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The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
Extract of a letter from Enfield, January 6, reports five earthquake shocks that morning, causing buildings to shake, minor damage like fallen china and opened doors/windows, preceded by hissing and sickness symptoms, with a dividing cloud; felt in nearby areas, no harm done.
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"About fifteen Minutes before ten this Morning we felt here five very smart Shocks of an Earthquake, which lasted for about three Minutes. The Ground in the Churchyard moved very sensibly. The Church trembled exceedingly; and two Men, who were upon the upper Leads, were so alarmed at the Motion that they could scarce find their Way down. While they felt the Motion of the Church they perceived a large Brick House, which was hard by, in a very tumultuous Motion. Several other Houses were seen to shake very much. In one House, some China was thrown down from the Shelves. Several Doors and Windows were forced open. At the Time of the Shocks, a dark and dense Cloud appeared nearly in our Zenith, which suddenly divided into two Parts, one of which moved towards the East, the other towards the West; this Cloud rose from the South West. There was very little Wind. The Shocks were preceded by a hissing Sound, which afterwards resembled the Explosion of great Guns at a Distance. About an Hour before the Shocks, several People felt an uncommon Sickness; one Man in particular was affected in an extraordinary Manner; the Nails of his Fingers turned black, and continued so for about an Hour after the Shocks; in his Hands and Feet he felt a pricking Pain, as if he had been electrified. I have only to add that the Shocks which we felt here were felt at Cheshunt and Waltham Abbey; but, God be thanked, we have all escaped unhurt."
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Where did it happen?
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Enfield
Event Date
January 6
Outcome
no injuries; all escaped unhurt
Event Details
About fifteen minutes before ten on the morning of January 6, five very smart shocks of an earthquake were felt in Enfield, lasting about three minutes. The ground in the churchyard moved sensibly, the church trembled exceedingly, alarming two men on the upper leads. A nearby brick house and several other houses shook violently. In one house, china was thrown down from shelves. Several doors and windows were forced open. A dark dense cloud appeared in the zenith, dividing and moving east and west, rising from the southwest with little wind. The shocks were preceded by a hissing sound, later resembling distant gun explosions. About an hour before, several people felt uncommon sickness; one man had black fingernails for an hour after and pricking pains in hands and feet. The shocks were also felt at Cheshunt and Waltham Abbey.