The Storm Part 13

_The next Account we have from the Reverend Mr._ Tho. Chest, _Minister of_ Chepstow, _whose Ingenious account being given in his own Words, gives the best Acknowledgement for his forwarding and approving this design._

_SIR_,

Upon the Evening of _Friday, Nov._ 26. 1703, the Wind was very high; but about midnight it broke out with a more than wonted Violence, and so continued till near break of day. It ended a N.W. Wind, tho'

about 3 in the Morning it was at S.W. The loudest cracks I observed of it, were somewhat before 4 of the Clock; we had here the common Calamity of Houses shatter'd and Trees thrown down.

But the Wind throwing the Tyde very strongly into the _Severn_, and so into the _Wye_, on which _Chepstow_ is situated. And the Fresh in _Wye_ meeting with a Rampant Tyde, overflowed the lower part of our Town. It came into several Houses about 4 foot high, rather more; the greatest damage sustained in Houses, was by the makers of Salt, perhaps their loss might amount to near 200 _l._

But the Bridge was a strange sight; it stands partly in _Monmouthshire_, and partly in _Gloucestershire_, and is built mostly of Wood, with a Stone Peer in the midst, the Center of which divides the two Counties; there are also Stone Platforms in the bottom of the River to bear the Wood-work. I doubt not but those Stone Platforms were covered then by the great Fresh that came down the River. But over these there are Wooden Standards fram'd into Peers 42 Foot high; besides Groundsils, Cap-heads, Sleepers, Planks, and (on each side of the Bridge) Rails which may make about 6 foot more, the Tyde came over them all: The length of the Wooden part of the Bridge in _Monmouthshire_ is 60 yards exactly, and thereabout in _Gloucestershire_; the _Gloucestershire_ side suffered but little, but in _Monmouthshire_ side the Planks were most of them carried away, the Sleepers (about a Tun by measure each) were many of them carried away, and several removed, and 'tis not doubted but the great Wooden Peers would have gone too; but it was so, that the outward Sleepers on each side the Bridge were Pinn'd or Bolted to the Cap-heads, and so kept them in their places.

All the level Land on the South part of _Monmouthshire_, called the _Moors_, was overflow'd; it is a tract of Land about 20 miles long, all Level, save 2 little points of High-land, or 3; the Breadth of it is not all of one size, the broadest part is about 2 miles and .

This Tyde came 5 Tydes before the top of the Spring, according to the usual run, which surprized the People very much. Many of their Cattle got to sh.o.r.e, and some dy'd after they were landed. It is thought by a _Moderate Computation_, they might lose in Hay and Cattle between 3 and 4000 _l._ I cannot hear of any Person drowned, save only one Servant Man, that ventur'd in quest of his Master's Cattle. The People were carried off, some by Boats, some otherways, the days following; the last that came off (that I can hear of) were on _Tuesday_ Evening, to be sure they were uneasy and astonished in that Interval. There are various reports about the height of this Tyde in the _Moors_, comparing it with that in _Jan._ 1606. But the account that seems likeliest to me, is, that the former Tyde ran somewhat higher than this. 'Tis thought most of their Land will be worth but little these 2 or 3 years, and 'tis known, that the repairing the Sea Walls will be very chargeable.

_Gloucestershire_ too, that borders upon _Severne_ hath suffered deeply on the Forrest of _Deane_ side, but nothing in comparison of the other sh.o.r.e, from about _Harlingham_ down to the mouth of _Bristol_ River _Avon_, particularly from _Aust Cliffe_ to the Rivers Mouth (about 8 miles) all that Flat, called the _Marsh_ was drowned. They lost many Sheep and Cattle. About 70 Seamen were drown'd out of the _Canterbury_ Storeship, and other Ships that were Stranded or Wreck'd. The _Arundel_ Man of War, _Suffolk_ and _Canterbury_ Storeships, a _French_ Prize, and a _Dane_, were driven ash.o.r.e and d.a.m.nified; but the _Arundel_ and the _Danish_ Ship are got off, the rest remain on Ground. The _Richard and John_ of about 500 Tun, newly come into _King-road_ from _Virginia_, was Staved.

The _Shoram_ rode it out in _King-road_; but I suppose you may have a perfecter account of these things from _Bristol_. But one thing yet is to be remembred, one _Nelms_ of that Country, as I hear his Name, was carried away with his Wife and 4 Children, and House and all, and were all lost, save only one Girl, who caught hold of a Bough, and was preserved.

There was another unfortunate Accident yet in these parts, one Mr.

