted on 13 January, 2011 by Janice Brown

January 28, 2021  marks the 35th anniversary of a tragedy–the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger. [Note this story was originally written for 2016, the 30th anniversary.]

That event took the life of New Hampshire’s Christa McAuliffe (and six other astronauts).  But it couldn’t take her spirit–through education programs created in her name she continues to teach both children and adults. And so to mark that day, I am rep-osting this original story about Christa, with a few edits. Continue reading →

Posted in Irish in New Hampshire, New Hampshire Aviation, New Hampshire Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Sea Serpent That Invaded Portsmouth New Hampshire

Posted on 12 January, 2011 by Janice Brown

The desperation of the stranded whale,
When wedged ‘twixt jagged rocks he writhes and rolls
In agony among the ebbing shoals,
Lashing the waves to foam; until the flood,
From wounds, like geysers, seems a bath of blood,
Echo all night dumb-pealing to his roar;
Till morn beholds him slain along the shore.
– “Greenland and Other Poems,” by James Montgomery, 1819

In June of 1827, the people of Portsmouth were not expecting to see a huge sea serpent, swimming in the waters of the Piscataqua River.  There had been rumors of such creatures in the vicinity of the nearby Shoals.  But this was many miles from the ocean.

Up until this time, Portsmouth merchants had focused on building ships and trade imports.  The closest whaling  ships were further down the coast in Massachusetts.  Only five years later the Portsmouth Whaling Company would be set up, followed by at least one other.

But back to our story.  As you read this adventure, keeping in mind that the Colonel Decatur mentioned as being one of the whale chasers, was one John P. Decatur, brother to the famed Commodore Stephen Decatur.  Colonel John was appointed Naval Store Keeper at Portsmouth Navy Yard, N.H. on 21 October 1823.  Later in 1829 he was appointed by President Andrew Jackson to be Collector of Customs for the District of Portsmouth NH.  As a matter of fact, he was a good friend of President Andrew Jackson, and named one of his sons after him.

