The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

BOSTON, August 4.

It is thought we have had more severe Thunder and Lightning this Season than in any Summer for a Number of Years past. On Monday Morning last the Lightning struck and shivered to pieces several Trees in the neighbouring Towns. In the Afternoon the House of Mr. Shirley, Victualler, at Roxbury, was struck; the Lightning took the Gable end of the House and shivered that, with a Window Frame, and broke the Window to pieces; also tore the outside of the House very much. In Town the House of Dr. Sprague in Winter Street, was struck: the Lightning came down the outside of a Chimney, took several indirect Courses in one of the Chambers, went into a Closet where were some Curtain rods, these being over a Clock in the lower Room, the Lightning took to that, and the Pendulum of the Clock conducted it partly out of the side of the House and partly into the Cellar: the Tracks of the Lightning were very plain; a Quantity of China was in the Closet, but none broke except a small Saucer. a black Mark was left on the Plates as it passed to the Rods: it tore the Wall considerably, and shivered the Clock case, and drove the Pieces over the Room, and broke a large Glass that covered some Wax work; the Clock happening to be thrown on a Couch received no Damage, the Partitions, Doors, &c to the Cellar were much tore. About the same time the House of Mr. Davis, Barber, in Water Street, was struck: the Lightning broke off a Number of Bricks on the top of the Chimney, and came down by it, into a Closet where were some Curtain rods, tore the inside of the Closet to pieces, drove the Boards and some Clothes that were hanging therein into the Room; the Lightning was conducted by the Rods into the lower Room, tore a Number of Tiles in the Chimney, went into a Closet and partly melted some leaden Weights, also the Heads of several Nails where the boards were ripped, and from thence went into the Cellar: Two Children in an upper Chamber were struck down, but soon recovered, without receiving hurt. The same Afternoon the House of Mr. Bacon, Carpenter, in Temple Street, at the West Part of the Town, was also struck, but no great Damage sustained; the Lightning came down the Chimney, broke a Tile in the Hearth of the lower Room, melted a Pewter Plate, broke the Glass of a Picture, and one of the Windows. Through Divine Goodness no Persons were hurt, tho' several were nigh the Places damaged.
We hear a Barn belonging to Mr. Whitney of Newton, was struck with Lightning on Monday last, and entirely consumed by Fire, with a great Quantity of Hay therein.