The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Extract of a Letter from New-Ipswich, Sept. 13. 1773.

Last Tuesday the most melancholy Accident, of the kind, happened at Wilton, in New-Hampshire Government, that perhaps has been known in the Country---A large Company was collected there to raise a Meeting-House. and they got up the Body of it, the Beams and Joists, and on these had laid a large quantity of Boards for the more convenient standing ; they had also raised part of the Roof, in doing which they had occasion for a number of Crow-bars and Axes, which rested on the Building while the People got together, and were in the Act of raising another double Pair of Principles with a King-Post, when on a sudden the Beam under them broke at the Mortise in the middle, by which upwards of fifty Persons fell to the Bottom of the House with the Timber, Bars, Axes, &c. and exhibited a Scene to the astonish'd Spectators around the House (for there were no Persons in the Bottom of it, all having withdrawn thro' fear of what might happen) which can't be describ'd ; and could only be equalled by the Blood and Brains, Shrieks and Groans of the dead and wounded, which were immediately seen and heard.--Three were killed outright another survived but a short time, and several others have since died of their Wounds ; of fifty three that fell not one escaped without broken Bones. terrible Bruises, or Wounds from the Axes, &c. And as they were Men pick'd from that and the neighbouring Towns, and many of them heads of Families, the News of their Catastrophe filled those Places with Weeping, Lamentation and Woe, and may fitly mind us all that "Man knoweth not his Time," but "at such an hour as we think not the Son of Man cometh," and it therefore concerns us to be always ready.
The following is a List of the KILLED and WOUNDED.

Belonging to WILTON.
Killed instantly. George Laney.
Mortally Wounded. Francis Putnam, and Ebenezer Cotes (both supposed to be dead before this Time).
Wounded. Joseph Parker, Joseph Stiles, Isaac Frye, Oliver Holt, Jacob Adams, Fisfield Holt, Alexander Mulliken, Samuel Mulliken, Joseph Putnam, Archelaus Putnam, jun. John Stevens, John Cram, jun. Simeon Riggs, and Benjamin Goon.

Belonging to New Ipswich.
Killed instantly. Simeon Fletcher.
Wounded. John Dutton, Simeon Rice, Francis Fletcher, Wm. Clary, Joseph Tucker, Daniel Stratton, & Elijah Flagg.

Belonging to TEMPLE.
Wounded. Peter Brown, Benjamin Crayon, Nathaniel Shelburne, Joseph Foster, Isaac Brewer, and Stephen Lander.

Belonging to LYNDEBOROUGH.
Killed instantly. Reuben Stiles.
Mortally Wounded. Joseph Severance, Timothy Carlton, and Benjamin Jones; the first died the next Day, the second lived but four Days, and the third is supposed to be since dead.
Wounded. David Carlton, Jonathan Chamberlain, Thomas Bass, Andrew Thompson, Benjamin Senter, Ebenezer Gardner Uriah Cram, Edw. Bevens, Nehemiah Hutchinson & John Row.

Belonging to ANDOVER.
Wounded. Joseph Blanchard, and Joshua Chandler.

Belonging to MASON.
Wounded. Daniel Parker, and Stephen Blanchard. Abel Blanchard of Mason, John Blanchard of New-Concord, James Maconey of Pepperell, and Ephraim Barker, of Stratham, were also wounded.