From the Portsmouth Journal–TAKING THE WHALE.
The scene exhibited in the Piscataqua last week, was an occasion worthy of the description powers of the Author of Waverly or Mr. Cooper. A small whale of the pikeheaded species, so common on the New-England coast, in chasing a shoal (or school as our fishermen have it) of alewives, was induced to enter the river, and in the eagerness of the pursuit, finding the game perhaps very abundant, actually passed the Portsmouth bridge, about three miles from the sea. He ascended the river for some distance, sporting in its clear water, making sad havoc amongst the small fry, and being a source of wonder and delight to all the men, women, and children who live in these regions.  In descending the river at his leisure, his whaleship showed an evident reluctance at again passing the bridge; whether the sight of it terrified him, or whether as some think, he had bruised himself against the piles in going up; or whether, as seems to us more probable, the tide, which runs at the rate of four or five miles an hour, in coming in contact with the piles, sounded to him like the sea upon the breakers, we cannot determine.–But so it was; he would not pass the bridge, but upon coming in sight of it, turned about the ascended the river again with great velocity.
For a distance of six or eight miles from the sea, the Piscataqua is a deep, and broad, and beautiful river, large enough to contain the whole navy of the United States, were it forty times as big as it is now; but at this distance it diverges into 3 or four smaller streams, neither of which is thought worthy to retain the name. The largest of these is the Exeter river, and across this, about six miles above the first, is thrown another bridge; and of this bridge the monster seemed to entertain the same sort of apprehension as he did of the other;–so that the two helped to form a sort of enclosure, which proved as effectual to prevent his escape as if they have been bars of iron.
In the meantime the cupidity of the fishermen and the zeal of the sportsmen begun to be roused, and the river was soon covered with boats in full chase for the Whale!–Some of his pursuers were armed with spears and lances, some with muskets and a few had harpoons;–not one of them had ever seen a whale killed, or had thrown a harpoon, except perhaps at a porpoise or a hallibut; but to it they went, determined to make up in resolution and perseverance what they lacked in knowledge and dexterity.–The attack commenced on Friday afternoon;–his pursuers however seemed to make but little impression for some days; the musket balls he cared no more for, than for the pellets of a pop-gun;–they could not reach him with spear or lance, and it was long before they could get properly shaped harpoons, and longer yet before they could throw them with any certainty;–so that the death of the whale seemed an event somewhat remote; and it was even suggested that we had better send to Nantucket or New-Bedford for a reinforcement.
On Monday afternoon he seemed determined to give his pursuers as fair a chance as they could desire; he moved slowly up against the tide, appearing at the surface every three or four minutes, to take breath, and to look about him;–there were not less than twenty boats in the river around him, and the bridge below, and the highlands on each side, were thronged with spectators;–he would rise slowly to the surface head foremost, throw up a column of water some twenty feet in the air, bend his huge carcase into the shape of a crescent, and gradually disappear, after having shewn half his body as if in sport, or in derision to his host of enemies;–he could evidently discern the boats as he rose, for although he did not advance up stream twenty rods for half an hour, yet he always contrived to avoid the boats, which were dashing across in every direction.
This day however passed without success, and so had nearly the next; but at five o’clock in the afternoon, avoiding his enemies, he betook himself into that branch of the river which leads towards Berwick, followed by a single boat, manned by some enterprising fishermen by the name of Willey.–They now felt sure of their game, and following him rapidly into this stream, they soon had an opportunity to throw a harpoon fairly into his back.–The creature made tremendous exertions to free himself; and at last broke the cord attached to the harpoon; another however was instantly dispatched, and down the river went the whale, dragging a boat containing several seven seamen with the velocity of lightning.–He soon encountered another boat commanded by Col. Decatur, who again transfixed him, and yet not withstanding the innumerable thrusts he was receiving from both boats he continued to drag them up and down river until seven o’clock the next morning.  Such tenacity of life we can scarcely comprehend.
The Whale was brought into town the next day and was exhibited for the gratification of public curiosity. It does not seem to be accurately described in any book on zoology which we have had an opportunity of examining; it is pike-headed, but wants the dorsal fin of the common pike-headed whale.

—CREDITS—

– Article from: New-Hampshire Statesman and Concord Register, (Concord, NH) Saturday, June 23, 1827; Issue 5; col B
– Whale Drawing from: “A Book of Whales,” by Frank E. Beddard, NY, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1900
–The Decatur Genealogy, by William Decatur Parsons-

—A WHALE OF A READ—

– Portsmouth Fails at Whaling, from seacoast.com.

Posted in History, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Boscawen New Hampshire Author, Lecturer, Activist for Peace and Social Reform: Lucia True Ames Mead (1856-1936)

Posted on 9 January, 2011 by Janice Brown

While researching notables of New Hampshire, I frequently ‘discover’ amazing women who are not often mentioned in popular history books–Lucia is one of these.

I am grateful to the Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, for their permission to post the photo of Lucia True Ames Mead on my blog.

She was born in Boscawen N.H., the same town as my paternal grandmother.  Her desire for peace, and her dissatisfaction with how history is taught to children, struck a deep chord in my own heart.  Being a pacifist for my entire life, it was a happy surprise when I discovered an ancestral branch what followed Quaker traditions.  In researching her family, I also discovered that Lucia is my 6th cousin 3x removed through her Kilburn line.

 

——–About Lucia True (Ames) Mead——–

Lucia True (Ames) Mead was born on 5 May 1856 in Boscawen, New Hampshire, daughter of Nathan P. and Elvira (Coffin) Ames. She married on  19 September 1898 to Edwin Doak Mead, son of Bradley and Sarah (Stone) Mead.  He was an author, publisher and peace activist. She died on 1 November 1936.

