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New England Weather

The Cyclone of 1787 • August 15

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Chapters Overview 1635 Great Storm 1638 Earthquake The Earthquake of 1663 The Comet of 1664 1667 Strange Appearance 1676 Storm and Shipwreck The Comet of 1680 1682 Strange Appearance Dark Day of 1716 1716-1717 Winter 1718 Wreck of the Whidah 1719 Aurora Borealis Storm of 1722-23 1727 Earthquake 1740-1 Winter 1744 Earthquake 1747-48 Winter 1748 Hurricane 1749 Drought 1755 Great Earthquake 1759 Hurricane 1762 Drought 1768 Lightning 1768 Gale 1769 Summer 1770 Great Freshet 1770 Summer The Storm of October 20, 1770 Summer of 1771 1773 Hurricane The Storm of 1774 The Dark Day of 1780 1782 Hurricane 1785 Great Freshet 1786 Tornado 1786 Snow Storms The Cyclone of 1787 The Meteor of 1787 1788 Gale 1794 Whirlwind The Long Storm of 1798 1799 Hail Storm 1801 Freshet 1802 Great Snow Storm 1804 Storm 1806 Solar Eclipse The Freshet of 1807 The Meteorite of 1807 The Cold Friday of 1810 The Freshet of 1814 The Tornado in 1814 The Gale of 1815 The Cold Summer of 1816 The Tornadoes of 1821 Spring Freshet of 1823 The Spring Freshet of 1826 1826 Avalanche 1827 Gale and Freshet 1827 Wreck of the Almira1830 March Storm The Great Freshet of 1830 1833 Meteoric Display Winter of 1835-36 1839 Storms 1841 October Gale 1842 Snow Storm The Freshet of 1846 1849 October Storm 1851 Lighthouse Storm 1851 Tornado Storm of April, 1852

1786 Snow Storms

The Meteor of 1787

THE difference between a cyclone and a tornado is that the former is a wind storm revolving about a centre of low barometer and absolute calm, the greatest force of the wind being at the outer edge of the circle; and a tornado is a local disturbance without regularity of movement. Cyclones blow generally in circles of from one hundred to seven hundred miles in diameter, while tornadoes are generally limited to tracks rarely more than a few hundred feet in length. The best specimen of a cyclone that we have discovered in the history of storms in this section of the world is that which occurred on Wednesday, August 15, 1787. The wind blew in a circle of about two hundred and fifty miles in diameter, which probably had its centre at or near Lake George, in New York. It first came near enough to the earth to do damage in the parish of New Britain, Conn., then proceeded in a northeasterly direction through the southern part of the parish of Newington, then over Wethersfield, East Windsor, Glastonbury, Bolton, Coventry, Thompson (which was then a parish of Killingly), Conn., then over Gloucester, R. I., continuing its course over Mendon, Framingham, Southborough, Marlborough and Sudbury, Mass., into New Hampshire, touching at Rochester, where it was last heard from.

If the reader will examine the map of New England he will notice that the line of the cyclone was a curve, and not a straight course, like that in which tornadoes blow. A cloud carried along by the wind was observed about noon on that day in the northwest, the direction of Lake George. Between one and two o'clock it had arrived at the west of the point where it began to do its destructive work in New England; and this seems to be additional evidence that this was a cyclone.

During the day there had been at New Britain, Conn., quite a strong breeze from the south, and about noon a cloud somewhat similar to thhose accompanying violent thunder showers, unusually black, ranged along the horizon from the north to the west, reaching about one-third up to the zenith, and its upper edge being indented and forming irregular columns, like pyramids. It was different from the common thunder cloud, being one continuous sheet of vapor and not a collection of small clouds. This cloud was seen approaching the south between one and two o'clock. People on high hills had an excellent view of it as it came toward the place that was soon to be the scene of its desolation. They saw a column of black cloud, about thirty rods in diameter, reaching from the earth to the cloud above. It was so dense that the eye could not penetrate it, and it appeared luminous, peals of thunder coming from it, which grew louder as it advanced. It whirled along with great force and rapidity, and was productive of an awful roar, that caused feelings of terror to arise in all hearts. The cloud sped along in a majestic manner, as though sliding on an unseen plane, while from it the black column reached down its horrible arm and touched the earth. When it came quite near, the column instantly divided horizontally, at a short distance from the earth, as though a strong wind had dashed it asunder, the upper part of it appearing to rise, and the lower to spread itself to the extent of sixty or eighty rods. In a moment it would apparently burst from the ground like the thickest smoke, spread the above-named distance on its surface, then instantly whirl, contracting itself to the size of the column described, and lifting its head to the cloud, being charged with sections of fences, huge limbs of trees, boards, bricks, timbers, shingles, hay and similar articles, which were continually crashing against each other in the air, or falling to the ground. At intervals of different lengths, the column performed this movement. But seeming to disdain to stoop toward the earth the cloud itself sailed grandly along on its errand of desolation and death.