_Churchman_, that keeps the Inns at _Betesley_, a pa.s.sage over the _Severn_, and had a share in the pa.s.sing Boats, seeing a single Man tossed in a Wood-buss off in the River, prevailed with some belonging to the Customs, to carry himself and one of his Sons, and 2 Servants aboard the Boat, which they did, and the Officers desired Mr. _Churchman_ to take out the Man, and come ash.o.r.e with them in their Pinnace. But he, willing to save the Boat as well as the Man, tarried aboard, and sometime after hoisting Sail, the Boat overset, and they were all drowned, _viz._ the Man in the Boat, Mr.

_Churchman_, his Son and 2 Servants, and much lamented, especially Mr. _Churchman_, and his Son, who were Persons very useful in their Neighbourhood. This happened on _Sat.u.r.day_ about 11 of the Clock.

_Your Humble Servant_, Tho. Chest

_Mr._ Tho. Little _Minister of_ ---- Church _in_ Lyn, _in the County of_ Norfolk, _being requested to give in the particulars of what happen'd thereabouts, gave the following, short but very pertinent Account_.

_SIR_,

I had answer'd yours sooner, but that I was willing to get the best Information I could of the effect of the late dismal Storm amongst us. I have advis'd with our Merchants, and Ship Masters, and find that we have lost from this Port 7 Ships, the damage whereof, at a modest Computation, amounts to 3000 _l._ the Men that perish'd in them are reckon'd about 20 in number. There is another Ship missing, tho we are not without hopes that she is gone Northward, the value of Ship and Cargo about 1500 _l._

The Damage sustain'd in the Buildings of the Town is computed at 1000 _l._ at least.

_I am your faithful Friend and Servant._ Lyn, _Jan._ 17. 1703. Tho. Little.

_We have had various Accounts from_ Bristol, _but as they all contain something of the Same in general, only differently Exprest, the following, as the most positively a.s.serted, and best Exprest, is recorded for the publick Information._

_SIR_,

Observing your desire (lately signify'd in the _Gazette_) to be further inform'd concerning the Effects of the late dreadful Tempest, in order to make a Collection thereof. I have presum'd to present you with the following particulars concerning _Bristol_, and the parts near Adjacent, being an Eye-witness of the same, or the Majority of it. On _Sat.u.r.day_ the 27th of _Novemb._ last, between the hours of one and two in the Morning, arose a most prodigious Storm of Wind, which continued with very little intermission for the s.p.a.ce of 6 hours, in which time it very much shattered the Buildings, both publick and private, by uncovering the Houses, throwing down the Chimneys, breaking the Gla.s.s Windows, overthrowing the Pinnacles and Battlements of the Churches, and blowing off the Leads: The Churches in particular felt the fury of the Storm. St.

_Stephen_'s Tower had three Pinnacles blown off, which beat down the greatest part of the Church. The Cathedral is likewise very much defac'd, two of its Windows, and several Battlements being blown away; and, indeed, most Churches in the City felt its force more or less; it also blew down abundance of great Trees in the Marsh, _College-Green_, St. _James_'s Church-yard, and other places in the City. And in the Country it blew down and scattered abundance of Hay and Corn Mows, besides almost Levelling many Orchards and Groves of stout Trees. But the greatest damage done to the City was, the violent over-flowing of the Tide, occasion'd by the force of the Wind, which flowed an extraordinary height, and did abundance of damage to the Merchants Cellers. It broke in with great fury over the Marsh Country, forcing down the Banks or Sea Walls, drowning abundance of Sheep, and other Cattle, washing some houses clear away, and breaking down part of others, in which many Persons lost their Lives. It likewise drove most of the Ships in _Kingroad_ a considerable way upon the Land, some being much shatter'd, and one large Vessel broke all in pieces, and near all the Men lost, besides several lost out of other Vessels. To conclude, the Damage sustein'd by this City alone in Merchandise, Houses, &c. is Computed to an Hundred Thousand Pounds, besides the great Loss in the Country, of Cattel, Corn, &c. which has utterly ruined many Farmers, whose substance consisted in their Stock aforesaid. So having given you the most material Circ.u.mstances, and fatal Effects of this great Tempest in these Parts. I conclude

_Your (unknown) Friend and Servant_, Danial James

_From_ Huntspill _in_ Somersetshire, _we have the following Account from, as we suppose, the Minister of the place, tho' unknown to the Collector of this Work._