Lucia devoted her life to the international peace movement, social reform, women’s suffrage, and racial injustice. One of her important contributions to education at that time (and unfortunately long forgotten) was her efforts to change how history is taught to young students.  Rather than being focused on the glorification of war, she promoted that history education should include a broader, and more peaceful view.  She wrote “What Young People Ought to Know about War and Peace” in 1916.

She conducted classes in Nineteenth Century Thought in Boston, MA, and lectured on economic and social questions and international arbitration. She was a delegate to several peace conferences; national secretary Woman’s Peace Party (which she helped found); member Twentieth Century Club; author, “Great Thoughts for Little Thinkers,” “Memoirs of a Millionaire,” “To Whom Much is Given,” “Primer of the Peace Movement,” Patriotism and the New Internationalism,” “Swords and Ploughshares,” and other books.

She was President of Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association (1903-1909), and supported the Women’s Municipal League, the Women’s Educational and Industrial Union (of Boston, MA), the Consumer’s League, the NAACP, and the American Civil Liberties Union.

A fervid pacifist she was vice president of the National Council for the Prevention of War, a director of the American Peace Society, and secretary of the American Committee of the League for Permanent Peace.

For additional biographical information see “Notable American Women 1907-1950” Cambridge MA 1971.

===================================
.A M E S     G E N E A L O G Y.
===================================

Robert Ames/Eames, born possibly Boxford or Bristol, England b about 1639-40, d. 22 July 1693. He married abt 1660 in MA to Rebecca Blake, dau of George & Dorothy Blake of Gloucester MA  She was b. 1641 in Gloucester MA. He was one of the early settlers of Boxford MA.  In the witchcraft excitement of 1692 Mrs. Rebecca Eames was accused, tried and condemned to death (for bewitching Timothy Swan), but after being imprisoned 7 months in Salem jail she was released and lived some 20 years afterward, dying 8 May 1721 in Boxford at the age of more than 80 years. Robert died during his wife’s imprisonment. The family were in those times poor. They lived in Bradford MA near the Andover MA border so some records are found in that town
—————–
Children of Robert & Rebecca (Blake) Ames:
1. Hannah Ames, b 18 Dec 1661 m abt 1678 Ephraim Foster, son of Abraham & Lydia (Burbank) Foster.
2. +Daniel Ames, b 7 Apr 1663 Andover MA
3. Robert Ames, b. 1666-7; m. Bethiah Gatchell of Seekonk on 20 April —-; lived in Boxford and had children.
4. John Ames, b 11 Oct 1670; m. Priscilla Kimball of Bradford and had 7 children, lived in Boxford MA.
5. Dorothy Ames, b. 20 Dec 1674; m. Samuel Swan of Haverhill
6. Jacob Ames, b. 20 July 1677
7. Joseph Ames, b. 9 Oct 1681, m. Jemimah — and d. 27 Dec 1753 at the age of 73 years.  Two of his sons, Jacob and Jonathan settled in Boxford MA.
8. Nathaniel/Nathan Ames, b. 19 Nov 1685; m. bef 1710 Mary Spofford Kimball. He died 11 Jan 1765 at Boxford MA. She d. 17 July 1765. He had at least one child, Jeremiah.

Daniel Ames, son of Robert & Rebecca (Blake) Ames/Eames/etal was b. 7 Apr 1663 in Andover, Essex Co MA and d. about 1695 in Andover MA.  He married 28 Apr 1683 in Andover, Essex MA to Lydia Wheeler, dau of David & Sarah (Wise) Wheeler.  She was b. 7 May 1662 in Newbury, Essex Co MA prob Newbury MA. He married 2nd) abt 1693 Mary Case, dau of Richard & Elizabeth (Purchas) Case.  She was b abt 1680 and d. 10 Sep 1757 in Simsbury MA.  The family settled in Boxford MA. One source stated “In the beginning of the winter of 1693-94 he left his wife and six small children in destitution. She applied to the selectmen for help, and John Peabody took the family to his home, and supplied them with the necessaries of life during the winter. We know no more of him.”
——————-
Children of Daniel & Lydia (Wheeler) Ames:
1. Lydia Ames (1683-1706)
2. Rebecca Ames, twin (1683/4-?)
3. Simon Eames (1686-?)
4. Solomon Ames (1686-?)
5. +Daniel Ames, b. 5 March 1688 in Boxford, Essex Co. MA
6. David Ames (1690-?)
7. Jethro Ames (1692-1725)
8. Hannah Ames (1693-?)
Child of Daniel & Mary (Case) Ames
9. Kezia Ames, b. abt Sep 1695; died unknown.