The cyclone passed over New England at about three o'clock in the afternoon. Its width varied from twenty to one hundred yards, being most violent at the narrower places. In some portions of its course the clouds appeared luminous, in others not, and sometimes thunder rolled in its midst. In Connecticut only a few large drops of water fell, but in Massachusetts rain descended in such quantities that large tracts of low land were inundated, causing great damage. It was probably not true rain but water that had been taken up bodily from the streams and ponds over which the cyclone had passed.

The wind destroyed all before it, houses, barns and other buildings being utterly shattered, fields of Indian corn and flax blown away, and all varieties of vegetables swept even with the ground. A great many stacks of hay were scattered over the country for miles, much of it being carried into the woods and left on the tops of trees. Apple orchards, whose trees were bending under a great quantity of ripening fruit, and peach and pear trees were torn out by the roots or twisted off near the ground, some of the largest apple trees being carried many rods. Forest, timber and shade trees were also torn up by the roots, or twisted off at the trunks, and carried long distances with cartloads of earth and rocks clinging to some of them, being dropped in field, meadow or street. Whole groves of fine young trees were utterly destroyed. The toughest saplings and closest pasture white oaks were twisted off and woven together, their smaller boughs looking as if they had been struck upon a rock many times. Fences and stone-walls were levelled in all parts of the cyclone's track, and many articles, such as stones and logs, weighing several hundred pounds were lifted into the air, and carried to other places. In some localities the column acted like a plow, tearing the sward off the ground to the depth of from four to six inches, as it did at Southborough, Mass., in the pasture of Lieutenant Fay. Strips of the sward were torn off several yards in length and from two to four feet in breadth. There were no trees, bushes nor brakes growing upon the sod upon which the wind could exert its strength in the ordinary manner, nor were any trees blown across the place that could plow the ground. The evidence clearly shows that the wind itself tore the turf from the underlying strata of gravel. Several men were standing in the vicinity of the pasture when the wind passed, and noticed that a heavy undulating sound, like thunder at a great distance, issued from the column.

By this cyclone, many a hard-working farmer was rendered homeless, and the crop on which he depended for the support of his family during a long winter and until another harvest season should come vanished in a moment.

At New Britain, Conn., where the cyclone first struck, the only injury it did was to unroof a barn belonging to Elnathan Smith.

