Note: This site uses Javascript extensively. While you will still be able to read articles, it is recommended you turn on Javascript for your browser. CLICK HERE if you are unsure how to do that...

New England Weather

1748 Hurricane • at Pepperell, Mass.

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

1747-48 Winter

1749 Drought

ON Thursday, July 28, 1748, occurred a disastrous hurricane at Pepperell, Mass. The people of the parish had finished eating their dinner, and were going to their work in the hay fields, it being about one o'clock, when the sound of thunder was heard. It came nearer and grew louder until it was deafening, and the wind came rushing across the fields and through the woods, increasing in force until it seemed to be irresistible, and developing a rotary motion. Its course was from the southwest to the northeast, though it slightly varied, blowing sometimes to the right and again to the left. It continued for fifteen minutes with such terrific power that the air was filled with hay, leaves, limbs of trees and pieces of lumber. The wind swept through the centre of the parish, not abating its force until it reached the New Hampshire line, a short distance away.

In the track of the hurricane much damage was done. Fences and stone walls were blown down, and the stalks of Indian corn were bent over and broken off near the ground. Hay in the fields was suddenly whisked up, and scattered over adjoining territory for a mile away, being lost. As the wind increased in force many large apple and other kinds of trees were torn up by the roots; in some instances enclosing animals in such a manner that they could not get away by their efforts alone, though they were not injured. A large portion of the roof of the church, and boards from the roofs and sides of several other buildings were carried away. Several dwelling houses were shattered, and two or three buildings were entirely destroyed. In the space covered by the wind was a house, with a wing which was garrisoned. The whirlwind swept down upon the garrison with such violence that it was instantly demolished, three of its sides falling to the ground, and the other being dashed against the main part of the house, the roof of which had been carried away. Some things that had been in the chamber of the house were found more than a mile distant. A woman and her three small children were in the body of the house at the time, and when the power of the wind became manifest, the woman took the children to flee to another building which stood near, in which she thought they would be safer. But before they could get out the garrison had fallen against the door, through which they had intended to pass out, and they were compelled to remain where they were, expecting every moment that the rest of the house would be demolished, and they be killed and buried beneath falling debris. With the exception of the roof, however, the house remained intact, and the inmates escaped injury. After the wind had spent its force the woman looked out, and saw that where the building to which she had intended to go for safety had stood only the underpinning remained to mark the spot; so thorough had been the work of its demolition that not even the sills were in their places. She felt grateful for the providence that had frustrated her plans by barring the door through which she had thought to escape, as otherwise she would probably have been killed and her children also.

Though much property was destroyed, one man losing corn, hay, fences, apple trees and buildings, in all amounting to more than five hundred pounds in value, no life of man or beast was taken, nor was anyone seriously injured. Source: Historic Storms of New England by Sidney Perley, 1891

Comments (0)

Don't be shy, tell us what you think! →