Daniel Ames, son of Daniel & Lydia (Wheeler) Ames, was b. 5 March 1688 in Boxford, Essex Co MA and d. 12 Jan 1754 in Holliston, Middlesex Co. MA.  He married in 1706 in Boxford MA to Mary Pease, dau of Samuel & Elizabeth Pease.  She was born about 1698 and died 1721 in Massachusetts. He married 2nd) 12 July 1722 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Co. MA to Mary Reynolds. She was b. in 1695 in Boxford, Essex Co. MA and d. in Exeter NH.
—————-
Children of Daniel & Mary (Pease) Ames:
1. Lydia Ames, was b. 24 Feb 1710 in Boxford MA and d. 15 Sep 1764 in Rutland, Worcester Co MA
2. Jacob Ames, b. 5 March 1711 in Exeter, Rockingham Co NH and d. 1806 in New Market NH
3. Mary Ames (1710-1749)
4. Simon Ames (1721-1783)
Children of Daniel & Mary (Reynolds) Ames:
5. +Samuel Ames, b. 13 Feb 1723 in Exeter, Rockingham Co. NH
6. Nathaniel Ames, b. 1727 in Exeter NH and d. 28 Aug 1782 in Newmarket NH.

Samuel Ames, son of Daniel & Mary (Reynolds) Ames, was b. 13 Feb 1723 in Exeter, Rockingham Co. NH and d. 16 Jan 1803 in Canterbury, Merrimack Co. NH.  He m. 1743 in Canterbury NH to Hannah Dolloff, dau of Samuel & Esther (Beard) Dolloff.  She was b. 18 Jan 128 in Exeter, Rockingham Co. NH and d. 16 Jan 1803 in Canterbury, Merrimack Co. NH.
—————-
Children of Samuel & Hannah (Dolloff) Ames:
1. +Samuel Ames, b. 12 May 1745 New Market, NH
2. Sarah Ames, b 25 March 1747 in Canterbury, Merrimack Co NH and d. 25 July 1827 in New Market, Rockingham Co. NH
3. David Ames, b. 27 May 1749 in Exeter, Rockingham Co. NH and d. 22 Sep 1812 in Canterbury, Merrimack Co. NH
4. Hannah Ames, b. 23 June 1754 in Canterbury, Merrimack Co. NH and d. 19 Dec 1817 in Wheelock VT.

Samuel Ames, son of Samuel & Hannah (Dollof) Ames, was b. 12 May 1745 in New Market, Rockingham Co. NH and d. 1 Sep 1825 in Boscawen, Merrimack Co. NH.  He married in Boscawen NH to Jane Gerrish, dau of Stephen & Joanna (Hale) Gerrish.  She was b. 20 Apr 1745 in Boscawen NH and d. 30 March 1814 in Boscawen NH.
—————–
Children of Samuel & Jane (Gerrish) Ames:
1. +Joseph Ames, b. 31 May 1771 in Boscawen NH
2. Hannah Ames, was b 14 jan 1776 and d. 18 Nov 1834 in Boscawen NH; she m. 7 Feb 1796 in Boscawen NH to Stephen Gerrish, son of Henry & Martha (Clough) Gerrish.  He was b. 16 Apr 1770 and d. 11 Nov 1815 in Boscawen NH. They had children: Sarah A. Gerrish (1796-1849), Jane Gerrish (1798-1844), Martha Gerrish (1800-1868), Sam Gerrish (1803-1845), Hannah C. Gerrish (1806-1893), Sewall Gerish (1809-1879), Harriet Gerrish (1812-1874), and Henry Gerrish (1814-1814).
3. Sarah Ames, b. 15 Nov 1780 and d. 25 Feb 1842 in Boscawen NH.
4. Polly Ames, b. 1783, d. 7 Dec 1843, probably Boscawen NH

