The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

BOSTON INTELLIGENCE,

Collected from the News-Letter, Massachusetts Gazette, Evening-Post, Boston Gazette, Post-Boy, and Chronicle.

THURSDAY, October 12.

We mentioned last Week. the great Mortality among the Children lately in this Town;

since which we have received from a Gentleman in the Country the following melancholy Account of the Prevalency of the Throat-Distemper at Oxford in the County, of Worcester. He informs us, That from Feb. 28. 1768, to March 1. 1769. there died among them 73 Persons: From March 1st last to the Middle of August, 35 or 36 more: 'Tis judged that about the tenth Part of the Town have died. And though there was for a little Space a Cessation, it now encreases again. It is worthy of Notice that in Mr. Richard Moore's Family there was a great Breach. In December last was buried a Daughter in her 13th Year: July 9th last was buried a Son of 11,& by September 22, died six more of his Children; tho' the last, his eldest Son, age about 25 Years, died at Charlton (the next Town.) He was a married Man. and left a Widow and four Children. One of which was taken ill the Day its Father died.

The gentleman that gave us the above Intelligence, says on the 7th Instant he received a Letter from the Rev. Mr. Bowman, Minister at Oxford, from which the following is extracted,

"Last Saturday, through Divine Goodness, we got home safe from out Journey, and found our little Family well.--But alas! my poor People were in great Distress. The destroying Angel is again commission'd, and the Arrows of Death are flying. I found two dead ( who were buried on Sabbath Morning ) one of them a young Woman in her 19th Year; and about eleven more sick of the Distemper.

Monday we buried one, a little Son of a Widow (who is Sister of the Rev. Mr. Moore) and she has another now sick. Tuesday we buried three out of one House and all in one Grave; One of these a young Woman in her 17th Year: All Sisters to her of 16, mentioned above, Their names Pratt.

Yesterday we buried Two out of another House: and in one Grave: And there is a Third now dead in the same Family, to be buried this Morning. There are now Six.or Seven more Sick in Town. Miss Ruth Moore, only (surviving) Daughter, of Mr. Richard Moore, (aforesaid) is very ill of the Distemper. He buried one of his Grand-Children on Tuesday last,, who lived at Charlton; and there is another very Sick. These are Children of Mr. Samuel Moore. who deceased lately as I mentioned to you.

". This. Sir, is our distressed State at present; which is greater than ever has been. Many of the Lambs of the Flock have been cut off; & the Rest seem to be following, one after another, in swift Succession.

The hour is come in which I must attend the Funeral. Therefore in haste Subscribe,

Oxford, October 5, 1769.

yours, &c.