In Wethersfield, probably more damage was done than in any other place. After upsetting a vessel in the river, the cyclone swept away the residence of Wait Robbins¹ in the southern part of the town, some of the timbers being carried three miles. When the cloud approached, it was watched by the family, but none of them had a. thought that it would prove harmful to them until it had come quite near, and they had seen it take up a horse and toss it to some distance. Then they attempted to escape from the buildings, running into the street. In the house were Mrs. Robbins, four children, an infant five months' old, and an aged negro woman, who was a servant in the family. Mr. Robbins' farm hand was in the barn near the house. Mrs. Robbins ran with her babe in her arms, followed by two little boys and the laborer. When about ten rods from the house, the latter passed the rest and had gone but a few paces beyond them when the wind overtook them. The laborer was thrown over a fence into a garden, and escaped with but little injury. Near the place where the man had passed Mrs. Robbins and the children, the two boys were found amidst the rubbish and timbers of the demolished buildings, they having run in the direction of the wind. The oldest boy, who was about ten years of age, was lifeless, and the other, aged about three years, was so badly wounded that for a while it was feared he would die. Mrs. Robbins was killed, being hurled half way back to where the house had stood. She had clung to her babe, however, through all her terrible experience, and only when death deprived her of her senses did she release her hold. The child was found lying about three rods from her mother, alive, but somewhat injured. The negro woman, with the other two children, fled in a different direction, and they were saved, though not without receiving some wounds. The negress was taken up by the wind, and much more bruised than the children. A part of the house remained standing, but so much shattered that it could not be repaired. Two silk dresses were taken from a drawer in an upper room of the house, carried over the Connecticut river, and dropped at the door of Mrs. Robbins' brother in Glastonbury, three miles away. The barn was large, and stored with grain, hay and flax, all of which were distributed over the country, together with the orchard of large trees that stood near the barn, every tree in it being torn up by the roots, or twisted off near the ground. Mr. Robbins' cider-mill, a building used for pressing hay, and a corn-barn were also levelled with the ground. In the corn-barn were three ox plows, two of which were not found, but the share of the third was carried a distance of forty rods. On the morning of this day, Mr. Robbins had set out on a journey to Dartmouth to make arrangements for his eldest son to enter a school there; but that night a messenger arrived and informed him of the terrible news concerning the fate of his family.

In the same town, the house of a Mr. Rockwell was unroofed, and his small barn was demolished. The havoc among the trees in this section of the town was very great. One large apple tree was torn up and carried almost half a mile. A swamp white oak, that was more than two feet in diameter, was also torn up and carried a distance of eight or ten rods, together with two or three tons' weight of earth and rocks that clung to the roots. Another large oak was twisted off and carried more than twenty rods without striking the ground, bounding on as much farther, the trunk of the tree plowing up the earth in its course. A lad on horseback was hurled from the horse, receiving no material injury, but the animal had his legs broken. Several cattle were also injured, some of them being killed. It was exceedingly fortunate for the town that the path of the cyclone was taken where it would do the least injury. If it had gone half a mile either to the right or left it would probably have been fatal to a large number of people, and a mile and a half farther in either direction would have swept the centre of the town on the north, or the centre of the parish on the south, and probably hundreds would have been kilted or wounded.

At East Windsor, the cyclone came within about half a mile of the church of the First society on its eastern side, and in its path twisted from their roots several trees two and a half feet in diameter. John Stoughton's house there was much damaged, the greater part of the roof being taken off and carried a considerable distance. Several articles of household furniture were taken out of the chamber and carried away. A barn belonging to Capt. Noah Barber shared the same late, a large part of the roof being carried forty rods.

A barn belonging to William Moseley was destroyed in Glastonbury, and also in the same town a barn and a large brick house were unroofed, another barn was entirely demolished, and an old house was nearly destroyed. These buildings were the properly of Theodore J Gale.²

The wind unroofed a bam in Eastbury, belonging to a Mr. Andrus, and also did much damage in Bolton and Coventry.

At Gloucester, R. I., Hie cyclone was more terrible in its effects than anything of the kind that had ever been known there. Several houses had their roofs taken off, and were otherwise much damaged. A large new barn, full of hay, was levelled with the ground, and an old house and another barn were torn to pieces. In the house were the family, who escaped injury by fleeing to the cellar. A corn-crib was taken up, and carried about four rods; and a woman was carried, some distance, but escaped with a few bruises. A chimney, that had been lately built to a new house, was twisted off about eight feet from the top and turned around two inches.

In Southborough, Mass., a number of buildings were attacked with great violence, and rocks weighing several pounds were carried a number of yards.

At or near Framingham, a house was lifted from its underpinning, whirled to some distance, and dashed to pieces. In it were two women, who could not escape, and they were very dangerously injured. Some of their household furniture, such as beds and bedding, etc., had not been found two weeks after the cyclone; a pewter plate was blown half a mile. A yoke of oxen hitched to a cart which was loaded with hay, with a boy on top of it, the team and load weighing about two tons, were lifted from the ground, and carried six rods, the hay being scattered broadcast over the country. A grey oak, sound and green, whose trunk was more than eighteen inches in diameter, was broken off near the surface of the ground and tossed into the air, being moved along in a curved line. For a hundred rods it rose and fell, changing its course, as a writer of that lime said, like a sporting eagle. Sometimes it appeared to be ten rods or more from the ground. At length it pitched from the cloud column to the earth about twenty rods to one side of the path of the wind, being left about a quarter of a mile fiom its stump.

