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Domestic News
March 12, 1772
The Virginia Gazette
Williamsburg, Virginia
What is this article about?
House fire at Samuel Allen's in Sandisfield kills two young children while mother attempts rescue; eldest child escapes. Reported from Hartford, January 21.
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HARTFORD, January 21.
About the last of December, the house of Mr. Samuel Allen, of Sandisfield, took fire. Mr. Allen was gone a distance from home, and Mrs Allen having occasion to go to a neighbour's house, about 12 rods distance, in the evening, after having put her three children to bed, about half an hour after, she was alarmed by the cry of her eldest child (about 5 years of age) who had been awaked by the fire, and made its escape from the house. Mrs. Allen immediately ran to the fore door of the house, which, when she opened, the fire burst out upon her, and prevented her going in. She tried to get into the house at several other places, in order to save her two children that remained in the house, but the inside being all in flames, rendered every means to save them ineffectual, and the two innocent babes perished in the flames. One of them the next day was taken out of the bed where it lay, the bed entirely burnt up, and the body about half consumed; the other, in endeavouring to save itself, left the bed, and ran into the dwelling room, which was over the cellar, and the bones of it were found in the cellar the next evening, the body entirely consumed, but the liver remained untouched by the fire.
About the last of December, the house of Mr. Samuel Allen, of Sandisfield, took fire. Mr. Allen was gone a distance from home, and Mrs Allen having occasion to go to a neighbour's house, about 12 rods distance, in the evening, after having put her three children to bed, about half an hour after, she was alarmed by the cry of her eldest child (about 5 years of age) who had been awaked by the fire, and made its escape from the house. Mrs. Allen immediately ran to the fore door of the house, which, when she opened, the fire burst out upon her, and prevented her going in. She tried to get into the house at several other places, in order to save her two children that remained in the house, but the inside being all in flames, rendered every means to save them ineffectual, and the two innocent babes perished in the flames. One of them the next day was taken out of the bed where it lay, the bed entirely burnt up, and the body about half consumed; the other, in endeavouring to save itself, left the bed, and ran into the dwelling room, which was over the cellar, and the bones of it were found in the cellar the next evening, the body entirely consumed, but the liver remained untouched by the fire.
What sub-type of article is it?
Fire
Disaster
Death Or Funeral
What keywords are associated?
Sandisfield Fire
House Fire
Children Perished
Family Tragedy
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Samuel Allen
Mrs. Allen
Where did it happen?
Sandisfield
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Sandisfield
Event Date
About The Last Of December
Key Persons
Mr. Samuel Allen
Mrs. Allen
Outcome
two children perished in the flames; one body half consumed in bed, the other entirely consumed with bones in cellar but liver untouched.
Event Details
House took fire while Mr. Allen away; Mrs. Allen at neighbor's after putting children to bed. Eldest child (about 5) escaped and alerted her. Fire burst out when she opened door, preventing entry; attempts at other entrances failed as inside was in flames.