Joseph Ames, son of Samuel & Jane (Gerrish) Ames, was b. 31 May 1771 in Boscawen, Merrimack Co. NH and d. 15 June 1851 in Boscawen, Merrimack Co. NH. Before 1804 he married his cousin, Hannah Ames, dau of David & Phebe (Hoyt) Ames.  She was b. 11 Aug 1775 in Canterbury, Merrimack Co. NH and d. 18 June 1827.  They resided on High street in Boscawen, where he kept a tavern; a man highly respected; was elected selectman in 1812-1814; and represented the town in the legislature of 1826.
———–
Children of Joseph & Hannah (Ames) Ames:
1. Myra Ames, b. 4 Jan 1804 in Boscawen, Merrimack Co. NH, d. 17 June 1869 West Creek, Lake Co. Indiana; m. 2 Juen 1829 in Boscawen NH to Thomas Little, son of Jesse & Martha (Gerrish) Little.  He was b. 2 Jan 1802 and d. 19 Aug 1877 in West Creek, Lake Co. Indiana.  Children: Joseph Ames Little (1830-1892), Sara Higley Little (1833-1874), and Lucy Jane Little (1837-?)
2. Joseph Ames, was b. 29 June 1806 and d. 19 Sep 1826.
3. Lucy Ames, b. 13 Sep 1808 and d. 30 Nov 1840.
4. David Ames, b 20 Dec 1810 and d. 26 Apr 1885 in Elkhart, Elkart Co. Indiana. In 1880 he was living with his brother Samuel, a single man, carpenter by trade.
5. Samuel Ames, b. 14 July 1813, prob. died in West Creek, Lake Co., Indiana, as was living there in 1880 with wife and brother.  He married Emily J. Hubbard.
6. +Col. Nathan Plummer Ames, b. 6 June 1816 in Boscawen NH [see more]
7. Stephen Gerrish Ames, b. 16 June 1816 and d. 1 Oct 1826.
8. Phebe Jane Ames, b. 22 Dec 1819 and d. 6 Aug 1836.

Colonel Nathan Plummer Ames, son of Joseph & Hannah (Ames) Ames, was born 6 June 1816 in Boscawen NH and d. 2 August 1880 in Boston, Middlesex Co. MA.  He married 1st) 18 March 1841 at the Corser Hill Church in Webster, Merrimack Co., NH to Elvira Coffin, dau of Thomas & Hannah (Kilburn) Coffin.  She b. 8 Aug 1819, and d. Jan 1861 at West Creek Indiana. They resided on High street in Boscawen, where he kept a tavern; a man highly respected; was elected selectman in 1812-1814; and represented the town in the legislature of 1826. They remained on the homestead inherited from his father unfil 2 Jan 1861 when he with his family went to West Creek, Indiana where Elvira died.   On 31 March 1863 he married 2nd) in Geneva IL to Emily Knight Brown.  She died 16 Sep 1869 in Chicago, Cook Co., IL. After she died he returned with his family to Boston. He 2 Aug 1880 in Boston MA. He is buried in the Water Street Cemetery, Boscawen NH. He served during the Civil War as a Lieut. Colonel in the 21st NH Regiment, under Col. Frederick W. Coffin. [THIS Nathan P. Ames should NOT be confused with the Nathan P. Ames who founded a weapons factory in Massachusetts during the Civil War].
———-
Children of Nathan P. & Elvira (Coffin) Ames:
1. Livonia Coffin Ames b 18 Apr 1843 Boscawen, Merrimack Co. NH, d. 1938 in Queens NY; m. 8 Sep 1865 to George Whitefield Ware. He was b. in 1834 in Boston, MA.  They had four children: William Bradford Ware (1870), Mary Coffin Ware (1872-1947), Richard Ames Ware (1874-1875) and Clara Winnifred Ware (1877)
2. Charles Henry Ames, b 5 Feb 1847, married Henrietta Burton Hunt and resided in Newton MA; had four children, Margaret Ames (1888-1888), Charles Burton Ames (1892-1942), Helen Hunt Ames (1894-1980) and Lawrence Coffin Ames (1897-1981); worked for a publishing company.
3. +Lucia True Ames, 1856-1936 [SEE THIS ARTICLE]
4. Clara Preston Ames 1859; in 1915 single living at 39 Newbury St., Boston MA