In Marlborough, a barn was hurled from its foundations, and the timbers thrown various ways, much of its contents being carried a great distance, and lost. Some of the shingles in which the nails remained were found fixed on the trunks of trees, as if the nails had been driven into the trees with a hammer. The roof of one dwelling house was torn off, and much of the heavier portions of the debris blown many rods, pieces of boards, shingles, etc., being found three-fourths of a mile away. Several other buildings in the town were also much damaged.

At Rochester, N. H., the cyclone lifted a house in which were eight persons, and carried both house and content a considerable distance, when the building was demolished, the pieces being found the next day three miles from the spot where the house had stood. Two of the people in the house were bruised, but the others escaped uninjured. A barn was also carried off, and had not been found several days after the cyclone occurred.

Tornadoes also occurred in connection with the cyclone in several towns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. In Oakham, Mass., the house of James Hasset, situated in the southern portion of the town, had its roof taken off, and its main body much shattered, Mr. Hasset, his wife and two children were all considerably bruised and otherwise wounded by the whirling timbers and furniture. His barn, measuring thirty by forty feet, though nearly full of hay and grain, was entirely destroyed, not a timber being left whole. His corn-house was also torn to pieces. A large iron bar, about six feet long, and two other bars about four feet in length, were carried nearly ten rods, and pieces of boards, shingles and timbers of all sizes were scattered for nearly two miles in an easterly direction.

At Rutland, the wind blew down a great number of large and deep-rooted white oak trees, clearing a wide path through the lot, twisted the sturdiest of the trees from their roots, and scattered them in every direction. It also destroyed a considerable part of a field of corn. Seemingly gathering new fury, it continued down the side of a hill, struck a comer of Captain Bent's house, and lifted his barn into the air, knocking it to pieces, and throwing several large timbers a considerable distance. In the barn were four or five tons of hay, which was wholly lost. A blacksmith shop and part of a shed were also entirely carried away, together with nearly two hundred apple trees, and much of the walls and fences was demolished.

At Northborough, a little after three o'clock on the afternoon of the cyclone, several clouds running very fast and low were seen to meet over the town, and a black cloud resembling smoke or soot instantly arose from the point of meeting. The two clouds ascended side by side, as smoke rises when forced upward from a furnace chimney, with great rapidity. Their rise was watched by many people, who became very much interested in the outcome of the seeming contest, for the clouds appeared as though racing, each struggling with all its might to reach the zenith first. From all directions a variety of clouds flew to those that were ascending, which formed the common centre of attraction, and were immediately enwrapped by them. All the clouds were greatly agitated, and appeared, as a newspaper correspondent of that lime said, "to be rallying to a war of the elements." The clouds from the east at length gave way, and the tornado dashed through the region. It was first felt at the eastern part of the town, but its violence very much increased as it approached the line between that town and Marlborough and Southborough, and then went through Framingham. Its path of devastation in Northborough was from thirty to forty rods wide, though much less in some places. In Boylslon and Harvard, several houses and barns were unroofed, and several barns demolished. Fences, trees and fields of corn and grain were destroyed here as well as in the main path of the cyclone.

At Dunbarton and Concord, N, H., tornadoes also appeared on the same afternoon. The owner of a new house in the former town, which as yet had no glass in the windows, was in it when the wind approached. All the family but himself went into the cellar while he attempted to put a board up at one of the windows to keep the wind out, but he was blown with the board across the room, and into another without material injury. The house and also his new barn were considerably damaged. In Concord, the tornado destroyed several houses, barns, fields of corn, orchards, etc. A cider-mill that stood at some distance from the Merrimac river was taken up and set adrift in the water. The stream was greatly agitated, and a ferry-boat passing at the time was taken up, and carried a considerable distance, being dropped on the water agaom.

¹One communication gives Mr. Robbins' christian name as Ralph.

²"Theodore Hale," one account says.Source: Historic Storms of New England by Sidney Perley, 1891

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