_SIR_,

The Parish of _Huntspill_ hath receiv'd great Damage by the late Inundation of the Salt Water, particularly the West part thereof suffered most: For on the 27th Day of _November_ last, about four of the Clock in the Morning, a mighty Southwest Wind blew so strong, as (in a little time) strangely tore our Sea Walls; insomuch, that a considerable part of the said Walls were laid smooth, after which the Sea coming in with great Violence, drove in five Vessels belonging to _Bridgewater Key_ out of the Channel, upon a Wharf in our Parish, which lay some distance off from the Channel, and there they were all grounded; it is said, that the Seamen there fathom'd the depth and found it about nine Foot, which is taken notice to be four Foot above our Walls when standing; the Salt Water soon overflow'd all the West end of the Parish, forcing many of the Inhabitants from their Dwellings, and to shift for their Lives: The Water threw down several Houses, and in one an antient Woman was drown'd, being about fourscore Years old: Some Families shelter'd themselves in the Church, and there staid till the Waters were abated: Three Window Leaves of the Tower were blown down, and the Ruff-cast scal'd off in many places: Much of the Lead of the Church was d.a.m.nify'd; the Windows of the Church and Chancel much broken, and the Chancel a great part of it untiled: The Parsonage House, Barn and Walls received great Damage; as also, did some of the Neighbours in their Houses: At the West end of the Parsonage House stood a very large Elm, which was four Yards a quarter and half a quarter in the Circ.u.mference, it was broken off near the Ground by the Wind, without forcing any one of the Moars above the Surface, but remain'd as they were before: The Inhabitants (many of them) have receiv'd great Losses in their Sheep, and their other Cattle; in their Corn and Hay there is great spoil made. This is what Information I can give of the Damage this Parish hath sustain'd by the late dreadful Tempest.

_I am, Sir,_

_Huntspill_, _Your humble Servant_, _January_ 6, 1703/4. Sam. Wooddeson

_From_ Minehead _in_ Somersetshire, _and_ Swanzy _in_ Wales, _the following Accounts are to be depended upon._

_SIR_,

I received yours, and in answer to it these are to acquaint you, that all the Ships in our Harbour except two (which were 23 or 24 in Number, besides Fishing Boats) were, through the Violence of the Storm, and the mooring Posts giving way, drove from their Anchors, one of them was stav'd to pieces, nine drove Ash.o.a.r; but 'tis hoped will be all got off again, though some of them are very much d.a.m.nified: Several of the Fishing Boats likewise, with their Nets, and other Necessaries were destroy'd. Three Seamen were drowned in the Storm, and one Man was squeez'd to Death last _Wednesday_, by one of the Ships that was forc'd Ash.o.a.r, suddenly coming upon him, as they were digging round her, endeavouring to get her off.

Our Peer also was somewhat damaged, and 'tis thought, if the Storm had continued till another Tide, it would have been quite washed away, even level to the Ground; which if so, would infallibly have ruined our Harbour: Our Church likewise was almost all untiled, the neighbouring Churches also received much Damage: The Houses of our Town, and all the Country round about, were most of them damaged; some (as I am credibly informed) blown down, and several in a great Measure uncovered: Trees also of a very great Bigness were broken off in the middle, and vast Numbers blown down; one Gentleman, as he told me himself, having 2500 Trees blown down: I wish you good Success in these your Undertakings, and I pray G.o.d that this late great Calamity which was sent upon us as a punishment for our Sins, may be a warning to the whole Nation in general, and engage every one of us to a hearty and sincere Repentance; otherwise, I'm afraid we must expect greater Evils than this was to fall upon us.

_From your unknown Friend and Servant_, Frist. Chave.

_Swanzy, January_ 24, 1703/4.

_SIR_,

I receiv'd yours and accordingly have made an enquiry in our Neighbourhood what damage might be done in the late Storm, thro Mercy we escap'd indifferently, but you will find underwritten as much as I can learn to be certainly true.

The Storm began here about 12 at Night, but the most violent part of it was about 4 the next Morning, about which time the greatest part of the Houses in the Town were uncovered more or less, and one House clearly blown down; the damage sustain'd to the Houses is modestly computed at 200 _l._ the South Isle of the Church was wholly uncovered, and considerable damage done to the other Isles, and 4 large Stones weighing about One Hundred and Fifty or Two Hundred Pound each, was blown down from the end of the Church, three of the four Iron Spears, that stood with Vanes on the corners of the Tower, were broke short off in the middle, and the Vanes not to be found, and the Tail of the Weather c.o.c.k, which stood in the middle of the Tower was blown off, and found in a Court near 400 yards distant from the Tower. In _Cline_ Wood belonging to the Duke of _Beaufort_ near this Town, there is about 100 large Trees blown down; as also in a Wood on our River belonging to Mr. _Thomas Mansell_ of _Brittonferry_ about 80 large Oakes. The Tydes did not much damage, but two Ships were blown off our Bar, and by Providence one came aground on the Salt House point near our Harbour, else the Ship and Men had perished; the other came on sh.o.r.e, but was saved. I hear further, that there are several Stacks of Corn over-turn'd by the violence of the Wind, in the Parishes of _Roysily_ and _Largenny_ in _Gower_; most of the Thatcht Houses in this Neighbourhood was uncovered. Sir, this you may rely on to be true,

_Yours, &c._ William Jones

_From_ Grimsby _in_ Lincolnshire, _the following Account is taken for favourable_.

