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Letter to Editor
March 4, 1774
The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A 1774 letter from Southborough reports an outbreak of throat distemper near Framingham, MA, where seven of Jacob Gibbs' nine children died between November 25 and December 29, 1773, plus four or five more in nearby families. It praises God's mercy in containing it and urges children to be spiritually ready.
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Full Text
BOSTON, Feb. 24.
Southborough, Feb. 21, 1774.
Mr. Draper,
THERE having lately been a Remarkable Instance of Mortality by Means of the Throat Distemper, near to us, if you please you may give the following Account of it in your weekly News Paper.
Between this Town and Hopkinton there runs a Strip of Land belonging to Framingham, on which lives Mr. Jacob Gibbs, who the Beginning of November last had Nine Children from about 20 Years of age and under.
On Nov. 25 Reliance,
Dec. 5 Jacob,
15 John,
17 Sarah.
DIED.
22 Jerusha,
25 Lydia,
29 Elitha,
One of the eldest and the youngest only are left alive.
In and about that Time Four or Five more in Several other Families within Sight of that House. died of the same Distemper. But thro' the Mercy of God it hath hitherto spread no farther. A loud Call to other Children, Therefore be ye also ready.
Southborough, Feb. 21, 1774.
Mr. Draper,
THERE having lately been a Remarkable Instance of Mortality by Means of the Throat Distemper, near to us, if you please you may give the following Account of it in your weekly News Paper.
Between this Town and Hopkinton there runs a Strip of Land belonging to Framingham, on which lives Mr. Jacob Gibbs, who the Beginning of November last had Nine Children from about 20 Years of age and under.
On Nov. 25 Reliance,
Dec. 5 Jacob,
15 John,
17 Sarah.
DIED.
22 Jerusha,
25 Lydia,
29 Elitha,
One of the eldest and the youngest only are left alive.
In and about that Time Four or Five more in Several other Families within Sight of that House. died of the same Distemper. But thro' the Mercy of God it hath hitherto spread no farther. A loud Call to other Children, Therefore be ye also ready.
What sub-type of article is it?
Informative
Religious
Ethical Moral
What themes does it cover?
Health Medicine
Religion
Morality
What keywords are associated?
Throat Distemper
Mortality Outbreak
Jacob Gibbs
Framingham
Southborough
1773 Deaths
Religious Warning
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Draper
Letter to Editor Details
Recipient
Mr. Draper
Main Argument
reports a deadly outbreak of throat distemper in jacob gibbs' family and nearby, with seven children dying, and calls it a divine warning for others, especially children, to prepare spiritually.
Notable Details
Seven Of Nine Children Died: Reliance (Nov. 25), Jacob (Dec. 5), John (Dec. 15), Sarah (Dec. 17), Jerusha (Dec. 22), Lydia (Dec. 25), Elitha (Dec. 29)
Outbreak Contained By God's Mercy
A Loud Call To Other Children, Therefore Be Ye Also Ready