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Domestic News
July 13, 1770
The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Soldier Hall of the 59th Regiment discovered the corpse of carpenter John Motley in woods 14 miles from Halifax on May 17, 1769. Motley had gone missing after leaving Chester in March 1769 during a snowstorm, bound for Halifax.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
HALIFAX, May 29.
On Thursday the 17th instant, as one Hall, a soldier in his Majesty's 59th Regiment, quartered in this Town, was out a hunting in the woods, about 14 miles from this place; he found, as he reported, at his return, within five yards of Magaguash road, the corpse of a man lying above ground, which evidently appears, from the description given by said Hall of his cloths, &c. and by a razor which he took out of his pocket, on the handle of which was marked the name Motley, to be the remains of Mr. John Motley, carpenter, well known in this Town for many years. There was in his pocket-book which contained a number of papers, but they were so much perished by the weather &c. that nothing could be gathered from them. A powder horn full of powder, some ball, and a small quantity of shot was likewise found with him, but no gun. We are not suspicious of his being killed by the Indians, as it is natural to suppose, that they would have stripped him, had that been the case. Said Motley was known to have left Mr. Charles Ingram's at Chester, some time in March 1769, in the morning of a day when there was a terrible snow storm, bound for Halifax, and has not been heard of since until now. He came to this place from Falmouth or thereabouts, in New-London.
On Thursday the 17th instant, as one Hall, a soldier in his Majesty's 59th Regiment, quartered in this Town, was out a hunting in the woods, about 14 miles from this place; he found, as he reported, at his return, within five yards of Magaguash road, the corpse of a man lying above ground, which evidently appears, from the description given by said Hall of his cloths, &c. and by a razor which he took out of his pocket, on the handle of which was marked the name Motley, to be the remains of Mr. John Motley, carpenter, well known in this Town for many years. There was in his pocket-book which contained a number of papers, but they were so much perished by the weather &c. that nothing could be gathered from them. A powder horn full of powder, some ball, and a small quantity of shot was likewise found with him, but no gun. We are not suspicious of his being killed by the Indians, as it is natural to suppose, that they would have stripped him, had that been the case. Said Motley was known to have left Mr. Charles Ingram's at Chester, some time in March 1769, in the morning of a day when there was a terrible snow storm, bound for Halifax, and has not been heard of since until now. He came to this place from Falmouth or thereabouts, in New-London.
What sub-type of article is it?
Death Or Funeral
What keywords are associated?
John Motley
Body Discovery
Halifax Woods
Missing Carpenter
Snow Storm
What entities or persons were involved?
Hall
John Motley
Charles Ingram
Where did it happen?
Halifax
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Halifax
Event Date
Thursday The 17th Instant
Key Persons
Hall
John Motley
Charles Ingram
Outcome
corpse of john motley found, identified by clothing and razor; no gun, perished papers; not stripped, suggesting natural death
Event Details
Soldier Hall found the body of John Motley near Magaguash road while hunting; Motley had left Chester in March 1769 during a snowstorm en route to Halifax and was missing until discovery