_SIR_,

The late dreadful Tempest did not (Blessed be G.o.d) much affect us on sh.o.r.e, so far was it from having any events more than common, that the usual marks of ordinary Storms are not to be met with in these parts upon the Land. I wish I could give as good an Account of the Ships then at Anchor in our Road, the whole Fleet consisted of about an hundred Sail, fifty whereof were wanting after the Storm. The Wrecks of four are to be seen in the Road at low Water their Men all lost, three more were sunk near the _Spurn_, all the Men but one saved, six or seven were driven ash.o.a.r, and got off again with little or no damage. A small Hoy, not having a Man on Board, was taken at Sea, by a Merchant Ship, what became of the rest, we are yet to learn. This is all the Account I am able to give of the effects of the late Storm, which was so favourable to us. I am

_Sir, Your most Humble Servant_, Tho. Fairweather

_From_ Newport _and_ Hastings _the following Accounts are chiefly mentioned to confirm what we have from other Inland parts, and particularly in the Letter Printed in the Philosophical Transactions, concerning the Salt being found on the Gra.s.s and Trees, at great distance from the Sea, of which there are very Authentick Relations._

_SIR_,

I received yours, and do hereby give you the best account of what hapned by the late Storm in our Island; we have had several Trees blown down, and many Houses in our Town, and all parts of the Island partly uncovered, but Blessed be G.o.d not one Person perisht that I know or have heard of; nor one Ship or Vessel stranded on our sh.o.r.es in that dreadful Storm, but only one Vessel laden with Tin, which was driven from her Anchors in _Cornwal_, but was not stranded here till the _Tuesday_ after, having spent her Main-mast and all her Sails. On _Sunday_ night last we had several Ships and Vessels stranded on the South and South West parts of our Island; but reports are so various, that I cannot tell you how many, some say 7, others 8, 12, and some say 15; one or two laden with Cork, and two or three with _Portugal_ Wine, Oranges and Lemons, one with Hides and b.u.t.ter, one with Sugar, one with Pork, Beef and Oatmeal, and one with Slates. _Monday_ night, _Tuesday_ and _Wednesday_ came on the back of our Island, and some in at the _Needles_, the Fleet that went out with the King of _Spain_, but it has been here such a dreadful Storm, and such dark weather till this Afternoon, that we can give no true account of them; some say that have been at the Wrecks this Afternoon, that there were several great Ships coming in then: There is one thing I had almost forgotten, and I think is very remarkable, that there was found on the Hedges and Twigs of Trees, k.n.o.bs of Salt Congeal'd, which must come from the South and South West parts of our Sea Coast, and was seen and tasted at the distance of 6 and 10 miles from those Seas, and this account I had my self from the mouths of several Gentlemen of undeniable Reputation,

_Yours_, Tho. Reade.

_Hastings_ in Suss.e.x, _Jan._ 25. 1703.

_SIR_,

You desire to know what effect the late dreadful Storm of Wind had upon this Town; in answer to your desire, take the following Account. This Town consists of at least 600 Houses, besides two great Churches, some Publick Buildings, and many Shops standing upon the Beach near the Sea, and yet by the special Blessing and Providence of G.o.d, the whole Town suffered not above 30 or 40 _l._ damage in their Houses, Churches, Publick Building and Shops, and neither Man, Woman or Child suffered the least hurt by the said Terrible Storm. The Town stands upon the Sea sh.o.r.e, but G.o.d be thanked the Sea did us no damage; and the Tydes were not so great as we have seen upon far less Storms. The Wind was exceeding Boisterous, which might drive the Froth and Sea moisture six or seven miles up the Country, for at that distances from the Sea, the Leaves of the Trees and Bushes, were as Salt as if they had been dipped in the Sea, which can be imputed to nothing else, but the Violent Winds carrying the Froth and Moisture so far. I believe it may be esteemed almost Miraculous that our Town escaped so well in the late terrible Storm, and therefore I have given you this Account. I am

_Sir, your Friend_, Stephen Gawen.

_The following melancholy Account from the Town of_ Brighthemstone _in_ Suss.e.x _is sent us._