The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Extract of a Letter from Liverpool, in Nova Scotia, January 31.

I have to acquaint you of a most sorrowful Accident in our neighbourhood; Mr Arthur Vance, with 5 other Men and a Lad returning in his Boat from this place to his Settlement on the 20th instant were all drowned. This melancholy event has reduced the whole Settlement of Portmaton to the utmost distress imaginable, as they had in the Boat the principal part of all the Bread and many other things they depended upon for the Winter.--They have left five Widows and 22 children; and by the best accounts they have not in all their families at this time one pound of Bread. We are making some collections here for their present relief, but provisions are scarce with us and the people very poor, so cannot expect to collect any great matter.

The unhappy Sufferers were Mr. Arthur Vance, principal Man in the settlement, Richard Scott, lately had his house burnt, and lost every thing except seven guineas, which he had took with him to Liverpool to purchase necessaries, and are lost with him, left a widow and three children: James M'Clarin, left a widow and six children: John M'Clarin, a widow and four children: William Thomlinson, a widow and six children; Thomas Pattison, a widow and four children; Tho. Walley, a lad.