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New England Weather

1682 Strange Appearance • in the Heavens

Signs of the Times 18th Century Society The American Revolution Apple Butter Making Architectural Styles Church Customs The Conestoga Wagon The Cooper Coverlets Foursquare Gardens Gunter's Chain The Long S New England Weather Tanning

Chapters Overview 1635 Great Storm 1638 Earthquake The Earthquake of 1663 The Comet of 1664 1667 Strange Appearance 1676 Storm and Shipwreck The Comet of 1680 1682 Strange Appearance Dark Day of 1716 1716-1717 Winter 1718 Wreck of the Whidah 1719 Aurora Borealis Storm of 1722-23 1727 Earthquake 1740-1 Winter 1744 Earthquake 1747-48 Winter 1748 Hurricane 1749 Drought 1755 Great Earthquake 1759 Hurricane 1762 Drought 1768 Lightning 1768 Gale 1769 Summer 1770 Great Freshet 1770 Summer The Storm of October 20, 1770 Summer of 1771 1773 Hurricane The Storm of 1774 The Dark Day of 1780 1782 Hurricane 1785 Great Freshet 1786 Tornado 1786 Snow Storms The Cyclone of 1787 The Meteor of 1787 1788 Gale 1794 Whirlwind The Long Storm of 1798 1799 Hail Storm 1801 Freshet 1802 Great Snow Storm 1804 Storm 1806 Solar Eclipse The Freshet of 1807 The Meteorite of 1807 The Cold Friday of 1810 The Freshet of 1814 The Tornado in 1814 The Gale of 1815 The Cold Summer of 1816 The Tornadoes of 1821 Spring Freshet of 1823 The Spring Freshet of 1826 1826 Avalanche 1827 Gale and Freshet 1827 Wreck of the Almira1830 March Storm The Great Freshet of 1830 1833 Meteoric Display Winter of 1835-36 1839 Storms 1841 October Gale 1842 Snow Storm The Freshet of 1846 1849 October Storm 1851 Lighthouse Storm 1851 Tornado Storm of April, 1852

The Comet of 1680

Dark Day of 1716

THE apparitions described in this chapter are supposed to have been instances of the exhibition of mirage, produced by atmospheric refraction. Several incidents of a similar character are recorded in the annals of New England, as the phantom ship of New Haven. In instances of mirage, the objects are generally inverted, though if there occurs a double refraction they will appear higher in the air, but standing in their ordinary positions. Though not now deemed worthy of being classed with unaccountable things, yet two hundred years ago, people were strong believers in the supernatural, and ascribed everything that seemed to be of that nature to such a cause. The first instance mentioned below is believed by many to have been simply the product of a lively imagination.

At Lynn, Mass., one evening in 1682, after the sun had set, and darkness had begun to throw its pall over the land, a man by the name of Handford went out of doors to ascertain if the new moon had risen. In the western sky lay a black cloud of strange appearance, and after looking at it a short time he discovered that it contained the figure of a man completely armed, standing with his legs apart, and holding a pike in his hands across his breast. Mrs. Handford also came out and saw the apparition. After awhile the figure vanished, and in its place appeared a large ship, fully rigged and with all sails set, apparently in motion, though retaining the same position. It was seen as plainly as a ship was ever seen in the harbor, and was to their imagination, the handsomest craft that they ever saw. It had a high majestic bow, heading southwardly, with a black hull, white sails, and a long and beautiful streamer floating from the top of the mainmast. This was plainly visible for some time. After awhile the people went into their houses though the image still remained in the cloud. On coming out again after a short time it was not to be seen, the cloud had also gone and the sky was clear. Many reliable people in the town saw the apparition, and all agree that the above statement is true; but what it was, and how it can be accounted for is still unknown. We merely record the facts, believing we ought to do so whether we can account for the strange appearance or not.

This brings to the mind of the writer a tradition in his family of a similar, but more astounding exhibition in the clouds. There appeared in the heavens two magnificent men-of-war, which slowly and steadily approached until they came comparatively near each other when flames simultaneously burst from their port-holes, and the sound of cannon was heard. The bright flashes followed by sharp reports continued for several minutes, and the vessels vanished. We believe it was said that this battle in the clouds occurred just before one of the wars of this country, but which one we have forgotten. The incident might be explained by the presence of heat or flash lightning accompanied by distant thunder and clouds containing forms like ships.

Source: Historic Storms of New England by Sidney Perley, 1891

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