When was it published?

April 21, 1738 in The Virginia Gazette

Foreign News April 21, 1738

The Virginia Gazette

Q: What keywords are associated?

Mermaid, Exeter, Fishermen, Creature, Webbed Feet, Public Display

Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia

View full issue View on Library of Congress PDF Page 3

What is this article about?

Report from Exeter on November 10th of fishermen catching a human-like creature with webbed feet and a salmon-like tail, which they killed and publicly displayed as a mermaid, attracting crowds.

Clipping

OCR Quality

95% Excellent

Full Text

They write from Exeter of November the 10th, That some Fishermen near that City, drawing their Net a Shore, a Creature of Human Shape, having 2 Legs, leap'd out, and ran away very swiftly; not being able to overtake it. they knock'd it down by throwing Sticks at it. At their coming up to it, it was dying, and groan'd like a human Creature; It's Feet were webb'd like a Duck's. it had Eyes, Nose, and Mouth, resembling those of a Man, only the Nose somewhat depress'd; a Tail not unlike a Salmon's, turning up towards its Back, and is 4 Feet high. It has been publickly Shewn here, by the Name of a Mermaid; and Multitudes of People go to see its

What sub-type of article is it?

Mermaid Sighting Curiosity

What keywords are associated?

Mermaid Exeter Fishermen Creature Webbed Feet Public Display

Where did it happen?

Exeter

Foreign News Details

Primary Location

Exeter

Event Date

November The 10th

Outcome

the creature was killed by sticks and publicly shown as a mermaid, drawing multitudes of people.

Event Details

Fishermen near Exeter caught a creature of human shape with two legs in their net; it leaped out and ran swiftly. Unable to catch it, they knocked it down with sticks. It was dying, groaned like a human, had webbed feet like a duck's, eyes, nose, and mouth resembling a man's (nose somewhat depressed), a tail like a salmon's turning up towards its back, and was 4 feet high.