The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

NEWBURY-PORT, June 7.

A melancholy accident happened last Sabbath at the house of Major William Ballard, who lately removed from Amesbury in this State, to Warner in the State of New Hampshire. A little girl daughter to Major Ballard, who, with other children, was left at home, while the rest of the family went to attend divine service, it is supposed, carried a coal of fire into a chamber where there were some shavings, which, taking fire soon communicated the flames to the whole house, which was new, and almost finished, but that, together with the unhappy girl, was soon consumed. Mrs. Ballard perceived the flames from the Meeting-House, which was about a mile distant, and got home as speedily as possible, but alas! too late to afford any assistance or save even the smallest article. She arrived only soon enough to behold some remains of the head and arms of her only daughter, which the fire had separated from her body, and they had just fallen through the floor. The distressed parents had buried an elder sister to the deceased but a few days before, who died while her father was absent on business in Amesbury, whither he had returned again but the day before a messenger was sent with the above dismal tidings.