.MAJOR SOURCES.
1. One Thousand New Hampshire Notables, p 421, by Frances Matilda Abbott, 1919
2. The history of Boxford, Essex Co. MA by Sidney Perley, 1880
3. Various newspaper clippings, and her own published material

Posted in New Hampshire Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Sea Serpent

Posted on 8 January, 2011 by Janice Brown

Posted in Creatures | Leave a comment

New Hampshire’s Deadly Thunder-Boomers

Posted on 7 January, 2011 by Janice Brown

No one seems to be certain when the term “thunder boomer” was first used.

Cassell’s dictionary of slang (Jonathon Green) says it happened sometime in the 1960s.  My parents house sat at the top of a hill in New Hampshire, and every thunder storm was potent.  But when a ‘thunder boomer’ passed through, and my gram started flicking holy water on the lintels, you got the distinct feeling that the storm was meaningful. My personal experiences pale in comparison with some earlier tempests in New Hampshire’s history.

————————-
1765. Captain Thomas Colburn of Hudson NH was killed by lightning 20 August 1765. His widow Mary married Major Samuel Moore after his death.

1802. Stephen Rowell, youngest son and child of David and Mary (Brown) Rowell was born in Croydon New Hampshire 27 June 1802.   His mother was killed by lightning while he was an infant asleep in her arms. She was only thirty-six.  Stephen lived to the age of seventy-five years.

1820. Major Joseph Bellows, b. 3 Nov 1770 in Lunenburg MA. Raised in Walpole NH, he moved to Rockingham Vermont, where in 1820 he received a very severe electric shock during a thunder storm and never fully recovered therefrom. In that storm his seven barns were entirely destroyed by lightning, together with other outbuildings, and the entire crop of hay and grain which had just been harvested. Incidentally, this same Joseph Bellows’ second wife was Mary Adams, a second cousin of President John Adams.

June 26, 1828–the windows of the Meeting-house in Newmarket, broken in and the wife of Mr. Daniel Gerrish, formerly of this town injured.  A house in Rye, occuped by a Mr. Varrell struck, and his wife considerably injured.  A Miss Clark, of Barnstead was killed by lightning on Friday afternoon, June 4.

July 16, 1831, during a severe thunder storm on Sunday, the lightning entered the house occupied by Mr. Charles Hart of Sutton, by way of the chimney, while five of his children were sitting and standing around the fire, and instantly killed one of them, Joseph, aged 6 years, and slightly injured the others. Mrs. Hart was at the time in an adjoining room, and was rendered senseless for a short time by the effects of the lightning, while the sole of the shoe upon one of her feet was partly detached. July 14, 1835. During the shower in the afternoon of Sunday last, 5th inst., the house of Solomon King, in the westerly part of Sutton, was struck by lightning and Mr. King and his wife were instantly killed. The circumstances attending this melancholy casualty, as near as we can learn are the following: –the lightning passed down the chimney of the house and entered a room in which were Mrs. King, her son and daughter and two neighbors, who had stopped for shelter from the rain. Mr. King had just left the room and gone into the entry, for the purpose, it was supposed, of shutting the outside door.
The electrical fluid in its descent divided into two branches, one of which passing through the entry, struck down Mr. King in its progress. The neighbors who were in the room, seeing him falling, sprang to his assistance, but he had sunk to the floor before they reached him. The fluid went out through the door by the well into a hog pen, throwing considerable rubbing into the well, and killing a sow and four out of eight pigs in the pen. The other branch of the fluid passed into the cupboards, demolishing the contents and in its course struck Mrs. King and her son while sitting in their chairs. The latter seeing his mother’s cap on fire, endeavored to rise to go towards her, but found himself unable to move. The other persons on coming back into the room, did not at first notice her situation, but soon discovered that life had fled, although she retained her position unchanged. The son recovered from the shock in a short time. There were only slight marks of violence on the bodies of the deceased. Mr. King was sixty-three years of age, his wife a few years younger. They were both respected by their neighbors, and their disastrous fate is deeply lamented.

