Strange Sound Over Massachusetts

From: The Boston News-Letter
Date: May 31, 1759


We have received the following from the Reverend Mr. President Clap, of Yale College.

Mr. Winthorp, Boston, May 26, 1759

The extraordinary Phenomena which happened on the 10th instant, seems justly to demand the Attention and Inquiry of the Curious; and upon your Desire, intimated in the public Print, shall give you some Information.

The Noise was heard as far North as Boston and Mendon, and South and East beyond Cape Cod : As I have lately traveled thro sundry Towns in that part of the Country, I have critically enquired of many Persons who have heard it; and the Towns about Taunton seem to give the most distinct Account of it as follows, viz.

That between nine and ten of the clock in the Morning they heard a Noise like three Cannon distinctly fired about a half Minute from each other, or like the Noise of a Volley of small Arms fired together : After which followed a rumbling Noise like distant Thunder, or an Earthquake, passing from the North-west to the South-east, which continued about two Minutes - Some imagined it was an Earthquake; others, that it was a Training in some of the neighboring Towns. - It was said, there was a bright Appearance in the air; but I had not any distinct Account of it in those Towns. -

A Gentleman in Roxbury informed me, that about the same Time he saw a Ball of about 6 inches Diameter, with a kind of white transparent Brightness, exceeding that of the Sun, passing from the North-east to the South-west, about 40 Degrees high, with a slow Pace, till it disappeared : and about 3 Minutes after, he heard a Noise like a distant Cannon or rumbling Thunder towards the South-west. - It is said, that the same was seen and heard by several other Persons about 10 miles to the South-west of Roxbury. - A Gentleman, who was coming in from the West-Indies, informed me that near the same Time, about a League S.E. from Cape Cod, he saw a bright Ball in the Air much like that before described, passing from the West to the East, about 50 or 60 Degrees high, and seemed at the nearest not to be above 5 Rods from him; and before it got to the Distance of half a Mile, as he imagined, it burst into a Thousand Pieces; which seemed like small Stars, and give a very loud report. He says sundry vessels were then in sight. -

A Gentleman from Martha's-Vineyard says, That near the same Time, he saw a very bright appearance in the Heavens, near the bigness of a Man, passing from the N.E. to the S.W. and it seemed to him to fall into the Sea : And a few Minutes after he heard a Noise, which he then imagined to be a Cannon fired at Newport.

I am, Sir, your very humble Servant;
Thomas Clap