September 1, 1838. Lightning. The tavern stable of Mr. John Farnum in Peterborough, was struck by lightning on Friday afternoon but did little damage.–A gentleman named Mears, of Boston, with his lady had just driven under the shed to avoid the shower, and had not left the carriage more than two minutes before the explosion, by which his horse was killed.

July 31, 1841.  The lightning struck the Swamscot House, in Exeter, on Friday fortnight, throwing down one chimney, and setting the roof on fire, which was extinguished before any damage was done. The bricks fells upon a little boy, aged five years, named Barney, fracturing his skull in a shocking manner. The wound was dressed but it was supposed that he could not live, although sensible on Saturday morning.

August 1, 1871. Struck by Lightning — Amos Manser, a brakeman on the Concord Railroad, was struck by lightning last night, near Little field’s Cross, on the Portsmouth Road, while coming up on the night train. He was on the platform of the car and had just turned to enter the car after letting out the brakes, when he was struck by lightning and prostrated, falling into the door of the car. When taken to his home, his right leg was useless and he was suffering great distress from the shock, but this morning we understand that he is better and has partially recovered the use of the limb, and it is thought he may be out in a few days.

June 29, 1876.  The thunder showers of Tuesday afternoon were widely extended and severe.  At Candia two cows and a valuable Ayrshire bull, belonging to Jeremiah Lane, were killed in a pasture by lightning. While Mr. lane, with the assistance of some of his neighbors, was endeavoring to resuscitate the animals, he fell down and instantly expired. He came from Hampton Falls to Candia about 20 years ago. He was 76 years of age, and leaves a widow and four children.

June 1876. At Manchester the lightning struck four houses– one on High Street, owned by John G. Moore; one on Concord street, corner of Hall, owned by William Carr; one in Hallsville [south east Manchester] owned by Charles E. Hodgdon; and another in Amoskeag village, owned by Archie Campbell, who also lost a valuable horse killed in the stall. The thumb of Mr. Huntington, station agent at Newmarket, was taken off by a discharge of electricity, while at his telegraph key Tuesday evening. Miss Haseltine, the operator at Exeter depot, received a heavy shock, producing deafness in one ear.  The report was like a rifle shot, and paper and plastering were scattered about.
————————-

We’d like to think that the incidences of lightning are rare these days, however that simply is not true.  In 2010 there were 29 fatalities in 19 states (Alabama and Georgia with three each, New Hampshire had none). In many years deaths from lightning strike has outpaced that from tornadoes and other disasters.

Traditionally Florida has more than twice the number of lightning deaths of any other state. The rest of the top ten states, in order, are Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, and Colorado.Fewest casualties are in Alaska (none), Hawaii, the District of Columbia, northwest states, Puerto Rico, and small eastern states. Today New Hampshire ranks 16th in the nation for casualties from lightning strikes.  July is reputedly the deadliest month.

—Additional Reading—

The Body Electric, story of Gail Rondeau & family, struck by lightning.

NOAA: Lightning–The Underrated Killer.

NOAA: Lightning Safety Myths and Truths.

SEE “New Hampshire: Peculiar Freaks of Nature”

Posted in History, Oddities, Accidents and Crazy Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment