ML091330432
| ML091330432 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook  |
| Issue date: | 11/03/2008 |
| From: | Florida Power & Light Energy Seabrook |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
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| SBK-L-08172 | |
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Text
SEABROOK UPDATED FSAR APPENDIX 2E HISTORICAL EARTHQUAKES IN THE SITE VICINITY The information contained in this appendix was not revised, but has been extracted from the original FSAR and is provided for historical information.
APPENDIX 2.5.2A PART I
DATE LIST OF ISOSEISMAL MAPS FIGURE NO.
1727 NOV 09 1732 SEP 16 1744 JUN 14 1755 NOV 18 1755 NOV 22 1761 MAR 12 1791 MAY 06 1810 NOV 09 1811 DEC 16 1814 NOV 28 1817 OCT 05 1823 JUL 23 1846 AUG 25 1947 AUG 08 1852 NOV 27 1854 DEC 11 1857 DEC 23 1872 NOV 18 1880 MAY 12 1882 DEC 19 1884 AUG 10 1884 NOV 23 1886 SEP 01 1891 MAY 01 1905 JUL 15 1905 AUG 30 1907 OCT 16 1918 AUG 21 1925 JAN 07 1925 MAR 01 1925 OCT 09 1926 MAR 18 1927 MAR 09 1929 AUG 12 1929 NOV 18 1931 APR 20 1940 DEC 20/24 1944 SEP 05 1957 APR 26 1963 OCT 16 1973 JUfj 15 2.5.2A-1 2.5.2A-2 2.5.2A-3 2.5.2A-4 2.5.2A-5 2.5.2A-6 2.5.2A-7 2.5.2~-8 2.5.2A-9 2.5.2A-10 2.5.2A-11 2.5.2A-12 2.5.2A-13 2.5.2A-14 2.5.2A-15 2.5.2A-16 2.5.2A-17 2.5.2A-18 2.5.2A-19 2.5.2A-20 2.5.2A-21 2.5.2A-22 2.5.2A-23 2.5.2A-24 2.5.2A-25 2.5.2~-26 2.5.2A-27 2.5.2A-28 2.5.2A-29 2.5.2A-30 2.5.2A-31 2.5.2A-32 2.5.2A-33 2.5.2A-34 2.5.2A-35 2.5.2A-36 2.5.2A-37 2.5.2A-38 2.5.2A-39 2.5.2A-40 2.5.2A-41a and b
+
N Y
+
+
7 i+
i I
I i
ii ri
+
l
+
ME
/
F E L T R E P O R T S and PREDICTED ISOSEISMALS (I.=VIIIMM)
EARTHQUAKE OF SEPT l6,1732 prepared by WESTON GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, INC Figure 2.5.2A-2
i VT.
I
+
+
N.Y I
Estimated hmat of hltemtty I!z(MM\\) /
/
Lr--------
+
CONN.
EXPLANATION 4
= Estimated lsaeismal line n
WESTON r(*ll:
Historical Selsmlclty of fkn England (report BE-547601) prepared for Boston Edison Conpany. Pllgrln Unit 2.
Cmcket No. 50-471 ISOSEISMAL MAP EARTHQUAKE OF JUNE 14, 1744 prepared by GEOPHYSICAL
- RESEARCH, INC.
F I G U R E 2.5.2A-3
4B0 C A N A D A 3
/----+/
_- - \\
/--
/ %-Bedford r!
%-Cklmsford ch CD sex
-Gloucester P A.
4 P-Westbarough DETAI
,3
. n 2 Mlles 25 KM.
ISOSEISMAL MAP EARTHQUAKE OF NOVEMBER 18,1755 prepared by WESTON GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, INC.
EXPLANATION 0 = Nat felt l = Felt report, Intensity unassigned art, Intensity, MM Jblished, after:
wt
@=
w&Jo~,w~the
&=Brook(l960) @ = Smith (1962)
Coincident locations coded byquodrard, e.g., @this repori. Brooks.
Y* = Felt repa Epicenter, If p,
@=ThisreP
-
- lsaseirmol line 0- -= Estimated lsosckmol line ms&g 0I Hlstorfcal Selsmlcfty of NRI England (report BE-S67Wl) prepared for Boston Edison Company. Pllgrlm Unit 2.
Docket No. SO-471
NOVEMBER 18, 1755 pr.pand~
WESTON GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH* INC.
Fl R
2.'Ji!"*'
<;) **'. "
'r
~
- ~~
\\
+'"
150SEISMAL MA,P NOVEMBER 22, 1~5!5 AFTERSHOCK
+
1f--+-------- ?
+
+
ISOSEISMAL MAP EARTHQUAKE OF MARCH 12.1761 prepwed by WESTON GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, INC
N.Y.
i
\\
VT ii Estimated limit of felt area MASS.
l Northampton a-l!Z-Middktown l
= Felt report, Intensity unossiqned Y = Felt report, htenrity, MM Epicenter, If published. after:
+
ISOSEISMAL MAP EARTHQUAKE OF MAY 16, 1791
= Estimated lsoseismol line prepared by WESTON GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, INC.
F I G U R E 2.52A-7 pm:
Historical Seismlclty of New England" (report BE-SG7601) prepared for Boston Edison Canpay. Pflgrln Unit 2.
Docket No.60-471
VT.
N. H
/
Esttmated limit of felt arw
>/
/
i OPittsficld MASS.
/
oworccster I
oSpringficld I
---LJ-----
+
I CONN. ---7-Y.I.i
+
EXPLANATION
+ 0 = Not felt 0 = Felt repori, Intensity unossiqned p
n Felt repoti, Intensity, MM Epicenter, If published, otter:
+
ISOSEISMAL MAP f = Isoseisrral lire c--
/
=Estim&d lsoseismol line EARTHQUAKE OF NOVEMBER 9,181O prepared by WESTON GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, INC.
F I G U R E 2.5.2A-8 r(lll:
Wstorlcal Selsmiclty of tkw England (report BE-567BOl) prepared for Boston Edison Compdny. Pllgrln Unlt 2.
Docket tb. SO-471
GENERALIZED ISOSEISMALS d<
D E C. 1 6, 1811
[I Generalized isoselsmal map of the earthquake of December 16, 161 I at 0815 ChlT. MM intcnsrty values at mdwduai oolnts arc pvin m Arabic numerals (see Table I for sources of informationI.
The lsoscIsms.
labeled wrtn Roman numerals. mdxare the outer bound of tne region of specified intensity.
Nuttli, Otto W.,
1973, The Xississippi Vallev Earthquakes of 1811 and 1812:
Intensities, Groundon and Magnitudes, B.S.S.A.,Voi.
63, No. 1, pp.
227-248.
Figure 2.5.iA-9
r N. H.
d-43 i
\\
M A S S.
/
\\
I---.--
/
t 7-r-----.---
+rl,
+
i:
9 C42' ix.
/ R. I.
7
\\
i EXPLANATION 0 = Not felt l = Felt report, lntenstty unassigned Ye = Felt report, Intensity, MM Epsenter, If publahed, after:
@ = This report
@ =Brooks 11960)
@= ~;r;wo~;s/;;;;~the
@ = Smith (1962)
Comcident locotiins coded by quadrant.
e.g.. C)this report. Brooks.
ISOSEISMAL MAP EARTHQUAKE OF NOVEMBER 28.18 14
,+I Isoseismal line
- Estlmoted tsose~smol lme 25 Y@
F 7
I I
1 50 MifFI 0
2 5 So KllQmctorr an: Htstorical Seismicity of New England (report BE-SG7601) prepared for Boston Edtson Company, Pilgrim Unit 2.
Docket No. 50-471 prepared by WESTON GEOPHYSICAL
- RESEARCH, INC.
FIGURE 2.5.2A-IO
ME.
Middlstown,
)
New London-Ed nr
t?--gx -
Estimated limit of r,, I*-^
+
I
New York-Not Felt Ye
- Felt report. lntensitv. MM Epicenter. If published. after:
IJ, ISOSEISMAL MAP Coincident bcotions coded by quadrant, EARTHQUAKE OF e.g.,@thisrcpcft.
Brooks.
OCTOBER 5,1817 c-1 lsoseismal lift4
/
-Estimated lrmeismol line prepared by
..I-^--.. - - -
=HYSlCAL RESEARCH, INC.
FIGURE 2.5.2A-II I
I 0
is 50 KiiometCrS Frm:
Hfstorfcal Selsmiclty of New England (report BE-SG7601) prepared for Boston Edfson Cmpany. Pilgrfm Unit 2.
Oacket NO. 50-471
.Reading
\\
.Lexingtonrc-worcetter,
. oston d,
. Milton qNorthampton
+ 410 EXPLANATION l = Felt report, tntmsity unassigned Y@ = Felt report, Intmsity, MM Eptenter, If published, after:
@ = Eo~thquokeliihry of fhc Umtcd States 11973)
~=6rooks~t9601
@=Smith(l962)
Coincident locations coded by qwdmnt, e.g.. @this report. Brooks.
ISOSEISMAL MAP EARTHQUAKE OF JULY 23, 1823 prepared by it++--rZ~
5p Mllcr WESTON GEOPHYSICAL
- RESEARCH, INC.
50 Kilometers FIGURE 2.5.2A-12 cm Historical Setsmldty of New England (report BE-SG7601) prepared for Boston Edison Company. Ptlgrlm Unit 2.
Docket No. 50-471
VT.
l Gmter Horb Estlmoted limit of
.Gilmanton a-Conterbury 7-z l GMllfldd Bucklond I
.H-Whmely
- Amherst
%H-Northampton I
@-W-Springfield
. m%Concord
.Allentown
%eerfkeld f
.Amherst MASS.
l IP-Millbury CONN.
\\
.Hartford I
R.I.
L, I
!History ofthc tcs ll973)
ISOSEISMAL MAP EARTHQUAKE OF AUGUST 25, 1846
/
- Ettimoted lrorcismol line prepared by WESTON GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, INC.
F I G U R E 2.5.2A-13 rm: Historical Selsmlcity of New England (report BE-SG7601) prqared for Boston Edison Company. Pilgrim Unit 2.
Docket No. 5&471
V T.
ME.
Estimated limit of CONN.
@=6roak.(l960)
Umtcd Stotes(l973)
@ = Smith (1962)
Coincident bcotions coded by quadrqnt, ISOSEISMAL MAP EARTHQUAKE OF AUGUST 8, 1847
= Estimated lsoseismal hne prepared by 5p M#ICI WESTON GEOPHYSICAL
- RESEARCH, INC.
50 Kb7leerl F I G U R E 2.5.2A-14 am:
Historical Seismiclty of New England (report BE-SGXGI) prepared for Gaston Edison Ccanpany.
Pilgrim Unit 2.
Docket No. W-471
V T N. H oConcud MASS.
EXPLANATION Fe0 report, Intensity, MM Epicenter, If published. after:
ISOSEISMAL M A P EARTHQUAKE OF NOVEMBER 27,1852 prepared by WESTON GEOPHYSICAL
- RESEARCH, INC.
F I G U R E 2.5.2A-15 F r o m :
Historical Setsmlclty of Mew England (report BE-S67601) prepared for Boston Edison Company.
Pilgrim Untt 2.
Oocket No. 50-471
h t
M E N. H.
oLaconio OConcord f MASS.
In-+
---.-----~
I
+ ~f~-~~
i C O N N.
c) 47 EXPL~NA+ION O:Not felt l
Felt report. Intensity unassigned Y* = Felt report, Intensity. MM Epicenter, If published, after:
ISOSEISMAL MAP EARTHQUAKE OF DECEMBER I I,I854 T
- Isoselsmd line
/- -8 Estimated koscbmol line prepared by 0
2 6 so Miles WESTON GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, INC.
F I G U R E 252A-16 rml :
'Historical Seismiclty of Neu En9land" (report BE-S676011 prepared for Boston Edlsm Canpany.
Pll9rlm Lit 2, Docket No. S&471
+
- I
--.5' r--.-----c-l- )
\\
I
~
I
)
\\....-
-/
j
('""
f
/.
~
VT I
f In.,
(
I I
(
. j
--r"'
~ ------'
l..-.
I I
I
".+
ISOSEISMAL MAP EARTHQUAKE ~;7 DECEMBER 23, pntporeA~~ESEARCH, I~
WESTON GEOPHYSIC FIGtJAE 2.!I.U-
i &urlinpton
-J c
/.,J
&ittteton Estimated limd of
+\\
--+------
EXPLANATION 0 = Not felt i
l = Felt report, tntmsvty unossiqncd Y* - Felt report, Intensity, MM Epicenter, If pubhshed. after:
@This report @= :or;r;uo!o~j~p;;31p
@=Brooks(t960)
@Smith (1962)
J Coincident locot1ons coded by quadrant, e.9.. @this report. Brooks.
700
+ 45 C427 EARTHQUAKE OF NOVEMBER 18.1872 prepared by WESTON GEOPHYSICAL
- RESEARCH, INC.
F I G U R E 2.5.2A-18
,a=
Isoseismat hne
= Estimated lsoseismal hne do
.y 26 i
I I.
I 50 Mites 0
25 So Kctometrra 111: %lstorical Selsnicfty Of New England (report BE-SG7601) prepared for Boston Edison Company, Pilgrim Unit 2, Docket No. W-471
VT.
N.Y.
i I
+
N.h Estlmotcd l~nc of felt are0 I/i
\\
7 Portsmouth E,
/
i IL 42t I
Lf-------?--
+
I C O N N.
ltmsity unorsigned
+
Idensity, MM wd, after:
a3 = uy&;;y&th
~roonw~) @*Smith (1962)
ISOSEISMAL M A P
¶psgy&zr-e$yzEymti*
EARTHQUAKE OF MAY 12, 1880
/
= Estimated isoscismat tine prepared by lie Men WESTON GEOPHYSICAL
- RESEARCH, INC.
FIGURE 2.5.2A-IS (PLANATION ran:
H1stor1~111 Scismlclty of New England (report GE-SG76Gl) prepared for Boston Edison Company. Pilgrfm Unit 2.
Docket No. S&471
V T
+
N. H
/
i i
ONashua r
c+aw.ll MASS.
42y i
l-~----
t I
CONN.
ISOSEISMAL MAP Coincident bcations coded by quadrant, e.g.. @this report, Brooks.
EARTHQUAKE OF DECEMBER 19,lBB2 f = lsoseismol line
/ - -= Estimated lsoseismol line
- w Mier prepared by WESTON GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, INC.
FIGURE 2.5.2A-20 rm: Historical Sdsmlctty of New England (report BE-S676011 prepared for Boston ELlson Cap&, Pll+ln Lhlt 2.
Docket lb. 50-471
h Rockwood, C. G., Jr.,
"Notices of Recent American Earthquakes",
Amer. Jour. Sci.,
V. 29, pp. 425-437.
Figure 2.5.2A-21
V T
,,Ruqnd N. Ii I
MASS.
0 Springfield I
CONN.
I I
I i
I\\
l = Felt report, intensity unorriqned f
= Isos4ismaI line
/Y -= Estlmatcd Isosrismal Imc prepared by WESTON GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, INC.
F I G U R E 2.5.2A-22
- rm: ntstorical selsmidty of New England (rcpcrt BE-SG7BOl) pt-epared for Boston Edlson Conpeny. Pilgrim Unit 2.
Docket Wo. W-471
REINTERPRETATION OF THE INTENSITY DATA
-t
\\ \\i d
I I
2ffi 4!B K I L O M E T E R S I
-r
.--IsoseismaL intensities for map of the Eastern United States contoured to show the broad regional patterns of the the 1886 Charleston earthquake.
Contoured intensity levels are shown in Roman numerals.
reported "Studies Related to the Charleston, South Carolina, Earthquake of 1886-A Preliminary Report".
Geological Survey Professional Paper 1028, U.S.G.S., Washington, D.C.,
1977.
Figure 2.5.W23
V T Estimated limit of
/
.,Lebonon felt oreq
.&lmont
\\
i
.lP~Lomr Gilman
%-Canterbury
\\
&-Antrim
+
.llMZ~Kcene JY-Y-MMchester
\\
MASS.
C4P EXPLANATION 0 = Not felt l q Felt report, lntenslty unassigned Y* = Felt report, Intensity, MM Epwnter, If published. after:
@ =This wart
@ = EarthquakeHistory ofthe
@=Brooks(l960)
Undcd Stotes(l9731
@ = Smith (1962)
Coincident locations coded by qwdront, e.g.. @this ~;~~c~,~~~;;Ics
,L
= Estimated Iscwismol hne YPC,-, 0 25 t 1.,I,, L I 50 MTlca 0
25 50 Kltometerl RI:
Wtstortcal Seismictty of New England (report BE-SG7601) prepared for Boston Edtson Company. Pilgrim Unit 2, Docket No. 50-471 ISOSEISMAL MAP EARTHQUAKE OF MAY I, 1891 prepared by WESTON GEOPHYSICAL
- RESEARCH, INC.
F I G U R E 2.5.2A-24
1Il'*lIIl11'l~ l"IOR r
.1I'Ill'c..-
_Iootl-IR'_
-Su..hl4""
~1an.1llIlI,",hlE.
...*m*w...iII OMIIiTH>el..'
ISOSEISMAL MAP EARTHQUAKE OF JULY IS" 1905 prepared by WESTON GEOPHYSICAL :I~;~~~~~AI_~
43-t I
N.Y.
i 3
7 ME.
owen*aR.
Ii.
+
VT.
/
Estimated limit of
+
I i
MASS.
1 I
==?
I
---Lr----T-
+
I CONN.
&/E ~~~~~~~~~
ISOSEISMAL MAP Coincident bcatiins coded by qwdmnt, EARTHQUAKE OF AGUST 30,,9*5
<-s lfoscismal line 0
0 Estimated lsoscismol line prepared by 0
f 5oYiln WESTON GEOPHYSICAL
- RESEARCH, INC.
0 25 50 K,to*.t.rs F I G U R E 252A-26
- ron: Wlstorful Scisniclty of New England (report BE-567501) prepared for Boston Edison Compaty. Pllgrln Unit 2.
Docket No. 5&471
N.Y.
I i
I
/
i i
I--.-..-
I
+
Ic
\\
\\--
-y---sir--------
N. H t
.KWlC Est~moted limit of i
EXPLANATION
+ 0 = Not felt l = Felt report, Intensity unassiqncd Y* = Felt report, Intensity, MM Epicenter, If published. after:
ISOSEISMAL M A P EARTHQUAKE OF OCTOBER 16,1907
- Estimqted lsoseismal hnc prepared by WESTON GEOPHYSICAL
- RESEARCH, INC.
FIGURE 252A-27 h-an:
Wtstorlcal Setsmlclty of NW England (report BE-SG7601) prepared for Boston Edfson Cmplny, Pllgrtn Unit 2.
Docket No. 5&471
720 46*-b CANADA EXPLANATION 0 = No1 felt l
- Fell report, Intensity unar.siqmd Y* = Felt report, himsity, MM Epicenter, If published. offer:
MAINE Estimated limit of oModason felt orea y
30rminatan
+
@=Thiireport
@ = E~hquokkiistory of the Undcd States (1973)
@=6rook(l9601
@ =Smith (1962)
Caincjdent locations coded by quodmnt.
eG(p~~~~sLB;;;
/
= Estimated lracirmal line 0
25 I
1 0
n 50 Kilometera
'HlSt~rlC~l Selnldty of Ilc* England" (report BE-567601) p~~rcd for Boston Edison tapmy. Pilgrim hit 2.
Dxket No. SCM71 ISOSEISMAL M A P EARTHQUAKE OF AUGUST 21,1918 prepared by WESTON GEOPHYSICAL
- RESEARCH, INC.
FIGURE 2.5.2A-28
N. Y.
I i
L.-
i
/
V T.
t Estimolcd lrmt of felt area
/
/&m&bury
\\
onl-Worce5.ter Braintree*-
. 1PBrockton )
42-i I-----~~------~
+
C O N N.
EXPLANATION Intensity unarsiqncd Intensity, MM ishcd. otter:
ISOSEISMAL MAP EARTHQUAKE OF JANUARY 7,1925
/
- tsosehmol llne
/ - -8 Estimated lsoscismol lme
- e HiCI prepared by WESTON GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, INC.
F I G U R E 2.5.2A-29
+an: Wstorlcal Seismtclty of tkw England (report BE-5676013 prepared for Boston Edison Company. Pilgrim Unit 2.
Docket No. So-471
Smith, bl. E. T.,
Earthquakes of Eastern Canada And Adjacent
-- -___ --_- :-- i-_--_
- Areas, 192Q-5959, Publications of the DominIon Olxxr-
- vatory, Qepartment of Mines and Tecllnicnl Surveys, Ottawa, Canada, 1966, p. 119, Vol. 32, No. 3.
t TC
+-
/
I+10 700
\\
+ 45 1
I
&gusto
/
L/;
oRutlond I
VT.
.0Peo~k
.I!? C o n c o r d
/
%$mouth
,nl-JFManchester
+
/Gaffs F a l l s,,/
Fran:
Hfstoricrl Seismlcity of New England (report BE-SG7601) prepared for Boston Edison Company. Pilgrtm Unit 2, Oocket No. SO-471 MASS EXPLANATION 0 = Not felt l = Felt report. Intensity unassigned Y 5 Felt repor?, Intensity, MM Epicenter, If published. after:
@ = This report
@ = ~wtrt&&torc$be
~=Broolo(l960)
@=Smith (19621 Coincident locations coded by qwdront,
- .b(&M;m;so~
/
= Estimated isoseismol line c
25 y Mikl WESTON
+43 ISOSEISMAL MAP EARTHQUAKE OF OCTOBER 9,1925 prepared by GEOPHYSICAL RESE ARCH, INC-2 i,,,
1 3
2:
F I G U R E 2.5.2A-31
N. Y.
I 420-t VT.
/
oLebanon OLoconia
/
Esiimotcd limit of i
i MASS.
I
Lf-----~
t I
C O N N.
-r--
R.I.
I I
EXPLANATION
+
Felt report, Intensity, M M Epicenter, If published, otter:
@ = This report
@ =,;;:u;&&$v;f
@=Brook(t9601
@=Smith(l9621 f n lsoseismal line C-
/
= Estimated lsoseismo1 line ISOSEISMAL MAP EARTHQUAKE OF MARCH 16, 1926 prepared by IM Mies WESTON GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, INC.
FIGURE 2.5.2A-32 011: Historfcal Sefmldty of )Icr England (report BE-SS7601) prepwed for Eaton Edfson Conplny. Pflgrin Mt 2, Docket No. 50-471
43-f N. Y.
I I
VT.
t
-f NJ oLittleton i
/ 7
/
/
/
0H0n0vcr
%bonon N. H I
sny I
+ Lr-----F-I C O N N.
I I
ISOSEISMAL MAP EARTHQUAKE OF MARCH 9,1927
<-
- Isoscismd line
/
- Estimated lsoseismol line prepared by 0
La so Miles WESTON GEOPHYSICAL
- RESEARCH, INC.
I....
I 0
24
%J Ktlom.trrr FIGURE 2.5.2A-33 l-m:
Historical Seismlclty of New England (report GE-SG7601) prepared for Gostan Edison Cceqway, Pilgrim Unit 2.
Oocket No. SO-471
9a" Heck, N. H. and R. R. Bodle, 1931, United States Earthquakes, 1929, United States Department of Commerce, Coast and Geodetic Survey, Washington, D.C., p. 7.
nlr htYu, NW York. *t2xpuks of August x2, 1929. A rodincation of Eec'l.ud 2cdle (1931, tig. 3)r U5,OOO sq. A.
Docekal, J.,
1971, Earthquakes of the Stable Interior with Emphasis on the Midcontinent, Department of Geology,
Figure 2.5.2A-34
GRAND EANKS EARTHOUAKE l
NOV.
18.1929 Smith, W.E.T.,
Earthquakes of Eastern Canada and Adjacent Areas, 1928-1959, Publications of the Dominion Observatory, V. 32, NO. 3, Ottawa, Canada, 1966.
Figure 2.5.2A-35
I bt 12 72 I
70 Area aImed by Lnke George rhock of April 20 Neumann, Frank, United States Earthquakes, 1931, U.S. Dept. of
- Commerce, Coast and Geodetic Survey, Washington, D.C., 1932 April 20, 1931 Figure 2.5.2A-36
-hoeeismnlr o f the Kcxv lhmprhrre eerthquekee of December 20 end ?a. based on inreetigntions of Northeastern Seirmolopwal Anrocietion.
Neumann, Frank, United States Earthquakes, 1940, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Coast and Geodetic Survey, Washington, D.C.,
1942..
Dec. 20, 24, 1940 Figure 2.5.2A-37
IASSENA EARTHQUAKE,&.
FIGURE 6. Adapted from Mihm (MI4).
Smith, W.E.T.,
1966, Earthquakes of Eastern Canada and Adjacent Areas, 1928-1959, Publications of theDominion Observatory, Ottawa, Canada, Vol. 32, No. 3.
Figure 2.5.2A-38
73 72 71 70 69 68 67 CA N A D A I
April 26. 1957 Brazee, R. J. and W. K. Cloud, United States Earthquakes, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Coast and Geodetic
- Survey, 1957, Washington, D.C., 1959.
Figure 2.5.2A-39
\\
\\
2, 3, 4 = Modified Mercalli fntinsities
- after Breitling, W.,
Crustal Structure and Attenuation Derived from the Boston Earthquake oi 0c:oSer ! 6, 1963, Unpublished Masters Thesis, Boston College, Chestnut sill, Massachusetts, 1965, page 2.
Figure 2.5.2A-40
..ix T-. -
.,I
- t
- LU YORK
/.a.
(.
.a
).
(3 ;
-tk--.
...,( 8.. :.
&L-i_
i I -..
.......I I.
...' v:
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"The Quebec-Maine Border Earthquake, 15 June, 1973", Cana-dian Jour. of Earth Sci.,
V. 12, No. 11, 1975.
Figure 2.5.2A-41a
I*
I
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I 01:09:05 GMT 4.6lmbl 700 Wetmiller, R. J.,
"The Quebec-Maine Border Earthquake, 15 June, 1973",
Canadian Jour. of Earth Sci., V. 12, NO. 11, 1975.
Figure 2.5.2A-41b
APPENDIX 2.5.2A PART II
LIST OF TABLES TABLE NO.
DESCRIPTION 1
2 3
4 Aftershocks of the Earthquake of November 9, 1727 From the Minister's Record (1727-1748) of the Rev. Matthias Plant Record of Aftershocks of the 1727 Earthquake at Newbury and Marblehead, Massachusetts Aftershocks of the 1755 Earthquake Summary of Observations on Aftershocks
INTRODUCTION This section presents a brief discussion of those historical events that are of special interest to the site, either because of their proximity or their site intensity.
Most of the events included in this discussion have a predicted site intensity equal to or greater than IV(MM).
The historical documentation on felt reports near the site, or at nearby localities is also presented whenever available.
Information on felt reports near the epicenters has been included only for those few events that are related to the maximum earthquake potential.
A more complete documentation for most of the selected events can be found in Historical Seismicity of ~ England, prepared in 1976 for the Pilgrim Unit II Docket by Weston Geophysical.
EARTHQUAKE OF 1534 (DATE UNCERTAIN)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
IX-X (MM)
LOCATION:
47.6N, 70.1W EVALUATION:
This event is included in the present catalog for sake of completeness.
Smith (1962) is the first cataloger of this event.
It is omitted in the later edition of the Earthquake History £[ the United States (Coffman and von Hake, 1973).
The time, location, and intensity are quite vague, and the supporting evidence quoted by Smith comes from Thwaites, editor of the Jesuit Relations.
Reference is made to the fact that lithe Sa:vages have preserved the tradition of a great earthquake whiah had happened in fonner timeB~ but that they did not know either the time or the aause of the disturbanae."
Thwaites also quotes from a Topographical Dictionary under the heading "Les Eboulements," where reference is made to the local tradition of an earthquake which happened near this locality between the two voyages of Jacques Cartier (1534-1535).
Clearly, assigning an Intensity IX-X to characterize such a wording is not a rigorous application of the Mercalli scale, but a subjective attempt to imply the occurrence of a severe shock.
Once accepted that the event occurred near Les Eboulements, Quebec and had such a large intensity, it is logical to assume that it could have been felt at the site at the
~ntensity V level.
EARTHQUAlCE OF JUNE 11, 1638 (JUNE 1, 1638, JULIAN CALENDAR)
CA:
20:00 (GMT)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
IX (MM)
LOCATION:
4'7.65N, 70.l7W EVALUATION:
The location of this event has been subjected to mUltiple rev~s~ons by various catalogers.
Unfortunately, the sparsity of information is the main reason for this variety of interpretations.
Because the historical documentation has remained minimal, the presently assumed location must still be considered uncertain.
For sake of clarification, it is helpful to recall that Heck and Eppley (1958) in their Earthquake History of ~
United States listed the event "In New EngZand3
" with no intensity assigned.
Mather and Godfrey (1927) had estimated the potential location "off Cape Ann" and the intensity as VIII (RF)
- Smith (1962), giving high importance to a felt report from Three Rivers (Quebec), decided to give the "St.
La:1.Jrence Vaz.z.ey" as the probable source region, and used the Three Rivers' coordinates.
He also upgraded the Intensity VIII (Rossi-Forel) to IX(MM) without stating his reasons.
In 1965, Eppley, in his revised catalog, changed his own 1958 position and accepted Smith's suggested location and intensity.
In the meantime, Smith (1966) considered that he should not have diverged from Mather and Godfrey, and in a note placed at the end of the introduction to the second part of his catalog, reversed his position and placed the event back "off Cape Ann3 " leaving untouched his own upgraded intensity.
When Coffman and von Hake (1973~ published their revised Earthquake History of the United States, they apparently did not notice Smith's (1966) revision and left the event near Three Rivers, Quebec.
Stevens (1974) in a brief note in the Bulletin of the Geological Society of America signaled, in an answer to Sbar and Sykes (1973), that Smith had removed the event from the Three Rivers' location.
In 1976 further research by Weston Geophysical indicated that some similarity between the 1925 isoseismals and the 1638 and 1663 felt report distributions existed, suggesting that all three events could have the same regional location.
Smith (1962) had also pointed out that a "fairly severe shock in the St. Lawrence VaHey could have produced the observed results" in New England.
In 1976, the Earth Physics Branch accepted the suggestion that the La Malbaie area was a likely location for the event, although other regions should not be excluded.
Basham et al.
(1979) consider the event too uncertain to use it in their risk assessment, keeping 1663 as a starting time.
They concede that an event (magnitude 6) could be accommodated in the La Malbaie region on the basis of the recurrence curve.
The eyewitness reports from the coastal region of Massachusetts, for the earthquake of June 1, 1638, are not inconsistent with those from the earthquake of March 1, 1925 (GMT).
Data from Boston, Plymouth, and Newbury, Massachusetts, Providence, Rhode Island, and the region about Three Rivers, Quebec compare well with the isoseismals of the 1925 event.
The absence of reports of damage to dwellings or chimneys in early documents precludes consideration of the Cape Ann region as an epicentral location for the event.
Samuel williams (1785) of Harvard, in one of the earliest published systematic catalogs of New England earthquakes, considers that the 1638 earthquake, like that of the 1663 earthquake, was centered in Canada.
An earthquake of epicentral Intensity IX(MM),
centered in the La Malbaie region of Quebec, can account for the intensity observations of the historical record for the June 1, 1638 earthquake; it is accepted here as the more probable.
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Anonymous, Town Records Entry, Newbury, Massachusetts "Being this day assembLed to tpeat op oonsult about the well opdePing of the affaips of the towne about one of the cLock in the afternoone~ the sunn shining faipe~ it pZeased God suddenZy to paise a vehement ea:rthquake ooming with a shri ZZ clap of thunder issuing as is supposed out of the east~ which shook the ea:rth and the foundations of the house in a vepy vio Lent manne1' to OU1' great amazement and wonder ~
wherefope taking notice of so great and strange a hand of God's providence~
we were desirous of Leaving it on record to the view of after ages to the intent that aU might take notice of AZmighty God and fea:r his name.,,,
(Cited in Currier 1902, p.
250.)
Bradford, Plymouth Plantation, Massachusetts "This yea:r~ about the fipst OP second of June~ was a great and fea:rfuZ ea:rthquake.
It was in this pZace hea:rd befope it was feU.
It came with a rumb'ling noise op Zow munrru:t' ~ 'like unto remote thundep.
It came from the northwa:rd and passed southwa:rd; as the noise approached nea:rep ~ the ea:rth began to shake and cause Like things as stood upon sheLves~ to cLattep and fall down.
lea~ persons wepe afpaid of the houses themselves.
It so feU out that at the same time divers of the chief of this town wepe met togethep at one house~ conferPing with some of their fPiends that were upon theip removaZ from the pZace~ as if the Lord wou~ he1'eby show the signs of His dispZ.easU1'e~ in theip shaking a-pieces and pemovals one from anothep.
However~ it was very tePribZe for the time~ and as the men wepe set talking in the house~some women and otheps were without the doops~ and the earth shook with that viol.enae as they oouZd not stand without oatohing hold of the posts and paZes that stood next them.
But the violenoe lasted not long.
Arul about haZf an houp~
01'
~ess oame anothep noise and shaking~ but neithep so Loud nor strong as the formep~ but quickZy passed ovep and 80 it ceased.
It was not onLy on the seacoast~ but the Indians feU it within Land~ and some ships that were upon the coast were shaken by it.
So powerfuL is the mighty hand of the Lopd~ as to make both the eaPth and sea to shake~ and the mountains to trembLe before Him, when He pleases.
And who can stay His hand?"
(Cited in Morrison, 1952, pp. 302-303.)
Hull, Diary Entry, Written While At Boston, Massachusetts "The 1st of the 4th month~ about noon~ was a very great and generaZ earthquake.
The vesse],s upon the Pivep~ and the goods that wepe in the said ships~ moved much.
Many upon the Land oouLd sCaPoely stand upright. "
Johnson, 1654 "This yeare~ the first day of the Fourth-Month~ about two of the cZock in the after-noone~ the Lord caused a great and terrible Earth-qu.ake~ UJhich UJas general throughout aZZ the English PZ-antations; the motion of the Earth was such~ that it caused diverse men (that had never knowne an Earthquake before) being at wrke in the FieZdB~ to cast doum their 1.lJOrkins-too7-es~ and run with gast7-y te1'1'ified 7-ookes~ to the next company they couzd meet UJithall; it came from the Westerne and uninhabited parts of this WildernesBe~ and went the direct course this brood of Trave ZleI'S came."
Josselyn "June the second~ a great and terrib7-e earthquake throughout the cozmtry.
".. *at 4 of the clock we descryed
'tAJ)0 sail bound for New-found-7-and~ and so far the Streights~ they told us of a genera7-Earth-quake in New-England... and now UJe are two 7-eagues off Cape Ann. "
Note:
These are notes made upon a voyage from England in 1638.
There is no mention of an earthquake felt while at sea.
Le Jeune, Rev. Paul, 1638, Written at Three Rivers, Quebec "On St. Barna.bas' day ~ we had an earthquake in some pZaces; and it UJas so perceptib 7-e that the savages were greatly surprised to see their bark plates collide with each other~ and the water spill out of their kettZes.
This drew from them a 7-oud ary of astonishment. "
Note:
This account was written at Three Rivers, Quebec on August 25, 1638.
St. Barnabas day is June 11.
Catholic countries were already on the Gregorian calendar.
Corresponding dates in New England would be 10 days earlier or June 1, Old Style.
Williams, Roger, 1638, Written At Providence, Rhode Island "2 things at present for information.
"First~ in the affaires of the Most High; his 7-ate dreadfull voice and hand:
that audible and sensible voice, the Earthquake.
'~ll these parts felt it~ (UJhether beyond the Nanhiggonsick I yet Zearne not) ~ for my selIe I scarce perceaued ought but a kind of thunder
&a gentle mooving &the natiues appI'ehensions~ &but one sudden short motion.
"The younger natives are ignorant of the Zike~' but the dde1' informe me that this is the 5th within these 4 score yeare in the ~:
the first about 3 score & 10 yeare sinae:
the second some 3 Bcore & 4 yeal'e sinae:
the third some 54 yea:I'e sinaeJ the 4th some 46 since... "
Winthrop, John, 1638, Journal Entry Written At Boston, Massachusetts "Between 3 and 4 in the afternoon.** there was a great eal'thquake.
It aarne with a noise Like a aontinued thunder 01' a rattLing of coaahes in LondonJ but was pzoesentZy gone.
It was at Ccmneatie:ut~ at NazoagansettJ at Pasaataquack~ and aU the Pal'ts about.
It shook the shipsJ 'Which rode in the ha:!'bozoJ a:n.d aZZ the isZands J eta.
"The noise and the shakings aontinued about four minutes.
The Bazoth was unquiet twenty-days aftBzo by times."
Hutchinson (1765), Later History published 127 years after the 1638 event "The yea:I' 1638 'Was memorabZe for a very great Bal'th-quake through NeW-EngLand.
The shake~ by the printed cwcounts of it~ and from manuscript Zetters., appeal'S to have been equaZ to that pi 1727J the pewter in many pZcwes being thrown off the sheZves~ and the tops of ahimneys in some pZaces shook down~ but the noise~ though great~ not so surprising as that of the Zast mentioned.
The COUI'se of it was ZJest to east. "
Note:
The account of the later history by Hutchinson contrasts wi~ the eyewitness descriptions provided insofar as it reports chimneys damaged.
No eyewitness document reports any damage to dwellings or chimneys.
EARTHQUAKE OF FEBRUARY 5, 1663 (JANUARY 27,
- 1663, JULIAN CALENDAR)
CA.
17:30 (GMT)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
X(MM)
LOCATION:
47.6N, 70.1W EVALUATION The above coordinates place the epicenter near La Malbaie, Quebec.
They correspond to the March 1, 1925 event.
It should be pointed out that such a location has been continuously proposed by E. A. Hodgson (1928),
(1950), and Smith (1962).
on the other hand, American catalogs show a change of view in this matter.
Heck and Eppley (1958) carry the coordinates of Three Rivers, Quebec: Eppley (1965) and later, Coffman and von Hake (1973), probably following Smith, adopted the La Malbaie location.
The confusion is understandable in view of import~nce given to the description of landslides near Three Rivers, dramatically formulated in some of the principal sources, these of Father La1emant and Mother Marie de l'Incarnation cited by Smith (1962).
The Intensity X(MM), the highest assigned to the La Malbaie event, is again an attempt to reflect the relative seriousness of the shoCk more than a strict application of the Mercalli scale.
E. A. Hodgson (1950) ventured to say that this earthquake rtmay have been lJorse than any of the othe!'s~ o!' may be that the aaaounts we!'e e:r;agge!'ated..* ".
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Hull, John, Diary Entry, Boston, Massachusetts "26th of 11th.
In the evening~ about si:r; o'aloak" was an ecaothquake" that shook muah fo!' near> one-qua'r'te!' of an hour;--the!'e was shaking in seve!'aZ pa!'ts of the town~ and othe!' towns" two o!' th!'ee times the same week; but the fO'I'TTle!' was gene!'al."
Mather, Cotton, Written at Boston, Massachusetts "Earthquakes:
si:r; o!' seven shoaks in Janua:ry
'166:;'.
(Autho!'s Note:
of this Inarease Mathe!'" in his l1Zustrious Frovidenaes" says:
'In the yea!'
1662~ on the 26" 27~ and 28 of Janua:ry~ the Ea!'th was shaken at Least si:r; times in the spaae of th!'ee dayes.
I remember that upon the fi!'st approaah of the ea!'thquake~ the things on the SheLves in the House began to move.
Many PeopLe ran out of thei!' Houses with fea!'
and amazement; but no House feH~ nor was any damage sustained. ')"
Sewall, Samuel, Recollection in letter dated November 14, 1727 "I remember the Ea:rthquake of 1662/3 and my being shaken by it~ as I sat in my father's house at Newbury in the jam of the ahirrmy."
EARTHQUAKE OF NOVEMBER 9, 1727 (OCTOBER 29, 1727, JULIAN CALENDAR)
CA:
22: 40 (L)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
VII(MM)
LOCATION:
42.8N, 70.6W EVALUATION:
This is the second largest historical event after that of November 18, 1755 that has occurred off the coast of northeastern Massachusetts.
Its approximate location is based on felt report distribution (Figure 2.5.2A-1).
The epicentral distance to the site is about 14 miles; the event has been considered related to the Cape Ann pluton and the structure of the northeastern Massachusetts Thrust Fault Complex.
It was felt widely over an area of 296,000 square kilometers, from the Kennebunk River, Maine to the Delaware River, south of Philade:).phia.
Maximum damage was observed near the mouth of the Merrimack River (Intensity VI-VII).
Cracked chimneys were reported from as far north as Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and as far south as Boston.
Historians seem unanimous in that the earthquake was strongest in Newbury, Massachusetts.
The complete listing of all reported accounts have been presented in the Boston Edison Company, Pilgrim Unit II Docket No. 50-471, BE-SG 7601.
Only the most pertinent accounts are included here.
This shock had a long sequence of aftershocks which historical records have preserved.
A discussion of this sequence follows the accounts.
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Allen, J., Boston, Massachusetts (Undated period entry as remark in church record)
"It began as 1 conceive in the South~East, about haLf an Rour after Ten in the Lord's Day Evening after the 29th of October, 1727.
All of a sudden OUT' Rouses shook as if they were faZZing to pieces, and this was attended with a great Noise, which lasted about one Minute, and then took its course Northward.
In a very short time it l'eturn.'s upon us, tho' with far less Stl'ength, and the Shocks wel'e l'epeated seven Times in my hea1'ing that Night; but thel'e wel'e many mOl'e at Salem, Ipswich, etc.
Distant Rumb"Les wel'e heard by us many times until. the next hoiday-Evening.
Since that we don't know that we have heaI'd it; but it has been heard at Newbury every Day since, and fol' mOl'e than three Weeks."
(tj)
Blunt, John, New Castle, New Hampshire (Letter dated January 23, 1728)
H*** on the night between the 29 &SO of Oatober about 9 of the aLoak I retired to bed.
(being my usuaL hour) but being that night otherwise different than commonLy I took a book and read of it fo~ about the*.. of an hour and then composed my bed for sLeep but long had I not been asleep before I aLJoke~ Awoke!
Did 1 lay... :
I Dr>eamt~ oh Dream!
Do I lay ~
~c:" no Dream neither" But to then that I 'lay J be Zieve a mean be~een both~ but never in suah a strong... confi~ation in all my Life:
for as soon as I raised my head from my piU01JJ and my InteZZeat again began to exert its operative faaulty" Perceiving the Bed to Work Like a boat & the house trembled as though it would immediately fall to pieaes and the Te~ibZe noise whiah was began aompared to the strongest that I remember now... to...Rev. Landon to inqure 7.Jhat the matter was (7.Jho himself had just got out of his bed) replied" its a Terrible Earthquake with that 1 ran & go~ my alothes" then we ~ out at the Door" but by the trembling of the Earth and the lJreadfuZ noise accompanying it seemed as the foundations of the Earth now moved and the Powers of heaven shaken the... Land to come from the NW &pass along t01.Jard the SE (this from my own observation...
(manuscript unclear)..*one of our neighbors they plain'ly perceived the shaking of the earth about half a minute before they heard the noise... J aannot now give you a particular account to affeats it had on the place &people" 1 cannot give" the chimneys of many houses have broken and the tops broken off to the roof of the houses and som CeL1.a:r' waUs twnbLed in.
It seems it was a gread Deal more Terrib'le in the towns on Mer.Pimack~
espeiaaZZy Haverhill" Amesbury" SalfbI'U1'Y and NetJbury.** "
Boston Gazette, The, Boston, Massachusetts (Period newspaper account dated November 6, 1727)
"Boston" Nov.
6.
"On the 29th past about 30 Minutes past 10 at Night~ 7.Jhich was very CaLm & Serene" and the Sky fun of Stars" the Town was of a sudden exaeedingLy surprised with the most vioLent shoak of an Earthquake that ever was knozun.
It began with a loud Noise "like Thwuler" the very Earth reel'd and trembled to such a prodigious degree~ that the Houses rock'd and shook insomuch" that every Body expected they should be Buried in the Ruins.
Abundanae of the Inhabitants were wakened out of their SZeep with the utmost Astonishment, and others so sensibLy affrighted" that they run into the Streets thinking themse'lves were safe there; but thro' the Infinite Goodness and Mercy of GOD, the Shock continued but about ten Minutes~ and tho I some smaH damage was done in a few HouBes~ yet by God's great BZessing~ we dont hear that any Body received any hurt thereby.
There were several times ti'll the next Morning heard some (manuscript unclear).
Rumblings of it~ but since then" the Earth has been quiet" tho' the MindS of the PeopLe have stiZL a great and just Ter.Por and Dread upon them.,,,
Clark, Peter, Salem Village, Massachusetts (Period diary entry)
'~eing Lord's day~ at night~
be~een 10 &11 o'c~ock there happened a very great eca'thquake~ accompanied with a te!Tibe~ noise and shaking~
~hich was great~y suprising to ye whoZe Zand~ ye rumbZing in ye boweZs of the earth~ with some lesser trepidation of the earth~ has been repeated at certain times, for divers weeks after."
Jaques, Stephen, Newbury, Massachusetts (Probable period account, date unknown)
"On the twenty-ninth day of October~ between ten and eZeven, it being sabath day night~ there was a terabel, earthquake.
The like was nevel" kJ1.oum in this land.
It acone with a dreadful roreing as if it was thunder, and then a pounce Zike grate guns two or three times cZose one after anothel".
It shook down bricks from ye tops of abundanae of ahimnies, Bome a2most an the heads.*.AU that was about ye houses tremb7-ed, beds shook, some aeUar wans fen parHy dov:m..
Benjamins P~umer's stone without his dore feU into his ceHar.
Stone wans fezz. in a hurzd:roed pZasis.
Most peopeZ gat up in a moment.
It came very often aZZ ye night after, and it was heard two or three times some days and nights, and on the sabath day night on ye twenty-fourth of December fonowing~
between ten and eZeven, it /JaB very 'Loud, as any time except ye firs t ~
and twwe that night after but not so loud.
The. first night it broke out in more than ten places in ye tOlVn in ye al,ay low uind~ blowing up ye sand, sum more, sum Less.
In one plaae near Spring IsLand it blew out~ as was judged tlJenty loads, and ~hen it ~as cast on coaZs in ye night~ it burnt like brimstone. "
Jeffrey, James, Salem, Massachusetts (Period IIdiary" entry in almanac)
"...about half an hour after' ten oaloak there was the most terribZe Earthquake every known in New EngZand -Continued about two minutes of first shook & had several-smaH ones atteM.Vca'ds~
& some night ]/ continued at times an y weeks afte!'Wax'ds an y Peop Ze in Town sat up most part of ye night."
Kelley, Richard, Amesbury, Massachusetts (Period diary entry)
'~n ye yeare 1727, Ootober 29, about ten of ye alock, it being sabath day night, was a Grate earthquake whioh was extrodenery loud and hard as awaked many out of sLeePi3 the housen did shake &windows rater and puter and dishes clater on y sheZves &ye tops of many chimneys feZZ of & maney /Jare so shatered as that peopZe wa:t>e fain to take them doum and new buiZd them again.. "
Plant, Rev. Matthias, Newbury, Massachusetts (Period account, primary source is original Minister's Record BOOK; later variants noted in references)
"Oct. 29. 1727. being the LOY'd's-Day.. ahout 40 Minutes past Ten the same Evening.. theY'e came a gY'eat rumbZing Noise; but befoY'e the Noise was heca'd, 0'1' Shock peY'oeived..
OUY' Bricks upon the HeaY'th rose up ahout three quarteY's of a Foot, and seem'd to falZ dorm and ZoZZ the other way.. which was in haZf a Minute attended with the Noise 0'1' Burst.
The Tops of OUT' Chinmeys, Stone-fenoes, were thrown down; and in some PZaaes (in the loweY' GY'ounds, about thY'ee Miles fY'om my House; wheY'e I dWelZ) the Eca'th opened.. and thY'ew out some Hundred loads of Earth.. of a different ColoUT' fY'om that near the SUT'face.. something darker than yOUY' white Marl in England; and in many Plaoes.. opened dPy Land into good springs, which remain to thi8 Day; and d:r>ied up Springs.. which neveY' came again.
It aontinued roa:ring.. bUl'sting, and shooking oU!' Houses an that Night.
Though the first was much the loudest and most teY'Y'ibte.. yet eight more, that came that Night.. weY'e loud.. and Y'oaY'ed Uke a Cannon at a Distanoe..*
"Postscript.
'7 forgot to teZl you, Sir.. that (except the first Shaak) these frequent Repetitions of the Roaring and Shocks of the Earthquake weY'e upon Me1"1'imaak RiveY'.. and seldom extended above seven or eight Miles Distance from.. or 20 or 30 up the said River; those Instances only excepted.. which I have mention'd in the Relation; and the first Shock of it was greater with us than anywhere else in New-England; and the Tops of Chimneys.. and Stone-fenoes.. were thrown down only in these Parts. II Prince, Thomas, Boston, Massachusetts (Notes appended to a sermon in 1727)
"The Preface.
"Giving a Summary Account of the OCCASION of the foHOUJing Sermons.
"On the Night after the Lord's Day Octob. 29. about 40 Minutes past X.. in a caLm & serene Hour.. the Town of Boston was on a sudden extreamLy surpriz'd with the most violent Shock of an Earthquake that has been knoum among us.
I t came on with a Loud hollow Noise Like the Roaring of a Great fired Chimney~ but incomparably more fierce &terribLe.
In about half a Minute the EaY'th began to heave and tremble:
The Shock' increasing.. rose to the Hight in about a Minute more~ when the MoveabLes, Doors..
Windows~
WaZls~ especiaZLy in the upper Chambers.. made a very fearfuZ Clattering.. and the Houses rock'd & crac:kZ'd.. as if they were all dissolving and falling to pieces.
The People asleep were awakened with the greatest astonishment:
many others affrighted run into the Streets for Safety.
But the Shaking quickly abated.. and in another "half Minute intireLy ceased.
"The Noise & Shakes seem'd to come from the Northwest'Wa:I'd~ and to go off Southeasterly; and so the Rouses seemed to reel.
Some Damage was done to the mol'"e brittle sort of Moveab"Les~ and some Bricks on the Tops of some Chimneys feU; but not an House was broken.~ nor a Creature hurt.
At severaZ times till Day-Zight~ wepe MaPd some distant Rumblings., and some faintexo Shoaks 1J.1ere feU:
But since., the Earth has been quiet in To7.iJn.., tho' the minds of many continue very greatZ-y & justly affeated."
- Sargeant, (Rev.) Christopher, Methuen, Massachusetts (Period entry in notebook)
"Obsexovations on the Year 172?
"This year October the 29th we had the most terrible Earthquake.
It began on Sabbath Day Night between ten & eleven of the clock wh puts people into the utmost consternation &fright many possessed with fear yt It was the Great Day of the Son of man appearing..* It began like a most violent clap of thunder.
Some say preceeded by a trembUng of the Earth.
But it was accompanied with most d:readful Shock of the Earth.
It Continued a Minute &half at least falling
&. then returning with violence three times in the sd Term... "
Sewall, Henry, Newbury, Massachusetts (Letter dated November 21, 1727)
11onored sir:
"ThI'0' God's goodness to us we are alZ weZZ.~ and have been preserved at the time of the late great and terrib Ze earthquake.
We were sitting by the fire and about haZf aftexo ten at night our house shook and trembZed as if it would have fanen to pieces.
Being affrighted we xoan out of doors., when we found the ground did tremble., and we were in great fear of being swallowed up alive; but God preserved us~ and did not suffer it to break out~ tin it got forty 01' fifty pods fPom the house~ where it brake the ground in the common near a place called spring island~ and there is from si:cteen to twenty wads of fine sand thrown out where the ground broke., and several days after the water boiled out like a spring.,
but is now dry, and the ground closed up again.
I have sent some of the sand that you may see it.
Our house kept shaking about three minutes. "
Waldeigh, George, Dover, New Hampshire "An earthquake occurred of which it is recorded that - the shock was very loud., and was attended with a terribZe noise., something like thunder.
The houses trembZed as if they were fonowing:
divers chimney lU8re cracked and some had their tops bpoken off."
Note:
It is uncertain whether this is a generic description, or whether it described the actual effects at Dover.
(Later history published 1913)
Waldron, Richard, Portsmouth, New H~pshire (Letter dated January 12, 1728)
"... the Earthquake stiU aontinues in these PaTts; but it is most frequent and loud neCZ!' the Merrimaak River.
On Saturday night 'l.ast it was heard several times in our neighborhood.
And a Man who lives about a mile distant from us~ in the skirts of a wood~ immediately after the first Rumbling and tittle Shoak~ heCZ!'d a fine musiaal sound~ like the sound of a Trumpet at a distanae*.. the Musiak aontinued till after the Seaond Rumbling, whiah suaaeeded the formeZ' in about ten minutes.
The man's wife heard what he did... "
Weekly News-Letter, The, Boston, Massachusetts (Period newspaper, November 16, 1727)
"Hampton in New-Hampshire, Novemb. 13th. 1727.
"'The first shoak of the Earthquake on the 29th past was here mu.ah as it was in Boston, or perhaps a little stronger.
Divers People in this &some Neighbouring Parishes observed j~st as the Earthquake began, A fl-ash of Light at the Windows:
A Young Man of this Toum being then standing abroad near his Fathers House, at first heard a smaH RwnbUng Noise; immediateZy upon whiah he sew a FLash of Light run arong ypon the Ground 'tiU it aame to the House, and then began the Shake.
It apyears that what he said of the fl-ash of Light was not a meer Fanay, by this, That a Dog whiah was then 7-ying on its Course as the Light aame to him gave a sudden yelp and leap, and theZ'eby sZow'd that he peraeiv'd it.
"'Another thing among us whiah seems worth or Notiae is, A Spring of WateZ' whiah (as the Owner says) has run freely theZ'e Foursaore Years is now, upon the Earthquake very aonsiderabry Sunk, so that they were obrig'd to dig it out~ and tho' the digging has '1'Qis'd the Water something, yet not to its formeZ' height.
But what is~ it may be, yet moZ'e remarkable*
is, That this SpZ'ing whiah was never known to Freeze before~ nOW Preezes 7-ike any standing Water.
It seems nothing has been peraeiv'd at Boston sinae the first Night, but it has been otherwise here; not a Day sinae but that the sowul has been heard, and oftentimes it has been so as to give some Jarr to our Houses.
in the time of the first shoak the Brute Creatures (as was observ'd by some who were then abroad) Ran Roaring about the fields in the greatest distress: and the Reasonable Inhabitants of the Earth were no less frighted.
So was Isreal when GOD aame down upon Sinai~
and the whole Mount quaked greatly:
Then they spoke well., and made promises of Obedienae:
And GOD says upon it, Deut.
5:29 Oh that there were suah an HEART in them~ that they wouZd Fear Me, and keep my Cammands aZ~ays, that it might be we~l with them, and with their Children for ever.
AFTERSHOCK SEQUENCE OF THE NOVEMBER 9, 1727 EVENT DISCUSSION:
The earthquake of November 9, 1727, is characterized by a very long sequence of aftershocks, particularly dense during the following three months.
None of the aftershocks exoeeded Intensity V(MM);
most were only locally felt in the Cape Ann, Massachusetts region.
Several second order aftershocks followed by swarm-type activity are noted.
These are the earthquakes of November 14, 1727, Intensity IV-V(MM) and a series of small shocks during the period November 19 through 22 and January 4, 1728, Intensity IV-V(MM) followed by a series of small shocks on January 18 and 19.
A late large aftershock occurred on February 10, 1728, Intensity V(MM).
Numerous aftershocks were noted by Rev. Matthias Plant at Newbury, Massachusetts who maintained a record of earthquakes felt from 1727 through 1748 in his Minister's Record.
A detailed aftershook record also exists at Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Rev. Ebeneezer Parkman of Westboro, Massachusetts has included in his diary references to some of the aftershocks.
Through research into historical documents, especially diaries and journals, it is possible to reconstruct a very detailed list of the aftershocks.
Table 1 gives the date, local time, and estimated intensity of each aftershock; in general, the Plant's chronology has been accepted as the preferable one.
In Table 2, a comparative listing of the Newbury and Marblehead accounts is presented for the first week after the main shock.
Three aftershocks with an intensity greater than IV(MM) are presented below:
EARTHQUAKE CA.
17:00 Epicentral Location:
OF NOVEMBER 14, 1727 (L)
Intensity:
IV-V(MM)
- 42. aN, 70.6W The epicentral location is assumed similar to that of the main shock, approximately 14 miles east-southeast of the Seabrook site.
No damage is reported from any locality, including Newbury where Rev. Matthias recorded ".*. very loud claps."
It was felt in Essex and Middlesex counties in Massachusetts, as well as Boston and Westborough to the west-southwest.
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Note:
Dated accounts are the Julian Calendar, an addition of 11 days is required for conversion to the Gregorian Calendar.
- Dexter, (Rev.) Samuel, Dedham, Massachusetts (Period diary entry)
"very sensib ~e... as I sat in my study.,
to Yt Degree ytit j arr 'd the windows.
Peop~e were put in a very great surprise by it., both in Boston &in ye Country.
/I Douglass, William (letter dated November 20, 1727)
"Essex and Midd~esex aounties:
"(at 4h p.m.)
'a smaH shoak was feU an over the aountys of Essex and Midd~esex. '"
New England Weekly Journal, Boston, Massach~setts, November 13, 1727 (letter dated November 8, 1727 written from Marblehead with dated entries)
"Marb~eheadh Mass. :... and a very aonsiderab~e one that made our windows jar at 4 * /I Parkman, Ebeneezer (Rev.), Westborough, Massachusetts (Period diary entry)
"My wife and the young PeopZe of the house asserted that between 4 and 5 p.m. they heard the Like again...And this was aonfirmed by many other persons. "
It
- Plant, (Rev.) Matthias, Uewbury, Massachusetts (Period entry, published in 1742-1743)
"Evening; very "Loud aZaps /I
- Sargeant, (Rev.) Christopher, Methuen, Massachusetts (Period diary entry)
"a very aonsiderabl.e return of it. II EARTHQUAKE CA.
23:00 Epicentral Location:
OF JANUARY 4, 1728 (L)
Intensity:
IV-V(MM) 42.8N, 70.6W No damage was reported from any locality.
It was felt from Casco Bay, Maine, south to the Charles River region in Massachusetts.
It was not reported as felt in Boston, Massachusetts.
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Note:
Dated accounts are in the Julian Calendar, an addition of 11 days is required for conversion to the Gregorian Calendar.
- Gookin, (Rev.) Nathaniel, Hampton, New Hampshire (Appendix to sermon published 1727)
"there were two Shocks; the first of which was very Zoud, and jaI'!'ed the Houses.
This Shock, 1 am informed, extended from ChCU'Zes River to Casco-Bay."
- Plant, (Rev.) Matthias, Newbury, Massachusetts (Period account in minister's record)
'lit was very Loud, as any time ezcept ye first, and twice that night after but not 80 loud. II Note:
Casco-Bay is the old name of the settlement corresponding to Falmouth, Maine.
EARTHQUAKE OF FEBRUARY 10, 1728
- CA.
15 : 30 (L)
Epicentra1 Intensity:
V(MM)
Location:
42.8N, 70.6W The earthquake of February 10, 1728 is considered to be an aftershock of the earthquake of November 9, 1727.
The epicentral intensity, based on reports from Newbury and Ipswich, Massachusetts, is V(MM).
The felt area is estimated at 8,500 square kilometers.
No damage is reported for this event.
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Note:
Dated accounts are in the Julian Calendar, an addition of 11 days is required for conversion to the Gregorian Calendar.
Boston Gazette, Boston, Massachusetts, February 12, 1728 (Letter from Marblehead dated January 31, 1728)
"MCU'bLehead, Massachusetts:
'a terribZe shock of an Earthquake, which began with a rumbling noise Zike the roZZing of a Zag over an hoHow floor & inareased until it seemed like the discharging of several cannon at a distance; at which time the earth trembLed 80 as to jar the pewter on the sheLves in many houses; the whoLe shock Lasted about 50 seconds.
ltls thought that had this Shaak been in the Night in stiLL weather it wouLd have appeared the greatest since the Great Shoak on the 29th of October.
This is the 3d shock we have had within these Six Day last past; and about the 30th since the 30th of October last. I" Boston Gazette, Boston, Massachusetts, February 5, 1728 (Period newspaper account)
"we had here the severest Shock that has ever been hea::rd since this 30 of Oct. Last.
It making the very houses shake a:nd the peop1-e to run out into the Streets in the utmost consternation.
"And the same was feLt ahout the same time in divers other PLaces.
And more pax'tiauLarZy at Ipswich.! where it had done considerahZe damage in some houses."
Boston Weekly News Letter, Boston, Massachusetts, February 1, 1728 (Period newspaper account)
we had here in Bos ton the greatest Shock that has been observ'd since the Night after Octob. 29.
It made the Houses Shake and the MoveabZe jarred.
It was perceived mostZy by those indoorsj and many ran out into the streets in great Consternation.
The same was feU in the same manner in diverse othe1' PLaaes. "
Bucknam, Nathan, Medway, Massachusetts (Period diary entry)
"there was an Earthquake y 2 of y CLock yt jarred y house" New England Weekly Journal, Boston, Massachusetts, February 5, 1728 (Period newspaper account)
"there was feU in this Town a considerahl,e Shock of an Earthquake.,
and we Learn that the same was heard and feU about the same time in divers other Taums even as far as Piscataqua."
New England Weekly Journal, Boston, Massachusetts, February 12, 1728 (Period newspaper account)
"about a quarter before 2 of the CLock p.m. one of the most observabLe since the first Earthquake.l but not equaZ to that J the roaring or rwribUng heard very generany in the TOIiJn8 round about J and in mzn.y pLaces a Shaking or TrembLing of the Earth and Houses., the GLass ratZing., and the Pewter on some Shelves J aeasing in about a Minute. "
Parkman, Ebenezer, Westborough, Massachusetts (Period diary entry)
"It was heax'd and feLt by most persons.
The Sound was great., andJ with many a shake was distinct~y perceiv'd... atmost aZZ peopZe heard it and many felt it shake the houses."
- Plant, (Rev.) Matthias, Newbury, Massachusetts (Period acount in minister's record)
"there was a very loud c:lap equaU to any but ye first for Tcr1'or J shaking y houses so as that many people were afraid of their fa~ling doum Pewter:
waB shaked of dressers c:onside1'ab~e distanae."
Plant, (Rev.) Matthias, (Philosophical Transactions published 1742-43)
"there was a very great Roa:ring~ equal. to any but the first~ for XeZTor:
It shook our Houses so ~ that many Peop"le were afraid of thei:r faning down; Pewter eta. was shook off our Dr-essers; the Peop7,e that were in the Churah for Evening Se1'Viee~ ran out; the "lead Windows ratHed to suah a Degree~ as that I thought they wou7,d an be broke."
- Sargeant, (Rev.), Christopher, Methuen, Massachusetts (Period diary entry) tlretu:rned w aonsiderabZe foree ll EARTHQUAKE OF SEPTEMBER 16, 1732 (SEPTEMBER 5, 1732,
JULIAN CALENDAR)
CA.
16:00 (GMT)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
VIII(MM) (R)
LOCATION:
45.5N, 73.6W EVALUATION:
Because this earthquake is one of the largest in the Western Quebec Seismic Zone and its location and epicentral intensity have often been questioned in recent years, both in Canada and United States, it was the object of an intensive study during the preparation of New York State Electric & Gas Corporation's (NYSE&G)
I and II, PSAR (1978).
The main reason for these uncertainties lies in the sparsity of the basic docu-mentation available to the earlier catalog authors; in addition, some of the original information remains confusing because the contemporaneous style is often metaphoric.
A brief review of the historical cataloging of this event is necessary to understand the justification of the revised intensity.
Mather and Godfrey (1927) were the first to estimate the intensity of the event.
They associated an Intensity IX (Rossi-Forel) with an epicenter somewhere "in Quebea"; they also estimated an Intensity III (RF) for the Boston area.
They gave only two references:
Brigham (1871) and Lewis and Newhall (1865).
The second catalog to appear was that of Heck and Eppley (1958), which placed the epicenter northwest of Montreal (46N, 74W), with an Intensity VIII(MM).
Brigham was the only reference given.
Brigham had leaned heavily on Rev. Matthias Plant's diary for his summary (See below).
Brooks (1959), in his catalog, retained the same parameters as Heck and Eppley.
Smith (1962) moved the epicenter to Montreal (45.5N, 73.6W), and raised the intensity to IX(MM), with no further explanation than "ahi11Tl'Leys feU and waUs were araaked.
Three hundred houses were damaged.
One girl was kiUed."
In support, he quoted from a letter by Mother Duplessis, religious superior of the hospital in Quebec to a female friend in France.
He also gave a dozen references which will be discussed below.
Eppley (1965) and Coffman and von Hake (1973) repeated the new location and intensity, and simply gave Brigham and Smith as their only references.
Smith's choice needs to be critically evaluated, in view of the fact that limited evidence is presented in support of the upgraded intensity that makes this event the largest one within the Western Quebec Seismic Zone.
Besides referring to all antecedent catalogs, Smith listed several other sources, but these sources referred to the 1732 earthquake only in a superficial way, except for two of them, Laflamme and E. Hodgson, which quoted part of the same letter of Mother Duplessis.
It becomes apparent after reading the references used by the various catalog authors, that they had no first-hand reports from Montreal itself, and that the letter from Mother Duplessis, written in Quebec, was the key description of the main earthquake, its effects and aftershocks.
From 1976 to 1978, investigations were carried out by Weston Geophysical, both in Montreal, Quebec, and at the Canadian Archives in Ottawa, to uncover additional information which could directly or indirectly help in ascertaining both the epicentral location and intensity of the event.
Also included was a search for felt reports at more remote locations.
The major findings consist of a brief history of the religious community which was in charge of the Hotel-Dieu Hospital in Montreal, written in Montreal, by Sister Cuillerier, for the years 1725-1747, and of some correspondence related to compensatory funds for the repairs of local damages.
It is considered that from their nature, i.e., historical notes and business letters, these primary sources are more objective and direct than second-hand reports, even if the contemporaneous style remains ornate at times.
The earthquake description found in euillerier's pages leaves no doubt that the main shock was severe, and that a long sequence of aftershocks occurred.
Chimney damage was considerable; walls were cracked; wells were disturbed; fear made people run outside; and the frequent aftershocks compelled some to stay ou~.
Damage to the hospital walls were relatively bad, out this' structural damage is explicitly attributed to two previous fires that had weakened the masonry*. In a letter of Mr. Chaussegros de Lery to the Marine Council, it is stated that the damage to the stone walls around the city was minor:
"few stones were displaaed'~
similarly for the damage to parapets.
It is also explicit, from Sister Cuillerier's and Mother Duplessis' texts, that fear was kindled by the clergy, as if the earthquake occurrences were related to some divine punishment for sinful activity.
There is no doubt that the style of both writers is colored by this view; thus, many of the metaphors used should not be accepted literally.
One important point to be made is that all felt reports and damages observed in Montreal can be objectively included in an Intensity VIII(MM).
The poor quality of masonry, the construction practices in the early 1700's, and the soil conditions of Lower Montreal (glacial deposits resulting from the Champlain submergence, Clark, 1972) constitute many factors that can explain the extensive chimney damages, without requiring a large magnitude event.
It should be noted that such an Intensity VIII(MM) appears to accommodate conservatively all other felt reports obtained at remote locations, in partiCUlar, those in New England and at Quebec City.
In Figure 2.5.2A-2, isoseismals calculated with the intensity-distance relationship of Gupta and Nuttli (1976) have been superimposed on the felt report map.
From other studies where more abundant data points exist, such relationship has been observed to be conservative.
Intensities reported in eastern Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut are in good agreement with the predicted values.
Similarly, the single report from Quebec City, by the Intendant, Mr. Hocquart, that the earthquake lIamoW'/.ted to not 111'UCh"~ constitutes at the most an Intensity IV, and possibly III-IV; this level is quite acceptable with respect to the predicted V level, but would be anomalously low in comparison with a predicted VI-VII level that would result for Quebec if an Intensity IX is postulated for Montreal.
Other reports in Philadelphia, New Castle, Annapolis, are in good agreement with the predicted isoseismals associated with an Intensity VIII(MM) for 10,
The fact that more distant localities, such as Louisburg, N.S. and Southern James Bay did not report any tremor, also suggests that Io=VIII(MM) is a more likely characterization of the event.
In view of the fact that reports on earthquake effects in Montreal and felt reports from other distant locations support an epicentral inten-sity VIII(MM), it is concluded that the Intensity IX(MM) proposed by Smith (1962) should be revised.
An Intensity VIII(MM) appears to be a more objective characterization.
Concerning the location of the epicenter, it is proposed that the Smith's coordinates be retained as the most probable, and given an uncertainty of 30 miles.
The main reason for this position is the fact that the distribution of settlements near Montreal, particularly along the St. Lawrence, was such that an epicenter substantially outside Montreal would have been recognized as such.
A 1739 census, as given by SuIte (1882), certainly indicates a good coverage around Montreal, with the exception of the northwest.
Yet, the hypothesis of an epicenter in this direction, e.g. near Mont-Tremblant, is rejected, as it would imply a larger epicentral intensity in order to explain a site intensity VIII in Montreal, but would become irreconcilable with the Quebec and James Bay observations.
The continuous spread of settlements from Montreal to Quebec illustrated by SuIte militates against E. Hodgson's "su.ggested possibiLity that the event
~ould have been fUl'ther doum the river".
It is thus concluded that the 1732 event should be considered as having occurred most probably in Montreal, with an epicentral inten-sity VIII(MM).
It is further suggested that a magnitude mbLg=6.0~~ would be a better characterization of the event, taking into account the entire set of felt reports and the possibility of local amplification at the Montreal site.
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
American Weekly Mercury, The, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 7 to September 14, 1732 "New-Casae) Sept.
6.
Yesterday about Noon we had a p:r-etty Conside:r-ah'Le shock of an Earthquake in and about this Town) most people in Town being sensibly affected with it) and seve:r-aZ that we:r-e employed in making and stacking of Hay in our Meadows were greatZy 8urp~:sed.
It lasted about a Minute) and everybody that feU it found at the same time a disorder in their Stomach) Bead and Sight."
Extrait des ANNALES DE L'HOTEL-DIEU DE SAINT-JOSEPH DE MONTREAL, "Fin des Annales de Soeur Morin, Relation de Soeur CUi11erier:
1725-1747,"
Archives des Religieuses Hospitalieres de Saint-Joseph, 251, Avenue des Pins ouest, Montreal.
"Nous avona entr~ dans nos dortoi:r-s en 1?28 et 29 une party de la dote de Ma soeur Gassien a
~tee aonsomee
~ aet ouvrage 1730 se sont passee t:r-anquiUement et sans auquun evenement part:iauUer Mais en trinte-deux nous avons eue une picotte sy universeIIe qu'il a passee dans nos saUes pZus de 500 Ma~des qui nous ont donne une fatigue incroyable.
Cette picotte fut precedee d'un tremblement de terre si teribZe que l'on doute qu'iZ y en eu de pZus vioZent dans Zes endroits meme qui ont ettee renverse et qui ont abimee.
Ce Jut Ie 16 septembre a onzes heur trois card que Za premiere secousse se fit entandre et santiI' eZle abaty dabor 567 oheminee fandy presque tous les MUTes des Maisons la notre fut tres. en daumagee aussi bien que nos meurie des queZles tous les puis furent oombZee de ae premier mouvement qui dura bien un car d'heure sans saretez Nous aourwnent toutes dans 1-e jardin pour naitre pas eorasez sous notre batiment etant p'Z,us en danger de torriber qu 'un autre nos muraiZLes ayant souffert deux incendy rien de plus terribZe Mes aheres soeurs que de voir Zes cloche et les Maisons fleahire come des rausau et bran"Ler ausy fort que sy ils avoit etez. de Carte apres cette premiere secousse iZ en vint pLus de 50 dans vint-aatre heures Ce qui obligea tout le monde de Couchez dans les oampagne et dans les jardins dans Za crainte detre abimee par queZ quune Mais Zes prieres publique fleohirent la misericorde au seigneur qui aest contante de tenir tout son peup1-e en alarmes pendans plus de neuf mois les brouissement sestant toujOU1'S fait entandre pandans oe Zonges-pace de temps les dames firent Voeux de laisser lea panier et les vanite Mais iZ y en eu quelqunue qui suivan Ze legerrete natureZle aux sexe nentandans pZus que de petits tremblement Be a1'U1'ent en suretea et repr~rent leurs adjustment dieu sanvangea et en fit entan.d:re un Bemblable au premier.
la nuit du 25 doc:tob:r-e au 26 ce qui fit :r-edoubler les voeux et lea priere. /I Anonymous, manuscript in possession of Bibliotheque de Montreal, Mon-treal, Canada.
"Tremblement de terre.
"1732.,
SeoousBes:
MontreaZ 300 maisons endommagees) une fiZZe tuee.. plus1-eurs pe:r-sonnes b"Lessees)... on aouahe dans lea jardins. /I Letter of M. Hocquart, Intendant, to the Governor-General, including the Letter from Sister Levasseur to the Secretary of State, Correspondance Generale in possession of the Public Archives of Canada, Ottawa, Canada.
"Mrs de Beauharnois Monseigneur
"..* avec les autres demandes les reUgieuses hospitaUeres de Montreal nous ont adresse un placet que nous avons l'honneur de vous envoyer~ par lequel elles vous supplient Monseigneur~ d'avoir egard a La situations OU eUes se trouvent et au dorrmage que Ze trembZement de terre leur a cause nous ne scavons pas precisement en quoy ce dommage consiste:
mais nous sorrmes informes que leur maison en vue de celLes qui ont le plus souffert de cet accident~ Les soins et les attentions que ces religieuses ont pour les malades~ meritent que vous ayes des bontes pour el1.es.
/lNous sammes avec un tres profond respec:t Monseigneur Vos tree humbles et tres obeissants serviteurs.
Hocquart A Quebec "Le 27 octobre 1732. /I
/lA Monseigneu:r de Maurepas ministre et secretaire d /Etat.
Monseigneur'
/'La bonte avec: la queHe Votre Grandeur toujOU1"S attentive aux besoins de cette colonie y donne sans cesse des marques de l'honneur de sa protection me faite esperer que mes tres humbles representations pou:r:ront interesser cette bonte secourabZe en faveur d'une pommunaute necessiteuse sur ZaqueZZe Votre Grandeur a deja pZusieurs fois repandue ses bienfaits~ c /est dans cette confiance Monseigneur qu /apres avoir adIoesse mes voew:: au aiel pour la conservation de Votre.Grandeur je prends la liberte de lui remonter avec un profond respect que le retablis-Bement de not:re monastere nous ayant endette de plus de vingt mil Uvres ma2gre Les graces que nOUS avons receus da Sa Maje8te~ nous sommes encore aujou:rd'huy par notre situation l 'objet auquel eHes peuvent etre plus justement appliques puisque Le Seigneur vient de nous donner un nouvel accident en ruinant presque entierement notre monastere par un tremblement de terre effreyant qui a fait d'autant plus d'impression a nos muraiZles quelles ont deja soufferts deux incendies~ noUB avons meme tout lieu d'apprehender Monseigneur que les grandes geZees de l'hiver ne le fassent tomber absoZument~ etant toutes fondues a jour La charpente sortie d'un demi-pied~ toutes nos cheminees renversees~ ce qui nous fait craindre d'etre ecrasez sous notre batiment, qu'iZ praise a Votre Grandeur Monseigneur d'avoir pitie de cette aommunaute desolee, et d'ecouter La tres humhZe priere que je prends la liberte d'adresser a Votre Grandeur au nom des religieuses hospitalieres de Montreal de vilZe Marie de leur accorder une gratification suffisante pour mettre leur monastere en surete~ et aider a payer leur deptes afin qu/elles continuent leurs soins aux soZdats~ sauvages et habitans maZades.
J'ay l 'honneur d'etre avec un profond respect Monseigneur De Votre Grandeur Za tres hwnbZe et tJ>es obeissante seroante.
Soeur Ze Vasseur superieure des reZigieuses hospitaZieres de St.
Joseph. "
Boston Gazette, The, Boston, Massachusetts, September 4, 1732 "On Tuesday Zast about Noon we were very much surprised here by the Shock of an Earthquake~ it was attended with hardly any Noise~ the Shake continued near half a Minute~ and some Houses were perceived to trembZe very much, so that several" things were shaken down from their P1-aces."
Boston Weekly News-Letter, The, Boston, Massachusetts, September 14, 1732 "By a Zettel' from Marthas Vineyard~ dated the 11th Instant~ we have Advice, that they had the Shock of an Earthquake in that PLace the Tuesday before, a Zitt1-e after Noon~ as was evident to many on the IsZand~ which was near the Time when it was perceiv'd here.
They couLd not learn that the Shake was attended with any RumbLing as is usual,.
So that hereby we are assUI'ed the said Shake was very extensive."
Boston Weekly News-Letter, The, Boston, Massachusetts, November 30, 1732 "On Saturday Zast Mr. Lydius came hither by land from Albany, and informs us~ that before he left that place, he received a Letter from a Relation of his at Montreal in Canada, who gQ1)e him an account that on the 5th of September last about noon an amazing Shock of an Earthquake was felt there, (the same day and hour it was last perceived here) which was so violent that about 165 Houses suffer'd more or less damage thereby~
and the WaZls fortifying the P2ace in part thrown down.
Three Persons were ki2Z-ed~ and Six wounded; that the Shake was repeated nine 0'1' ten Nights folZ-owing (and only in the Nights) in a22 which time the PeopLe were afraid to Lodge in their Houses.
Mr. Lydius had the above Account confi!'ITI'd to him by an Eng"Lish GentLeman arrived at Albany from Mon-treaL."
Brigham, William T., Memoirs of the Boston Society of Natural History (1871); I. Volcanic Manifestations in New England Being an enumeration of the principal earthquakes from 1638 to 1869 "September 15~ 1732.
A violent earthquake was feU in Canada~
which did considerable damage at Montreal~ as stated in the preceding Zist.
It came at eleven o'cZoak A.M.~ and was attended with a rumbZing noise.
A clock was stopped at Annapolis~ Maryland~ although the shock was slightly felt at Boston.
In June~ of the next ye~~ on the fourteenth, according to some authorities~ it is said a shock was felt at Annap02is~
but there is no certainty that it took pZace."
- Buckman, Nathan, "Diaries:
1722-1767"; written at Medway, Massachusetts, in possession of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachu-setts "An Earthquake perceived by some."
Couanier de Launay, M.E.-L., Histoire ~ Religieuses Hospitalieres De Saint-Joseph (France ~ Canada), Paris, 1887, p. 119.
"Trois ans apres (1732).. un affreu::: tremblement de terre qui se fit sentir surtout a Montreal... endommagea gravement les batiments.
Les reparations ne purent etre terminees que l 'annee d:'apres.. au moyen de Za dot d 'une des soeurs."
Fai11on, Etienne M., Vie de Mlle Mance Et Histoire De l'Hote1-Dieu de Villemarie, ~ l'tie de:Montreal, ~ canada, Tome-rI, 1854.
'~u milieu des embarras qu'eZZes eprouvaient dans l'etat de denUment ou elles se voyaient reduites.. eZles eurent encore a essuyer.. l'annee 1752.. les effets d'un vioLent tremblement de *terre.. qui mit Leur vie en peril et endommagea Zeur nouveau batiment.
La premiere secousse.. qui eut lieu Ze 16 du mois de septembre.. a onze heures trois quarts.. se fit sentir plus ou moins dans toute la colonie.. mais nulle part eZle ne fut si violente que dans l'iZe de Montreal.
Cette seaousse abattit tout d'ahord plus de trois cents aneminees.. earivaient les hospitalieres de ViUema:rie a Leurs soeurs de Prance.. et fendit presque tous Les murs des maisons; La nOtre fut tres-endommagee.. aussi bien que nos metairies..
dent tous Les puits furent combLes par ce premier trembLement.. qui dura bien un quart
~'heure sans s'arreter.
Neus cOurUmes toutes dans Le Jardin pour n'etre pas earasees SGUS notre batiment.. qui etait pZus en danger de tomber qu'aucun autre.. nos muraiZZes ayant souffert deu:::
incendies.
Rien de pZus terrible.. mes cheres soeurs.. que de voir Les clochers et les maisons j1echir comme des roseaux.. et branLer aussi fort que s'ils eussent ete de cartes.
Apres cette premiere secousse.. il en vint pLus de trente en vingtquatre heures.. ce qui obZigea tout Ze monde de couaher dans La campagne et dans Les jardine.. crainte d'etre ecrase par Les maisons.
Les dames firent aLors voeu de renonoer a Z'usage de porter des paniers sous "Leurs robes et a d'autres sembZabZes vanites; mais iZ y en eut queZques-unes qui.. n'entendant plus que de petits trembLements.. se orurent en sUrete.. et.. suivant Leur "Legerete natureZZe~
reprirent Leurs adjustements.
DIEU.. pour les rappeZer a leur devoir..
fit entendre un nouveau tremb"Lement semb"LahZ-e au premier..
La nuit du 25 au 26; ae qui fit redoubLer les voeux et Les devotions.
Enfin..
Les prieres publiques ont touche Z-a misericorde du SEIGNEUR~
qui s'est contente de tenir tout Bon peupZe en a"LarmeB pendant pZus de neuf mois J Zes bruissements s'etant toujours fait entendre pendant ce "Long espace de temps.
M. Chaussegros de Lery.. ingenieur.. eorivait que si 2a premiere seCOUS8e eut dure quelques minutes de pZ-us.. une grande partie des maisons de ViLLemarie auraient ete renversees.
IZ ajoutait qu'eZZ-e s'etait fait sentir a Quebec~ mais tres-Z-egerement.
"Apres ce desastI'e~
Za mere Levasseur~
superieUl"e des fines de Saint-Joseph~
s'empressa d'ea1'ire de nouveau a M. de Mct:U1'epas~ afin d'obtenir de Zui queZques secoU1'S~ tant pour payer Zeurs dettes~ qui s'elevaient alors a 20~OOO livres j que pour reparer Zes degats faits a Zeur bfttiment. "
Note:
Inserted here is a quotation of Sister Levasseur's letter.
See Letter of M. Hocquart in this appendix.
"M. de Beauha1'nois et M. Bocquart accompagnerent Za suppZique des reZigieuses au ministre d'une Zettre de recommandation~
en date du 27 octobre 1732.
Irs faisaient remarquer qu'iZs ne savaient pas en quoi consistant Ze dommage que Ze trembZement de terre leur avait cauBe~
mais que leur maison etait une de ceZZes qui avaient le plus souffert de cet accident.
Enfin~ i 7,s terrminaient en assurant Ze ministI'e que les soins et les attentions de ces religieuses pour les maZades me1'itaient qu'il vint ex leur aide dans cette occasion.
Le 6 mai 1?33~
Ze ministre invita le gouverneur et Z'intendant ex faire l'estimation de ce dommage~
que M. de Lery porta ex Za somme de 640 Hvres.
Nous vous suppUons~
Monseigneur~ ecrivaient au ministre le gouverneur et l'intendant~ de vouloir bien accorder cette somme ex cette aommunaute; eZle me1'ite vos bontes pour les soins assidus que les religieuses apportent au soulagement des pauvres maZades~ et qu'eZles ont redoubles a l'occasion de la petite veroZe~ ayant con~inueZlement eu, pendant quat1'e mois~ pres de cent soZdats a soigneI'.*Cette maZadie epidemique fut si ufut si universelZe a MontreaZ~ que les hospitalieres reCU1'ent dans Zeurs salles pZus de cinq cents malades; ce qui leur occasionna beaucoup de depenses et un surcroit de fatigues excessives.
Ce fut l'annee meme aU arriva aette contagion~ en 1?33~ qu'elles parvinrent enfin a achever leur batiment~
en empZoyant pour aet usage la dot d'une de leurs soeurs.
Mais comme "La croix devait etre le p"Lus ferme appui de cette maison~ a peine les batiments etaient acheves~ et avant meme qu'on eut reau "La somme de 640 "Livres accordee pour reparer "Les degats faits par Ze tI'embZement de terre~ tous ces batiments furent de nouveau reduits en cendres~ *comme nous le raconterons au chapitre suivant."
Hobart, Nehemiah, "Journal of Nehemiah Hobart, written at Hingham, Massachusetts:
1721-1746", in possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, Massachusetts "A shock of an earthquake att (sic)
Boston~ Ma:
Vinyard about noon~ yet no rurribling heal'd. "
Hocquart, M., "Lettre d'Hocquart au Ministere," Manuscript in possession of the Public Archives, Ottawa, Canada.
"M. Hocquart 30 Octobre 1732 "Monseigneur
"... J'ay recu aujourcIhuy une "Lettre de Montreal par ZaqueUe on me marque que "La nuit du 24 au 25~ il s'est fait sentiI' un tremb"Lement de terre ex peu pres sembZabZe a celuy du 16 ?bI'e moins violent~ mais plus long accompagne d'un bruissement dans la montagne qui a dure longtemps.
L'on ne m'earit pas d'autres airoaonstanaes.1 ni que ae trembLement cz:..-!t aause de nouveaux dommages.
"Je Buis avec un troes proofonil roespeat "Monseigneur-
"Votre tres humbLe et tres obeissant serviteur-.
"Hoaquarot
'ra Quebec Le 30 oatobre 1732."
Hodgson, E. A., 1950.
The Saint Lawrence earthquake, March 1, 1925:
Dom. Obs. Pub., Ottawa, v. 7, No. 10, Appendix B, p. 430, "Earthquake September 5, 1732."
"11'1 the second of the four-Lists pubLished by Sir.
Wm.
DCD.Json.1 he states:
"1732, September 5, Canada, NBlJ) EngLand, and as faro as Ma.ryLand.1 buiLdings injuroed... "
Note:
After referring to abstracts of Mgr. Laflamme, Sister Duplessis, and other correspondence, Hodgson concludes:
"It is desirab~e that further referenaes to this earthquake be sought, in order that it may be estab~iBhed whether an earthquake of such intensity centred nearo Montrea~ or.1 if not.1 the position of its epiaentre.
"The faa-t that the first tremors Lasted
'on~y t;u)o or throee minutes.1 1 wouZd indiaate that Montreal was not the aentre of this em'thquake.
It is just possib'Le that Later referenaes. may establish an epicentre muah farther down the Saint L<:J:Jprenae."
Holyoke Diaries, The, annotated by George Francis Dow, the Essex Insti-tute, Salem; Massachusetts, 1911, p. 4 Note:
At Marblehead.
"Large shock of an ea:I'thquake."
Hunt, Ebeneezer, "Journal", Judd Manuscripts in possession of the Forbes Library, Northampton, Massachusetts, Vol. I, p.
23
"".about 12 o'cZoak in the day whiah shook the houses aonsiderabZy.
Some thought it was as powerfuZ as that of Oat.
29, 1727."
LaFlamme, Mgr. J.-C. K., "Les tremblements de terre de Ia region de Quebec," Memoires de la Societe Royale du Canada, 1907, Sec. 4, p. 160-161 "1732.--Le seisme de 1732 n'ayant affeate que 'La reg'l-on de MontreaZ (M) ne ren'tre pas rigoureusement dans 7-e cadIoe de ce travaiZ.
Nous en dirons quelques,mots aependant pour faire voir que~ si 'Lea seismes montreaZais ont~ en generoaZ.1 moins d'intensite que aeux de La region inferieure de
~a provinae, iZs peuvent aependant atteindre un certain degre de vioZenae.
'~a Mepe DupZessis de Ste HeLene~
superieu~e de Z'H8teZ-Dieu de Quebec~ apres avoir parZe~ dans une lettre au 20 octobre 1732~ de l'incendie de MontreaZ qui avait detruit 190 'corps de logis~, ajoute:
'Depuis un mois c'est un tremblement de terre qui y Jette une consternation qu'on ne peut exprimer.
De La premiere secousse qui ne d~a que deux ou trois minutes~ plus de trois cents maisons ont ete endomagees~ quantite de cheminees tombees des
~arailZes fendues, des personnes bLeB8ees~ une filZe tuee~ des greZes de pierres qui se repandaient partout et qui sembZaient etre jetees par des mains invisible8~ enfin un effroi si universel que Zes maisons sont desertes, on couche dans les jardinsJ les betes merne privees de raison jetaient des cris capabZes de redoubZer La frayeur des hommes.
On fait des confessions generaZes de tous les cotes; les dames ont quitte Leurs paniers, les pretres leur ant fait signer une promesse.
PZusieurs ont fui et sont venus a Quebec peur d'etre enseveli sous les ruines de cette pauvre ville.
Le facheux est que tout cela n'est pas fini.
Il n'est point de jour qu'il ne se fasse sentir; iZ y a des puits qui ont ete e:rtremement taPis, des chemins bouleverses. '
'~'autre part~ l'ingenieur de Lery ecrit au ministre pour lui annoncer qu'il y a eu un tremblement de terre a Montreal.
Le 3 octobre 1732, l'intendant Hocquart apprend au ~nistre la nouvelle de ce tremblement de terre, et, Le 12 avriZ l?35, le President au ConseiZ de Marine ecrit a L'intendant Bocquart qu'il ne peut accorder auz RecoLLets La somme qu,i ls demandent pour Zes pertes subies par euz dans le tremb ~ement de terre. 1" lRenseignements fournis par M. J.-E. Roy Lewis, Richard, Philosophical Transactions, Number 429, 1733 A letter from Mr. Richard Lewis, at Annapolis in Maryland, to Mr.
Collinson, F.R.S. containing the Account of a remarkable Geneneration of Insects:
of an Earthquake; and of an Explosion in the Air.
"On Tuesday the 5th of September last~ about Eleven in the Mopning~
an Earthquake was feLt in diverse PLaces in Maryland; the most particular Account I have heard of it was from Mr.
Chez,).
It shook his House for some time, and stopp'd the PenduLum of his Clock; during its Continuance, a rwnbUng Noise was heard in the Air, and many PeopLe who did not feeL the Shaking~ as welL as those who did~ compLained of a Dizziness in their Heads~ and Sickness at their Stomachs:
At the same time~ I have been credibLy informed, it was feU in PennsyLvania~ and New-England; but I have not heard whether it extended to North or South Carolina."
Des Miettes d'histoire par S.S.-Eulalie de Barcelone, 1925, Archives de la Congregation de Notre-Darne, Montreal, Quebec, 200.100, 1, p. 32.
"1732-1nondation~ petite veroLe.
PZ-us de t'l'ente secousses de trembZ-ement de terre en vingt-quatre heures ~ et abattent ptus de trois cents cheminees.
Ces secousses se renouveLLent pLus ou moins frequentes pendant neuf mois. "
Lewis, Alonzo and James R. Newhall, History of Lynn, Essex County Massachusetts:
including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscot, and Nahant, Boston, 1865 "1732.
On the 5th of September3 there wac an earthouake without noise. "
New-England Weekly Journal, The, Boston, Massachusetts, September 11, 1732 "Eoston" "On Tuesday last a few Minutes after 7\\Jelve at Noor. lJas feU here a s1O'prizing ShoC1k of an Ea:t'thquake3 attended with Utae or no Noise 3 the Shake continued near haZf a ~nute3 and some Houses were perC1eived to shake very much3 so that several small things were shook down from their P'Zaces.
The same z.>as very serJ.Sib~y feU in most of the Neighbo'UPing Toz.>ns 3 and to the EastZJard as far as Piscataqua. "
New-England Weekly Journal, The,. Boston, Mas?achusetts, September 25, 1732 "Boston.
"We are info1"TTl'd3 that the Earthquake fe"'l.t here on Tuesday 3 the 5th Instant3 z.>as perceived near the same time at Philadelphic; and from SpringfieZd we hear it z.>as very surprizing there3 shook down several things from off the Shelves at the House of Capt. WiZliam Pynchon; and a Man in a ~chard there perceiv'd that several Apples were shook off the Trees thereby."
Nova francia, Vol. III, No.2, 24 decembre 1927, "Lettre de Mere Marie-Andree Duplessis de Sainte-Helene, superieure des Hospitalieres de l'Hotel-Dieu de Quebec," avec des notes de A.~r..eo Leymarie.
"Madame et tres chere amie3 ***
"Il est temps de vous parler des fLeaux dont Dieu afflige 2e canada, i2 y a quelques annees que je vo mand.e un incendie presque general qui avoit consume plus de 190 corps de logis a Montreal ce printemps, La meme vilZe a ete inondee et fort incommodee de leau qui a monte si haut que Zes caves etoient pleines tout y flottoit3 les planC1hers se Bou2evoient3 2es rues etoient imp~aticabZes et plusieurs ma~chandS cmt beaucoup perdu3 depuis un mois c'est un tremb7..emt de terre qui y jette une consternation qu'on ne peut exprimer des la pere secousse qui ne dura que 2 a 3 minutes pZus de 300 maisons cmt ete endomagees 3 quantite de cheminees tombees, des murailZes fendues, des personnes blessees 3 une filZe tuee 3 des greles de pierres qui se repandoient partout et qui sembloient etre jettees par des mains invisibZes, enfin un effroy si universel que les maisons sont desertes on aouche dans les jardins, les betes memes privees de raison jettoient des aris aavables de redoubler La frayeur des hommes, on fait des confessions generales de tous cotes,
~es Dames ont quitte leurs paniers,
~es pretres Leur ont fait signer wte prornesse, plusieurs ont fui et sont venues a Quebec peur d'etre ensevelies sous "les ruines de cette pauvre viZZe, le facheux est que ceZa n'est pas fini, iZ n'est point de jour qu'il ne se fasse sentiI',
it y a des puys qui ont entierement tari, des chemins bouZeverses.... "
Parkman, Ebenezer, September, 1732, The Diary of Ebenezer Parkman, First Part 1719-1755, ed. Francis G. Wa1ett, American Antiquarian Society, 1974 "September 5.
N.B. An Earthquake just about (or a Uttle after)
Noon. lI Note:
Rev. Parkman lived in Westboro, Massachusetts.
pennsylvania Gazette, The, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 12 to September 18, 1732
'~hiladeZphia, Sept. 18 liOn Tuesday the 5th Instant, a smaH Shock of an Earthquake was feU in this City, about Noon.
It was also felt at New-Castle.
/I
- Plant, (Rev.) Matthias, Philosophical Transactions of Royal Society, London (1742-43), No. 462, Vol. XLII, p. 33.
I~eptember 5, 1732.
About noon we had a severe shock, which was perceived at Boston and Piscataqua, but attended with l.ittle or no noise.
The same earthquake was heard at Montreal., in Canada, at the same time and about the same hour of the day, and did damage to one hwtdroed and eightY-five houses, kilZed seven persons, and hurt five others; and it was heard there severaZ times afterwards, only in the night, as the newspapers give us this account."
Roy, Pierre George, Inventaire ~ Papiers ~ Lery Conserves ~ Archives de la Province de Quebec, Volume I, Quebec, 1939, Letter of M. Chaussegros de Lery to the President of the Marine Council.
/I 20 octobre 1732" "Monseigneur.
"Neuf jours apres mon depart de Montreal qui etoit ~ 16, du mois passe il. y a eu un tremblement de te'l'I'e assez violent qui a fait tomber une bonne partie des cherrrinees, en a fai t feruJ.Iae dautres et pZusieurs mur des maisons Be sont ouverts Zes personnes qui en viennent mont asBeure que si Z avoit continue encore deu.x minutes une grande partie des maisons auroient ete renversee jay apns depuis que Za terre avoit tremble pendant pZusieurs joUr's mais les secouses nont pas ete si violentes
~ premier tremblement s'est fait sentiI' presque dans toute la colonie je lay senty a Quebec mais cetoit peu de chose.
"Les Entrepreneurs qui Boot descendus man di t avoir visite z'es murs de L 'anceinte iZ,s disent qu'a Za porte de St. Laurent il y a en quelques pierres de derangees qu'i 1,s ont accomode et mont demande 10 Uvres pour ce Za dans "La maaonnerie i Z. Y a eu quelques deBuS de parapets de deranges et quelques pierres au desus des EmbrazW'es de tombees ils offrent de retabUr ],e tout pour 50 Uvres dans 7,e bastion au nord iZ setoit fait une fente ils m'ont asseure que dans les dernieres secouses e]'le s'etoit fermee iZs mon dit aussi que Le8 aZZign.ements des murs et les taZuds n'avoient pas changes" Mr.
Ze GeneraZ et Mr. L'Itendant on receut pZusieurs Zet~res de Montreal je suis persuade Monseigneur qu'ils vous informeront mieu.:I: que moy au degat qu'a cause ce tremblement en ayant receu z.e detail....
"Je suis avec un profound respect" Monseigneur" Votre tres hwribZe et tres obeissant serviteur.
CHAUSSEGROS DE LERI "A Quebec le 20 octobre 1732.
"Soeur Sainte-Henriette, Cahier 6e." Archives de la Congregation de Notre-Dame, Montreal, Quebec, p. 420.
'Petite veroz,e.
TrembZements de 1732-1733.
"A
],a meme epoque, i l y eut des tremb z,ements de terre qui se firent sentiI' particuUerement a Montreal.
La premiere secous~e" qui eut lieu Ie 16 septembre 1732, abattit pZus de trois cents cheminees; i I y en eut plus de trente en vingtquatre heures et enes se renouVe Zeront a divers interva ZZes pendant pLus de neuf mois. "
Weekly Rehearsal, The, Boston, Massachusetts, September 11, 1732 "Boston" Sept. 11.
About 12 0 'C'Lock on Tuesday Last, we feU a considerabLe Shock of an Earthquake" which lasted the space of half a Minute; and several Persons affim that they observed the Houses at some Distance to move; but we cannot learn that this shaking was attended with any such Noise as usuaZ.
We hear the Shock was feU in several of the adjacent TOIims" particuZarZy at Salem, where the shaking lJas very vioZent and Lasted near a Minute.
From Pozotsmouth" a Gentleman writes"
'That the Shock lJas very Zitt'Le inferiour (sic) to the great Earthquake in 1729 (sic), and lasted near a Minute" but was not accompanied with the usuaZ RumbUng.'
It lJas feU in aU the PZaces from whence we have yet heard, at the same Instant we observed it here."
Williams, Samuel, "Observations and Conjectures on the Earthquakes of New England,"
Memoirs of ~ American Academy ~ ~ and Sciences, Boston, 1785 "Observations and Conjectures on the Earthquakes of New Eng7,and:
'7n 1732~ there was an earthquake~
which~
though sma7,Z, was of considerabLe extent.
It came on September 5, o.s. at about l1h A.M.
being attended with a rumb7,ing noise; and was of such vio7,ence as to occasion a considerab7,e jarring of the houses.
The duration of it~ was not more than ten or fifteen seconds.
This earthquake was much more evident at Montreal in Canada, than it was in any part of New-EngLand; being attended with considerab7,e damage there.
As this was the chief feat of it, it seems to have come from thence, in a north-westerLy course, to New-EngZand.
Its extent, from south-west to north-east~ was equal, to that of most of the earthquakes that have been in the country; being feit from Maryl,and to the northeasterly parts of New-EngLand:
and from north-west to south-east, it reached from Montreal~ and probabLy from many miLes beyond it;, to the seacoast."
EARTHQUAKE OF JUNE 14, 1744 (JUNE 3, 1744, JULIAN CALENDAR)
CA.
10:15 (L)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
VI (MM)
LOCATION:
42.5N, 70.9W EVALUATION:
This earthquake is estimated to be centered in the Southern Cape Ann region, near Salem, Massachusetts (Figure 2.5.2A-3).
Reports of an Intensity VI(MM) level are found for Newburyport, Salem, Lynn, Melrose, and Boston.
The epicentral location cannot easily be determined, as attested by early catalogs which referred only to "eastern Massachusetts."
Smith's location, further to the east, (42.6N, 60.0W) is an attempt to take into account the undetermined location "off Cape Ann" given by Mather and Godfrey (1927), and to accommodate.the observed coastal distributions of felt reports.
The higher intensity to be associated with an epicenter at sea was logical, but remains an extrapolation.
The current location near Salem is pr~ferably chosen in view of the distribution of similar Intensity VI(MM) levels, from Newburyport to Dorchester, and the fact that the report of the main aftershocks and some secondary ones appear to be primarily associated with the Salem vicinity.
In some of the reports, a reference is made to the similarity of this shock with that of 1727.
At first, one might consider the possibility of a similar epicenter and intensity.
On closer examination, one finds that such a position is not accurate; in Dorchester, it is explicitly reported that the 1744 earthquake was not as strong as that of 1727.
The felt reports for the 1727 earthquake were predominantly stronger north of Cape Ann, in contrast with the 1744 earthquake.
There is no doubt that a large uncertainty
~15 miles can be associated with the event.
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Boston Weekly NeWS-Letter, The, Boston, Massachusetts, June 5, 1744 (Period newspaper account)
"Last Lord's Day between 10 and 11 o'CLock in the Forenoon we were surprized with a vioLent Shock of an Earthquake attended with a Loud rumbLing Noise whereby PeopLe were put into a very great ConsterrAtion, and many who were attending the Divine Worship ran out into the streets fearing the Houses wouLd faU upon them:
A great many Bricks were shook off from several Chimneys in this and other TOums, and much of the Stone Fences in several Places in the Country was tumbLed down by it.
It was perceived to continue longer and be more severe in some Places than at others; and 'tis tho't by some to be fe~t near equa~ to that which we had in the Year 1?2?
Eow extensive it was we cannot yet
~a:rn~ but by Info~tion at present we are assured that it reach'd above 100 Miles.
Another shock was fe~t at Salem~ and others reach'd above 100 Miles.
Another shock was feU at Sa~em~ and others adjacent:
Toums~ about five o'C'l,ock in the Afternoon of the same Day~ whi.ch was considerable and again surprised the PeopZe very much.
Three or Four smaner Shocks were perceived in the Night and Morning Succeeding.
"We heaX' from Eopkinton~ that the Monday before the Eca'thquake~ the Mud arose from the Bottom of two large fishing Ponds in that Toum so as thicken the Water and prevent their fishing in them.
It continued so for two or three Days crn.d then setLed and grew clear again.
T'is rerntzr'kabi-e that the same happened to these Ponds a few Days before the great Earthquake in the Year' 1?2?"
Fuess, Salem, Massachusetts (Later history, published 1835)
"The Earthquake of 1744 - In 1?44 there was another te:t'rific earthquake~
which was thought by some to have been near~y equa~ in severity to that of 1?2?
In May there had been two sUght shocks~ oceu:t"r'ing in both instcrn.ces in the morning.
At a quarter past ten on Sunday morning~
June 3~ just after church services had begun~ the severest shock came.
It reached only about a hundred mi~es and was ushered by a loud rumbling~
which threw the peop~e into consternation as they remembered the experience of seventeen years before.
'People ran out of their houses~ fearing they would faU upon them; and the rector and many of the congregation ran out of the Episcopal ChUl'ch at Newbury (in that part now Newburyport).
In the Hamlet pCW';'sh in Ipswich (now the town of Hamilton) ~ the shock came when the pastor~
Rev. Mr.
Wigglesworth~ was preaching.
The congregation was greatly alarmed; but he endeavored to ca~
them~ remarking that 'there can be no better place for us to die in than the house of God. '
'~ricks were shaken from chimneys and stone walls were thrown down.
At about five o'clock in the afternoon another and lesser shock was felt at Sal,em and adjacent towns~ and people screamed and ran out of doors.
Three or more lesser shocks were perceived that night and the next m::;rning. "
Boston Gazette or Weekly Journal, The, Boston, Massachusetts, June 12, 1744 (period newspaper account)
'Portsmouth~ N.E.~ June 9
'~ast Lord's Day~ a littLe after 10 o'cl,ock. the PeopLe thro' out this Province and the County of York~ were very sensibLe of a severe shock of an Earthquake~
attended with a loud rumbZing Noise~ which greatly surpris'd them; but we can't learn of any damage being done:
Those that were upon the Water near the Coast and Rivers~ were as sensibLe of the convulsion as those on the Land. "
Wadleigh, George, Dover, New Hampshire (Later History, published 1913)
"A great Earth Quake Sabbath Day June 3~ 1744."
- Sawyer, (Rev.) Roland D., Kensington, New Hampshire (Later History, published 1974)
"The on~y ecaothquake ever feU in Kensington of sufficient severity to be reaorded were those of Oatober 29~ 1?27 and June 3., 1744."
Parson, Langdon, Rye, New Hampshire (Later History, published 1905)
Note:
June 3, 1744 - smart shock of earthquake.
EARTHQUAKE OF NOVEMBER 18, 1755 CA.
04: 12 (L)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
VIII(~~)
LOCATION:
42.7N, 70.3W EVALUATION:
This is the largest historical event within the site region.
It is also the most significant one because of its close epicentral distance to the site (30 miles).
The approximate location can only be estimated on the basis of the felt report distribution from which isoseismals are attempted (Figure 2.5.2A-4).
An uncertainty of +15 miles seems to be a reasonable compromise.
The event has been thoroughly discussed in the Pilgrim Unit II Docket Boston Edison Company, 1976.
Its tectonic ori9in and location have been related to the Cape Ann pluton and the Northeastern Massachusetts thrust fault complex.
All documentary evidence of felt reports have been published in the Historical Seismicity of New England (BE-SG 7601, Boston Edison Company, 1976), prepared by Weston Geophysical.
The event was felt over a wide area of approximately one million square kilometers, extending from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Annapolis, Maryland.
The damage was limited to coastal New England locations, from Portland, Maine to New Haven, Connecticut.
The worst chimney and fence damages, definitely of an Intensity VII(MM) level were observed in the Cape Ann region and in Boston proper.
Because much of the damage in Boston was confined to landfilled areas near the shores, it is considered to be partly attributed to soil amplification.
For this reason, the Inten-sity VII(MM) reports of the Cape Ann region, even though less dramatic in style and fewer in number, are considered to be more indicative of the epicentral location.
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Adams, N., Portsmouth, New Hampshire (citation in later History 1825)
"The most severe and tremendous earthquake3 which was ever felt in this COuntI'Y3 took place on the night of the 18th of November, after midnight.
The weather was remarkably serene3 the sky cZear the moon shone bright, and a solemn stillness prevailed all natureJ at the time it c07TU1/enced."
Boston Weekly News Letter, November 20, 1755 (Effects in Bosto~)
"the tops of many Chimnies~ and some of them quite down t(; the Roofs~ were thron down~ and several of the Roofs upon whioh they feU were beat in:
Many Chimnies also~ for 6~
7" and 8 Feet below -;ne Top~
were loosened and tiL~ed several Inohes on the main Body; and =thers"
~~th the Briok Walls of some Houses were disjointed~ burst out and shatter'd:
the wooden Post that supported the Spindle and V~e of FaneuiZ Hall, Market was by the Shake broke off~ and they feU -;0 the Ground on the North Side....And in the inside of many Houses~
-;he Pewter" Earthen~ Glass ~
China~ and other Ware" were thrown off the She :ves ~ and other Places whereon they stood~ and many Things were broke to Pieoes."
Dow, J., Hampton, New Hampshire (Citation in Later History, 1893)
"The shaking of the earth was so great that several ohimi:*:eys -z..n this town were thrown down.
liThe earthquake ooourring at an hour when the mass of the people were asleep~ many of them being suddenly awakened were very mu~h terrified" not imediately peroeiving the oause of the oommotion.
The o~er people~
however~ had not forgotten the earthquake of 1727~ and now~ as on the occasion~ they reoognized the hand of God in the ocourrenoe."
Quincy, E., Portsmouth, New Hampshire (Letter dated November 22, 1755)
"...it was very shocking in thes Town and the Toums round about us....My wife awoke in the midst of the shaking.... "
(Letter 22 Nov.
1755)
Winthrop, John (1757) Description of Effects in Boston "the principle effect of the earthquake for which I can f:,nd sufficient vouchers~ for many strange things have been related which upon ezamination~
appear to be without foundation.
Besides the throwing down of glass~ pewter and other movables~ in the houses~ many chimneys were Levelled with the roofs of the houses~ and many shatterea and thrown doum in part.
Some were broken off several feet below -;he top~
and~ by the suddeness and violence of the jerks~ canted horizo~:tany an inoh or two over~ so to stand very dangerously.
Some others were twisted 01' turned around in part.
The roofs of some houses were quite broken in by the fall of chimneys; and the gable ends of some brick buildings thrown down~ and many were craked.
The vane upon the publio market house was thrown down; the wooden spindle which supports it~
about five inches in diameter and whioh had stood the most vio:ent gusts of wind~ being snapped off.
A new vane upon one of the chzaoches was bent at its spindle" two 01' three points of the compass; and ca:other at Springfield was bent to a right angle.
A distiller's cistern r--.ade of plank~ almost new~ and very strong put together~ was burnt to
~ieces by the agitation of Liquor in it; which was thrown out with suoh ;orce as to break down one who~e side of the shed that defended the cistern from the weather.*.*About 100 chimneys were in a manner
~evelled with the roofs and about 1,500 shattered or thrown doum in part. "
Note:
Much of the damage in Boston probably occurred in areas where poor foundation materials were present.
An account of the earthquake quoted by Brigham (1871) says "that in some places, especiaLLy on the low, loose ground made by encroachments on the harbor~ the streets are aZmost covered with the bricks that have fal Zen. "
AFTERSHOCKS OF THE EARTHQUAKE OF NOVEMBER 18, 1755 EVALUATION:
Data regarding the aftershocks of the earthquake of November 18, 1755 have been compiled.
These data are summarized in Table 3.
Aftershocks are reported from the period of November 18, 1755 to March 15, 1756.
A widely felt, though lesser shock of the main tremor at 4:30 a.m., is reported for eastern New England at 5:29 a.m. on November 18, 1755.
At 4:00 p.m. on November 18, a tremor is also reported at Kittery, Maine.
On November 19 and 20, 1755, three are reported from northeastern Massachusetts at Chelmsford, Ipswich (10:00 p.m.), and York, Maine (time not given), respectively.
The largest aftershock, that of November 22, 1755, is widely reported.
The aftershock of December 19, 1755, at 10:00 p.m.,
was reported felt from Marshfield, Massachusetts to Portland, Maine.
On March 11, 1756, earthquakes are reported as felt in the towns east of Boston, Massachusetts (between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m.), and on March 15, 1756, along the coast from Salem, Massachusetts to Wells, Maine (time not given).
Neither event was reported as felt in Boston.
A number of contemporary observers within the scientific community at Boston, Massachusetts recorded detailed observations on the aftershocks as well as the effects of the main shock.
Only three-aftershocks were reported in Boston; November 18 (5:29 a.m.), November 22 (8:27 p.m.),
and December 19, 1755 (10:00 p.m.).
However, reports of numerous shocks from locations north and east of Boston are reported in period citations.
The principal data summarizing observations through 1755 are given in Chauncy (1755), Mayhew (1755), and Winthrop (1757)
(Table 4).
The aftershocks on March 11 and 15, 1756, were not felt in Boston, according to newspaper reports.
Later publications by Winthrop (1757) and Williams (1785) do not indicate that any aftershocks were reported in Boston after December 19.
During the period November 18 (from the 5:29 a.m.
event) up to November 22, reports from Portland and York, Maine, Hampton, New Hampshire, and Essex County, Massachusetts indicate that slight shocks were reported almost daily.
The reports are not SUfficiently descriptive to define the earthquakes; for example, a journal entry by Rev. Thomas Smith for November 22, 1755, written at Portland, Maine, merely notes the events as "Besides several earthquakes we have had this week... "
The available reports indicate that a large number of aftershocks were reported from localities east and north of Boston, Massachusetts and support a Cape Ann epicenter region.
EARTHQUAKE OF MARCH 12, 1761 CA.
02:15 (GMT)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
V(MM)
LOCATION:
CAPE ANN REGION EVALUATION:
This earthquake is estimated to be centered in the Cape Ann region based on reports from coastal localities (Figure 2.5.2A-6).
No damage is attributed to this tremor; however, it was widely felt extending over an estimated 127,000 square kilometer region.
It appears to have been most strongly felt near Salem, Massachusetts.
This was the basis for some early epicentral estimates; the event is included in Table 2.5.2-2 because of the uncertainty of the location.
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Boston Gazette and Country Journal, The, Boston, Massachusetts, March 16, 1761 (Period Newspaper Account)
"Portsmouth (New Hampshire) MC!f'ah 13 "Yesterday Morning, between the hours of -tWo and three o'CZoak, a sma:rt Shoak of an ECI1'thquake was feU in this and the neighboring Towns, attended with a Zoud rumbl.ing Noise, whiah was soon foZZowed by another, but hapiZy did no Damage.
Lane, Samuel, Stratham, New Hampshire (Diary entry)
"Earthquakes in the yea:f's foHOtJing.**Ma:r 12, 1761."
EARTHQUAKE OF NOVEMBER 9, 1810 CA.
21 :15 (L)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
V(to1M)
LOCATION:
43.0N, 70.aW EVALUATION:
The earthquake of November 9, IBI0 is centered in the vicinity of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Figure 2.5.* 2A-8.
This location is consistent with the epicentral location of the original PSAR.
It was felt over an area of 21,500 square kilometers.
The maximum effects were reported from Portsmouth, New Hampshire; the principal damage was broken glass.
At Hampton, New Hampshire, no damage was reported, but Hit was severe enough to stop a'loak.s."
(Newburyport Herald, November 13,1810).
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Columbian Centinel, Boston, Massachusetts,November 14, 1810 "Earthquak.e.
A severe agitation of the earth-was feU in Ports-mouth, N.H. Friday evening last, about three minutes past 9 o'clock. -
Its progress appeared to be from N. W., to S. E. and was acaompanied by a heavy explosion. - Its duration from one to two minutes -Some ~ndow g'lass was broken by the shoak, whiah a vessel aoming into the harbor fe It as severe Zy as if she had run aground.
The Kennebunk paper mentions it as having been violent'ly felt there; that it lasted about 20 seaonds, was attended with a loud rumbling, and that the houses and contents were very much agitated.
The Portland Gazette states its being but slightly feU there, about half past 9 0 'aloak, and that from a aalm the wind foT' a few moments bLew very fT'esh before the shoak.
It was sensibLy feU at Salem, Newburyport, York, Exeter, Dover, HaveT'hi22, and many of the interior tou:ms, and at CharlestOli!n, in this vicinity, but we have not heard of its being expeT'ienaed in this. town."
New Hampshire Gazette, The, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, November 13, 1810 "On Friday evening Zast, at a few minutes past 9 0 'al,oak, a shoak of an earthquake was feU in this town, the most severe it is said sinae 1755.
It was feLt also at POT'tland and at NewbUI'Yport.
Its apparent course from west to east."
Newburyport Herald, Newburyport, Massachusetts, November 16, 1810
'~over, New Hampshire - Inhabitants of this town were considerably alarmed by a severe shook of an earthquake--Zasted one minute more severe than any of 'last fifty years.
Newburyport Herald, Newburyport, Massachusetts, November 13, 1810 "Eazothquake -
On Friday evening
~ast a severe shock of an earthquake was fe~t in this town, which
~asted about 20 seconds.
It appeared to pass from the southward to the northward,--the noise like a carriage moderately passing a bridge, till there succeeded a kind of roaming (sio) like distant thunder.
A vessel
~as at that time ooming up the river, which felt the shook, so as to induae the people to think she struok a rook.
'~t Haverhill it was sensibly felt, and at Hampton it was so severe as to stop alooks.
"In Portsmouth, (says the Oraole) it was felt a minute past nine, its duration nearly two minutes; being more severe than has been felt there for many years.
Some window gZass was broken by the shook."
EARTHQUAKE OF OCTOBER 5, 1817 CA:
11:45 (L)
EPlCENTRAL INTENSITY:
V-VI (MM)
LOCATION:
42.5N, 71.2W EVALUATION:
The earthquake of October 5, 1817, is listed in numerous earthquake compilations as an event of epicentral Intensity VII-VIII(MM), based upon the observation of Brigham (1871)
(as reported by Felt, 1899) that "wa 7..7..s were thrown doum at Woburn."
Contemporary accounts, mainly from newspapers, indicate that the intensity did not exceed V-VI.
The
'~a7..7..s" referred to by Brigham are probably wall fences characteristic of rural New England pasture land rather than house walls (Berkshire Star, October 16, 1817).
These walls are constructed by removing glacial boulders from pasture land and piling them loosely on top of each other to make a "stone fence."
Intensity IV-V(MM) effects are characterized almost exclusively by indirect descriptions such as "severe" and isolated cases of excitement.
There are no reports of any damage identified to buildings or their contents.
The density of felt reports is insufficient to adequately define the epicenter of the earthquake.
The region between Tyngsboro and Woburn defines the meizoseismal area.
The convention of listing the epicenter as published in existing lists, then Woburn, is retained.
The maximum epicentral intensity does not exceed V-VI(MM).
The perceptible area is about 55,000 square kilometers (Figure 2.5.2A-ll).
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Berkshire Star, Stockbridge, Massachusetts, October 16, 1817 "The Earthquake mentioned in our 7..ast~ was more sever>e7..y feU in some towns~ to the north and east~ than in this p7..aoe -We have accounts of it from tOlm8 in New 10rk~
Vermont~
New liampshire~
and from many tozms in this State~ as far east as Newburypor>t - In many p7..ooes it caused great a~. - At Cambridgeport *the meeting house was so severe7..y shaken as to cause the who7..e congr>egation to desert it instantaneous7..y -
and in some p7..aces the wa7..7.. fences were thrown dawn.
Boston Commercial Gazette, Boston, Massachusetts, October 6, 1817 "lester>day about 20 minutes before 11 0' aZock~ a smar't shoak of an Earthquake was feU in this tcn.m.
The vibration continued about one seaond in this p7..ace.
In Br>oad-str>eet~ we ar>e to7..d~ the shock was so sever>e as to occasion several of the inhabitants residina therein to 7..eave their> houses.
~
"We have since l.earnt, that the shock was severeLy feU in the neighboring toums, pazotiaula:rl.y at Cambridgeport, where the meetinghouse was shook in so tremulous a manner, as to cause an immediate desertion of the whoZe congregation;
- at Woburn, many of the waLl.s were thrown down, and some houses represented as roc:king "Like a c:radl.e. /I Essex Register, Salem, Massachusetts, October 7, 1817 "Last Sunday, at 47 minutes past eleven, A.M. we had a shoc:k of an Earthquake.
It came from the Northl.Jest, and continued about 10 seconds, The noise was considerabLe, and the shock great enough to bring a whoZe congregation from their seats.
"A smal.l distance was observed between the first report and the shoc:k., the undulation was quic:k, but without the least injury. "
Portsmouth Oracle, The, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, October 11, 1817
'~n Earthquake was felt in this town on Sunday night Last at 5 minutes before 12 o'c:l.oc:k and was said by some persons to be repeated by a viol.ent one a few moments afterwards.
"The shoak was considered as sensible as any observed for many years.
Exeter Oc:t 7 One of the severest shoc:ks of an ea:r'thquake ever known in this town was experienced on the
~t Sabbath about a quarter before twelve o'clock., A.M.
It'was attended by a sound similar to the rapid passage of a heavy wagon, and continued about thirty sec:cmds.
Bui ],dings were sensibl.y shaken and this effort continued some seconds after the c:essation of the noise.
Salem Gazette, Salem, Massachusetts, October 7, 1817 "On Sunday Zast, at 47 minutes before 12 0 'clock, apparent time, a shock of an earthquake, of 1 or 2 seconds oontinuance, was experienced in this town and vicinity; the jar and trembl.ing, though so oonsiderabl.e as in many instances to c:ause persons invol.untaril.y to f1ee from their seats, Were by others not perc:eived at an."
EARTHQUAKE OF JULY 23, 1823 CA:
06:55 (L)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
IV-V (MM)
LOCATION:
42.9N, 70.6W EVALUATION:
The earthquake of July 23, 1823 was originally identified as a local felt report from Sanford, Maine, by Mather and Godfrey (1927).
- However, the event was unreported in the Sanford area newspapers.
Dispatches in area newspapers indicated that the event was in fact, widely felt.
Reports from Bath, Maine, and Nantucket, Massachusetts, were not confirmed in the local newspapers.
It was felt from at least Kingston, Massachusetts, to Portland, Maine.
Except for a report from Bellows Falls, Vermont, there are no local felt reports from localities outside of the line shown on the isoseismal map as the estimated limit of felt area (Figure 2.5.2A-12).
The epicenter is estimated as southeast of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
The epicentral intensity is estimated at IV-y(MM), based on attenuation.
The perceptible area is 29,000 square kilometers.
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Columbian Centinel, Boston, Massachusetts, July 26, 1823 "Earthquake. - A shoak of earthquake was very sensibly felt in this c:ity about?
0 'cl-oc:k on Wednesday morning~
for four or five seconds.
It was aLso e=perienced in Dorahester~ Milton~
Salem~
Glouc:ester~ Reading~
Lexington and other places heard from. - A gentl-emen in Kingston~ after notic:ing the shoc:k~ remarks that it was more violent than the fo'lO' feU on the 12th inst.
Remote papers mention other slight shocks fel.t on the 12th.
It may be remarked that simil-ar shoc:ks have been observed for many years after a faU of heavy rain has suac:eeded dPy speUs."
Portsmouth Journal of Literature and Politics, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, July 26, 1823 "The Earthquake of Wednesday morning was feU in this town with unusual violence" and its extent must have been great.
It was feU" as we are informed in Bath" Portl-and" Kennebunk, Dover~ E:r:eter" Newbury-port, SaZem, Boston, Reading, Gl-oucestero, Le:rington, Kingston M, etc:.
It is said that some stone wans Were thrown doum in the neighborohood of this town.
Piscataqua Bridge was vioLent1.y shaken.
It appeared in some houses Hke the report of a distant heavy cannon.
The Sal-em Register says the Earthquake was at [, minutes after 7-in this tou:m it was at 5 minutes before ?"
Newburyport Herald, Newburyport, Massachusetts, July 25, 1823 "A smart shoak of an Earthquake was felt in this toum Wednesday morning at foW' minutes before 7 0 'cwak.
Its duration was B or 10 seconds. "
New Hampshire Gazette, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, July 29, 1823 "Earthquake. - A smart shoak of an Earthquake was feU in this and the neighboring towns on Wednesday morning Zast about? o'cZoak.
It was also feU in Kennebunk., Newb1dyport., SaLem., Boston., &c."
EARTHQUAKE OF AUGUST 25, 1846 CA:
04:45 (L)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
V (MM)
LOCAT!ON:
42.5N, 70.8W EVALUATION:
The earthquake of August 25, 1846 is centered off the coast of eastern Massachusetts in the Cape Ann region (Figure 2.5.2A-13).
This epicentral estimate is consistent with other previous estimates.
The epicentral intensity is considered as V(MM), with V(MM) effects reported from Newburyport, Beverly, and Salem, Massachusetts.
Although newspaper dispatches from other localities mention that a chimney was damaged in Jamaica Plain, near Boston, this is not corraborated by any dispatch from a Boston newspaper.
The earthquake was, felt over an area of 51,800 square kilometers.
At Newburyport, Massachusetts
'~uBes were 8haken~
windows and doors ratt led~ bells were rung ~ and the s lwribering were waked up. II (The Herald, Newburyport, Massachusetts, August 26, 1840).
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Herald, The, Newburyport, Massachusetts, August 26, 1846 lI'An earthquake of very considerable vioZenae "'as e:::perienaed in this city' (at approximate7-y 4:57 a.m.)
'houses "'ere shaken~ windows and doors ratt Zed~ beUs were rung ~ and the s l,wnbering were waked up. ",
"PeU at Ca:rn'bridge~
Lynn~
Naha:nt~ Sa7-em, Bever7-y, Westboro~
Woroester; sensibly felt at Worcester.
At Beverly~ - felt in every part of tOl.J'n.
At Wi7-mington~ 'in some instanoes crocke'1"Y ware was thrown from shelves. '
FeU aZso at Braint1'ee~
IJedham~ Conaord, and Jamaiaa Plains, Massachusetts."
Lewis, Lord John I Diary of Newbury, August 1846
"--a smal't shoak of an earthquake was fett in this pl.ace on the 25th in the morning at 5 o'aloak, it was suffiaient to shake the houses, and the beds in whioh peop7-e were.
It was felt aU rOW1.d~ the northern part of New EngLand, in Maine, New Hampshire and other pLaces.
In SaZem~
Beve1'ly~ and other plaaes~ it opened doors, shook the croakery from the she7-ves~ eta. it Lasted from 10 to 15 seaonds."
New Hampshire Patriot, Concord, New Hampshire, August 27, 1846 "The Ear'thquake in this city !Jas felt 2'" minutes before 5 0 'aloak on Tuesday morning~ Aug. 25, but, timekeepers vary~ we had better aarl it 50'aZoak.
It began at that hour at Newburyport~ where it lasted 8 minutes.
The shoak was felt in aU the towns of the aommorrweal.th from
~hich ~e have heard~ and houses
~ere shaken~ bells rung~ and people roused from their beds in this city.
Not being C11J)ake at the moment"
~e cannot" of course, have a very distinct idea of vibrations. - Boston Post, Wednesday.
rt Salem Advertiser, Salem, Massachusetts, August 26, 1846 "A smart shock of an earthquake ~s e:r:perienced in this c:ity"
~th effects cau.sing" doors to be throlim open" and even crockery in some*
instanoes to be tumbled trom the shelves. rt Salem Gazette, The, Salem, Massachusetts, August 28, 1846 "An Earthquake.
"Quite a smart shock of an Earthquake was experienced in this city~
and its vicinity" at a f~ minutes past five o'clock, on TUesday morning. -
T'ne accounts are so uniform" and. come from so many oonaurring souroes" in our oity and out of it" that we are not at liberty to doubt that our city has been visited by this uncommon and extraordinary phenomenon of Nature.
It was very sensibly felt throughout our city-and our advices, so far as
~e received them yesterday, lead to the belief that the concussion was very extensive.*..
"The Travener says: -
We have heard from Cambridge, Nel.Jton, Lynn" Nahant" Salem, BeverZy, Westbor>o, and Worcester>,
and in theBe pLaces the houses
~ere shaken, 'Windows and doors ratt'Led, beZls were rung, and the s lwnbering
~ere
~aked up.
The vibrations do not appear to have been preoeded 01' attended by that rwnbUng sound which usuatzy accompanies earthquakes.
The sound" as it appeared to us,
~as more Zike that produced by the sudden and vioZent motions of a person in an adjoining room, 01' in the chamber overhead.
Some say there were two or thPee successive shocks; but" to us" it rather appeared Zike one continued jar" 01' shock, of considerabZe vioZence....
"A oorrespondent of the J0U!7/.aZ, at BeverLy" lU1'ites as foHows: -
"Mr. Sleeper:
-We had a heavy earthquake, this moming, at BeverZy" about 5 0 'cZock.
It was feU in every part of the toum.
My bed shook" and it sounded as though a dozen rai Zroad trains were passing over the roof of my house.
"Was it an Earthquake? -At five minutes before 5, this morning" a heavy noise and shaking was heard and feLt by a number of our citizens.
It
~as of 'longer duration than could have been produced by a cannon" 01' an explosion of powdermill. -Springfield Republican, 25th.
"The Ecaothquake.
"We have p~aced on our first page an acaount of the ea:r'thquake" as it appeared in some other p~aces.
In this c:itys the c~6cks struak five immediatety after its termination.
The duration of the shock is dif-ferentZy estimated, aaaording to the imagination of the observer" from one seaond to severaZ minutes.
The noise was so great., and the motion so decided., that great numbers of persons were awakened from their sleep.
It does not appear to have extended west 01' south of Massachusetts.... "
Salem Register, Salem, Massachusetts, August 27, 1846 trey the concussion houses were shaken" windows rattled., doors un"Latahed., door "hens we1'e rung" furniture as wen as ahina and other wares were much disturbed and many sZumbe1'ers were aroused.
At Jamaica P~ain a chimney was shaken down. 1/
EARTHQUAKE OF NOVEMBER 27, 1852 CA:
23:45 (L)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
V (MM)
LOCATION:
43.0N, 70.9W EVALUATION:
The earthquake of November 27, 1852 is centered near Exeter, New Hampshire (Figure 2.5.2A-l5).
It was felt over a 9,900 square kilometer region from the Cape Ann region north to Saco, Maine.
The maximum effects, Intensity V(MM), were observed near Exeter, New Hampshire.
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Daily Morning Chronicle, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, November 30, 1852 "The Earthquake ~ on Satu:rday night~ was* likened by some persons in this city ~ who happened to be up and doing ~ to the rocrring of a chimney on fire-others supposed it to be the heavy rumbling of a loaded wago:n over a paved street.
- "It was supposed by some gentlemen at Kittery Point to be a steamboat in the harbor letting off steam.
"The SaLem Register aalLs it a 'smart shoak~, and says~
'The rumbZing noise and the jarring of the windows and doors were very peraeptible for the spaae~ some say~ of haZf a minute.
Some faith7,ess ones attribute the shock to the explosion of a power-mill somewhere. '
"A Lady in Greenland says the earthquake shook h.e-r> house and those of her neighbors very sensibly.
"The Boston JournaZ says it lJas feU at Euter l.Uhere it shook the doors and windows vio7,ent7.,y~ and in one instanae jarred dolJn some of the p~stering of a dweLling house.
It does not seem to have been fe Zt at Boston.
"A very heavy e:rpZosion stcrrtled our citizens at 25 minutes before 12 o'aZock~ Saturday night.
It aame from a northe-r>Zy direation and was probabLy from the Exeter Power MiZls~ though no former expLosion of these mills ever produced here half so severe a conaussion~ or anything tike the 7-oud report and reverberation.
After th.e 8hoak~ a rocrr 7-ike that of a foul chimney burning~ was distinatly peraeptibLe~ in doors ~ for two minutes.
The night was stin and dear lUith a "Light air from NW-ground wet and soft.
"If this was not the effect of a great expZosion it must have been one of those earthquakes and the most severe of them aZZ~
whiah at iPregul,ar interval,s from time immemorial, have visited the vaHey of the MePrimack. -Newburyport BeroU."
Maine Democrat, Saco, Maine, December 7, 1852 "The Earthquake. -The shoak of an earthquake was feZt here on Saturday evening l,ast~ at thirty-five minutes after el,even o'al,oak.
The shoak here was not severe.
We were standing near a stove at the time~ and did not peraeive any jar~ but onl,y heard the noise rumbUng off in the distanae in a westerZy direation, and no apparent aause visibZe.
The night was a7,ear~ the moon bright" and the air' stin.
liThe forae of the earthquake was evident7,y to the west of Portsmouth.
At Ezeter', it was feU U>ith much vioZenae.
In NezJburyport the Herold notes the minute the same as at Portsmouth.
There it was thought it Zasted nearly wo minutes~ and was muah more severe than at Exeter'.
In Sa7,em, it was a'Lso notiaed, but it was 'Less vioZent.
No mention is made of it south of SaZem. "
EARTHQUAKE OF DECEMBER 11, 1854 CA:
00:30 (L)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
IV-V (MM)
LOCATION:
43.0N, 70.8W EVALUATION:
The earthquake of December 11, 1854 is centered in southeastern New Hampshire (Figure 2.S.2A-16).
The maximum observed intensity is at Newburyport, where there were unconfirmed reports of articles shaken from shelves in some cases.
The distribution of intensities within the isoseismal region indicate an epicenter within the area about Exeter, New Hampshire.
The earthquake was felt over an area of 4,100 square kilometers.
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Exeter News Letter, The, Exeter, New Hampshire, December 11, 1854 "Ea::I"thquake -- This Monday morning at seven minutes before one o'aloak~ a smart shoak of an ea::I"thquake was experienaed in this town.
The motion of the earth was quite peraeptible~ and its aating upon fupnitW'e and z'oose windOZJs and doors~ was anything but agreeahZe to weak nerves.
The noise attending~ was like that of the swift approaah 9f a heavy aarriage on frozen ground~ hit when the shoak appeared (sic) to be irrmediateZ.y beneath~ it was muah heavier."
Journal, The, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, December 16, 1854 "The Earthquake "On Saturday (sic) night Last~ at half past 12 o'aZ.oak~
a shook of an earthquake was sensibZy felt in this city and vicinity.
The watcrunen (sic) at the Navy Yard thought they saw lightning at the time and regarded the noise as thunder.
Some of our city watarunen who were at the time in Market Street~ heard the aommencement and passing away of the sound.
It seemed to them like two distinat explosions.
--probably from the sound aoming through (sic) different avenues between high buildings.
It rattled the door shutters near them.
"The NewbW'yport Herald says it was sensibly felt there at the same hoW'.
The houses were shaken and the crockery ware in some houses was thrown down from the shelves.
"It was not felt in Salem.
The Saao papers make no mention of it.
Nor do those of Manahester and Conaord."
"QUotes EXeter New Letter "The direation of the sound in Portsmouth and Epping lJas appa:1'ent'Ly from the southeast to the nort'i'DPest.
"In GreenZand and in Epping it zvas as severeZy feU.
As has usuaUy been the aase~ rain fen the nert day. "
EARTHQUAKE OF OCTOBER 17, 1860 CA.
11:15 (GMT)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
VIII-IX(MM)
LOCATION:
47.5N, 70.1W EVALUATION:
The earthquake of October 17, 1B60 is centered in the St. Lawrence River Valley, northeast of Quebec city, near La Malbaie, about 510 kilometers from the site.
The earthquake was felt over a 1,700,000 square kilometer region.
It was felt throughout much of New England.
Based upon intensity attenuation characteristics (Table 2.5.2-7), the intensity at the site is estimated at IV-V(MM).
EARTHQUAKE OF OCTOBER 20, 1870 CA:
16:30 (GMT)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
IX (MM)
LOCATION:
47.4N, 70.SW EVALUATION:
The earthquake of October 20, 1870 is centered in the Baie St. Paul region, northeast of Quebec city about 500 kilometers north of the site.
It was felt over a 2,500,000 square kilometer region including all of New England.
Based on intensity attenuation characteristics (Table 2.5.2-7), the intensity at the site is estimated at V(MM).
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Daily Free Press and Times, The, Burlington, Vermont, October 21, 1870 (Dispatch from Newburyport, Massachusetts)
"At tA,,)enty minutes to twez.ve" a sUght jar was feU in this aity" whiah was a7,most immediately foHowed by a rumbUng" whiah lasted haZ.f a minute" jarring buiUiings" ringing doorben~" and shaking globes from ahandeliers.
In many instanaes the oacupants ran into the streets from ibJeHings.
It seemed to pass in a south-westerz.y direation."
Salem Register, Salem, Massachusetts, October 24, 1870 "At Salem".Massaahusetts"
'soUd and most substantial buildings felt the shoak" heavy tabLes and dishes were sensibLy shaken" horse's bells were rung" aZ.oaks were stopped in several. instanaes" and hanging impLements vibrated materiaZZy.,"
EARTHQUAKE OF MAY 12, 1880 CA:
07:45 (L)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
IV-V (MM)
LOCATION:
42.7N, 7l.0W EVALUATION:
The earthquake of May 12, 1880 is centered in northeastern Massachusetts (Figure 2.5.2A-19).
The maximum effects are noted at Groveland, Massachusetts.
The epicentra1 intensity is IV-V(MM).
The felt area is 4,600 square kilometers.
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Monthly Weather Review, May, 1880 "Newburyport~
Mass.~
12th~
7:45a.m.~ a vioLent shock~ houses shook in many parts of the city~ the accompanying noise resembLing.
that of a heavy barreZ roZZing over a chanber j1oor.
Shocks were felt at the same time in Eaverhil l ~ Grove land and surrounding toUJnS.
Binerica~
Mass.~
12th~ sLight shock at 7:30 a.m."
Newburyport Herald; NeWburyport, Massachusetts, May 13, 1880 Note:
At 7:45 A.M., May 12, 1880 an earthquake was felt at some places and not at others.
People had difficulty recognizing it as an earthquake, it being more noise than motion.
It was felt at Byfield, West Newbury, Haverhill, Groveland; at Amesbury the earthquake was strong enough to rattle crockery in several houses.
New York Times, New York, New York, May 16, 1880 "The SaLem (Mass.) Gazette gives some further info:rrmation concerning the earthquake shock which visited Eastern Massachusetts about 7:45 0 'clock on Wednesday morning.
It says:
'We hear reports of it in an the towns between Salem and Newburyport.
In Sa7.em~
the shock was felt in aZZ parts of the city.
The accompanying Bound was by some thought to be thunder; by others~ an expLosion as of roakbZasting; and more generally as the rumbling of a wagon.
In Newburyport~ the shock was felt in the shaking of crockery and furniture~ and in some houses sounding like persons moving in adjoining rooms.
From Merrimac and Amesbury ~ from Georgetown and RowLey we have similap reports.
At RaverhiII an e:x:p7.osion was heaI'd~ the air vibrated~
the earth trembled~ people were swayed to and fro~ crockery was shaken~
and other signs of subterranean disturbance were noticed.
At Acton~ in MiddZesez County~ the shaking was lateral~
and resembLed the sensation caused by a heavily-loaded team passing over a stony street.,,,
EARTHQUAKE OF AUGUST 30, 1905 CA:
10: 40 (L)
EPlCENTRAL INTENSITY:
V (MM)
LOCATION:
43.1N, 70.7W EVALUATION:
The earthquake of August 30, 1905 is centered in the vicinity of Ports-mouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine (Figure 2.5.2A-26).
It was not reported felt in Massachusetts.
The epicentral intensity is V(MM).
The felt area is 3,600 square kilometers.
Newspaper reports from the Portsmouth Herald (August 31, 1905) that "it is 1'W1lored that C!hirrmies were shaken down in North Hampton and Greenland" are not confirmed by The Exeter News Letter (August 31, 1905) which indicated that the earthguake was not reported from North Hampton, Greenland, Seabrook as well as other localities.
Even though The Exeter News Letter states explicitly that the event was not reported from Seabrook,
~t is probably more realistic in view of the relatively shor~ epicentral distance to. assume that the event was felt mildly, i.e. with an Intensity III.
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Exeter New Letter, The, Exeter, New Hampshire, September 1, 1905 "West Epping - September 4 -- 'At e:t:aC!tZy 5:39 p.m. Cambridge time~
on Wednesday of Zast week a distinC!t ea:!'thquake shoC!k was felt here.
WindOlJs and dishes rattle violently~ while the report was deep~
tOlJ pitC!hed~ weird and long.
It must have lasted fuZZy eight or ten seC!onds, time enough for me to walk from a rea:!' room in a la:rge hoitse out through the front door and on to the
],C11..Jn.
1 was on the
"[,CD.Jn before the rumb'Ling ceased.
We have had a dozen seismiC! tremors in southern New Hampshire sinC!e forty years; this hOlJever if memory serves me~ was the most pronounced of any.
"Earthquake not reported from:
"Stratham~ Rye, Freemont, Raymond~
Nottingham~
Kingston~ Greenland, North Hampton, Hampton, Seabrook, Danvine~ Epping."
Haverhill Evening Gazette, Haverhill, Massachusetts, August 31, 1905 "Earth Quivel'S "Portsmouth, New Hampshire~
August 31 -- A series of earthquakes~
the most severe ever experienC!ed in this section, whiC!h~ at about 5:35 to 5:40 o'crock yesterday afternoon were felt from the vicinity of Exeter to beyond Biddeford~ Maine had their center of disturbance in this city~
and were 80 severe that peopLe~ fearing the shaking houses and stores would coUapse~ ran in terror out of doors.
The sC!ene in the
- shopping dismct was exciting for a number of minutes.
For several secondS a tremor ran through the city~ and windOws~
dishes~
pictu1'es~
and other artio~es rattled.
The experience of other places on the coast line and for a few miles inwaI'd was on~y in a less degree.
The shock seemed to travel from west to east.
No damage is reported.
"The shock here came at 5:35 and it was aocorrrpanied by a Loud report as of thunder~ fonowed by a rumbZing.
There were three distinct shocks~ wach with its own rumb~e -- 'At Hampton the shock was very pZ.ain~ but it was greater toward this city~ for GreenZand was more affected.
On the other side of the city by Kittery and down to York it was pLainLy heard~ but at WentUJorth at NewcasHe the shock was not heard at aU.
Portsmouth Herald, The, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, August 31, 1905 "Three (3) EaI'thquake Shocks "Citizens of Portsmouth~ New Eampshire~ Kittery and Biddeford~
Maine get a scare.
,~ series of earthquake shocks~ the mos~ severe ever experienced in this section were feLt here Late yesterday afternoon.
BuiLdings trembled perceptibly~ dishes were shaken from sheLves~ and in many cases people rushed in terror from their houses into the street.
"There were three distinct shooks.
In each instanae the tremor was accompanied by a sound which might be caused by a dist~~t explosion.
"The first shock was felt a litHe before 5:40 p.m. and the other shocks fol~owed soon after.
In the business section of the city~
the shoppers and store empLoyees rushed out into the street~ beLieving that the buiLdings were about to collapse.
Each of the three shooks continued for several seconds.
"Kittery~ Maine "Three shooks felt - aocompanied by heavy rumbZing.
"First shook 5: 38 p.. m. ~ other two in rapid succession.
'~s the doors and windows were rattLed by the vibrations of the earth and the lighter bric-a-brac came tumbling down from walls and mantlepieoes~ people ran out of doors in considerable alarm.
'~iddeford~ Maine
'~ slight shook feZt.
DinstinctZy felt in overlying distriots.
Accompanied by a sound like the rumbZing of distant thunder.
"An Earth Tremor "The earthquake shaak was the most startZing~ being so violent as to shake piatures from the walls of houses in the South End.
It is rumored that ahimnies were shaken down. in North Hampton and GreenZand. '
"Sounded Zike heavy objeat faZZing and roZling or like explosion.
EaHpse of sun in A.M. before quake, thunder storm and Hgh-tnirz.g after quake. "
EARTHQUAKE OF OCTOBER 16, 1907 CA:
00:10 (L)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
V (MM)
LOCATION:
42.8N, 7l.0W EVALUATION:
The earthquake of October 16, 1907 is centered in northeastern Massachusetts (Figure 2.5.2A-27).
The epicentral intensity is V(MM).
The felt area is 5,600 square kilometers.
Even though no explicit felt report can be found for Seabrook, it is assumed in view of the estimated epicenter in the vicinity of Haverhill, that the earthquake must have been felt at Seabrook (Intensity III-IV).
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Portsmouth Daily Herald, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, October 16, 1907 "Quake shock felt "Tuesday Evening's Ja:r Was of Several Seconds' Duration.
"Residents of this city claim they felt the ea:rthquake shock shortly after seven o'clock on. Tuesday evening~ which was reported in dispatches from Derry~ this county~ and Lowell~ Lawrence and HaverhiU~ Mass.
"The shock lasted for several sec0nd8~
seemingly~ and the heavy 1'WIibZing ended in an. appCLl'ent erp Zosior;..
'~t DerTY dishes were rattZed on. sheZves and tabZe~ but no special damage was reported. "
EARTHQUAKE OF JANUARY 7, 1925 CA:
13:07 (GMT)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
V(MM)
LOCATION 42.6N, 70.6W EVALUATION:
'!'he earthquake of January 7, 1925 is located in the vicinity of Cape Ann, Massachusetts.
The epicentral location and intensity were determined by Porter (1924).
The isoseismal map (Figure 2.5.2A-29) is constructed from data after Porter and additional newspaper investigations.
'!'he earthquake was felt over an estimated area of 29,000 square kilometers.
'!'he maximum intensity is V(MM) at Cape Ann and vicinity.
At Hampton, New Hampshire, a news item in the Manchester Union of January 8, 1925, describes the effects as follows:
"Reports from Eampton and Stratham state that the shock was distinctly feZt there~ causing dishes and other contents of the house to rattZe~ and many of the houses were shaken. II PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Porter, William W. II (1924)
IIIntensity "The region known to be affected by the earthquake of January 7~
1925~ consists of a roughly semiaircuLar area Limited on the east by the AHantia Oaean~ and on the south~
west~ and north by a aircular aurve passing from a short distanae south of Providenae. Rhode Is'Land. north-northwest to Worcester~ Massachusetts~ to Fitchburg~ to Manchester and Rochester~ New Bampshire~
and to the seacoast near Kennebunk~
Maine~
about thirty-eight mUes south of PortZand.
The position of the inner isoseismic 'line is very poorly defined~ as the entire disturbance was of such smaLL magnitude that an acaurate quantitative determination of its effects is impossibLe.
Bowever~ reports by C.
W. Brown of Brown University~
Associated Press dispatches~ communications from various newspapers and from individuaZs~ and a personaL canvass of the northern area indicate that in generaZ~ the shock was of greater intensity within the area enc'Losed by the inner 'Line:
a chimney coHapsed in Lynn; dishes and other artic'Les were displaced from shelves; pictures felZ from walZs; and various reports indicate greater intensity in the inner area.
The expression on the map of this difference in intensity is the inner isoseismia line. which merely traverses an indefinab'Le zone of gradation between the two areas.
"Greatest Intensity:
Barel-y V" Rossi-Forel-Seal-e.
The region of greatest intensity appears to have been Cape Ann.
Plaster feU from the ceiling of Redmen's HaZZ" Rockport; near Lanesvil-Ze a cl-ock stopped at ten minutes past eight" and bottl.es 'danoed a regul.ar jig' on the drug store shel-ves; houses were sharpl-y jarred; and the shock was noted by a large percentage of the popuLation.
This is the onLy area where the shook was reported to have been feU by pedestrians out of doors.
W. F.
EZdrege of Rockport stated that an unduZatory wave seemed to stop him abruptl-y
~hiZe waZking.
'~Zmost universally the shock was compared to the vibrations produaed by a motor truok being driven over rough pavement.
In approaching Cape Ann" the size of the truok aLluded to inoreasedJ and on the Cape" the oonsensU8 of opinion was that the vibrations were muoh too severe to have been produoed by a truck.
"At one point on the Cape ooal was being unloaded from a truak at the time of the earthquake" and a verbaZ report stated that a oonoussion was produced whioh fel.t as though the truok had crashed into the house.
In Haverhill a oontrastirl{J report stated that the disturbanoe sounded as though a truok had bumped into the house" bUt that the jar was insuffident.
IIIntemediate Intensity:
IV +" Rossi-Porer Soal-e.
Ne:r:t to Cape Ann" the most severely affeoted regions were Merrimack VaZley in northeastern Massaahusetts" and the shore d~striot north of Boston" incl-uding Lynn,t MaZden, SaZem, Beverly, Marbl-ehead" Nahant, and Ipswioh.
The inner isoseismio l-ine inoZoses this region" the general effects oj which have been Zisted above.
One feature" however" reoieved undue emphasis in press reports.
The crack a mil-e Zong in GroveZand Street" HaverhiZZ" proved to be a series of short breaks in the asphalt with a total length
- of about fifty yards.
Simil-ar cracks are of oommon ocaurrenoe at this time of year due to frost action" and it is probabLe that tension existed" and that the actuaZ fractuY'e was induoed by the seismic vibrations.
"The direotion Of movement of the disturbance is in most oases very vaguel-y defined.
The one outstanding indioation of direction occurred in Haverhirl-" where si~teen rol-l-s of oongo7-eum rugs were overturned from the east-southeast.
These roUs" measuring nine feet in 'Length" and with a diameter of about a foot" were free to faU in any direction e:r:oept toward the south.
The three men who were present at the time of the earthquake were positive that the direotion of fan of an the roUs was from the east-southeast.
So far as is known" no fixed objects were dispZaoed in this area.
The report of a broken water min in Haverhill due to the earthquake is unfounded.
EARTHQUAKE OF MARCH 1, 1925 CA:
02: 19 :20 (L)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
IX (MM)
LOCATION:
47.6N, 70.1W EVALUATION:
The earthquake of March 1, 1925 is centered in the La Malbaie region, northeast of Quebec city, 525 kilometers north of the site.
It was felt over nearly 5,000,000 square kilometers.
The major damage occurred in the St. Lawrence River Valley, particularly on soft alluvial soils.
lsoseismals (Figure 2.5.2A-30) indicate that the intensity at the site was about IV (MM)
- PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
The Union, March 2, 1925, Manchester, New Hampshire
'~ZZ sections of Hampton Beach wepe in the path of the earthquake, Saturday evening aromd 9:20.
No damage was reported.
At the Coast Guard station on the North" beach~ the shock was onZy slightly felt.
The captain of the guard said the ocean was undisturbed during the earth's tremor.
nAt (sic) Bampton Beach~ peopZe Ziving in a cottage reported that dishes shook in the eupboards and a pan under the sink feZl to the f'Zoor.
They were not C/)J)are that it was an earthquake W2til a Utt7,e later when informed over the radio."
EARTHQUAKE OF OCTOBER 9, 1925 CA:
13:55 (L)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
VI (MM)
LOCATION:
43.7N, 71.1W EVALUATION:
The earthquake of October 9, 1925 has its epicenter in central New Hampshire (Figure 2.5.2A-31).
The epicenter is poorly defined and the published location of Smith (1962) is retained.
The epicentral intensity is VI(MM).
The felt area is 17,700 square kilometers.
The earthquake was not felt at localities such as Sanford and Kennebunk, Maine, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and is inferred from the isoseismal map (Figure 2.5.2A-31) to have not affected the site.
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Concord Daily Monitor, Concord, New Hampshire, October 9, 1925 "An eaI'thquake~
sZight in intensity~ but generaHy feZt throughout the Merrimack ValZey~ the Winnipesaukee Lake region and in the northeastern part of the state along the Maine border~ was feZt today in Conaord by several persons.
No damage beyond the breaking of windotJ glass in Ossipee~ the tumbling of ahimneys in two 01' three towns~ and the" dumping of aanned goods from she Zves in Ossipee and Effingham Fans stores ~ was reported.
EARTHQUAKE OF MARCH 18, 1926 CA:
21:09 (L)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
V(MM)
LOCATION:
42.8N, 72.8W EVALUATION:
The earthquake of March 18, 1926 is centered in southern New Hampshire, near the town of New Ipswich (Figure 2.5.2A-32).
The epicentral intensity is V(MM).
The felt area is 4,800 square kilometers.
Published research by Neumann (1925-1927) indicates that the felt reports were mainly in south-central New Hampshire and adjacent Massachusetts.
There is no indication that coastal localities in southern Maine, New Hampshire, or northeastern Massachusetts reported the shock.
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Manchester Union, The, Manchester, New Hampshire, March 19, 1926 "Southern N. H. Shaken By Slight Ea:1'thquake "Slight earthquakes are reported to have ocaurred in four sections of southern New Hampshire yesterday afternoon.
"To1.JnS and cities dffected by the trerriblor a:1'e Manchester~
Nashua~
MiZford~
Amherst~
WiZton~
Mont Vernon and Greenfie7,d~ acoording to
- dispatches received Zast night.
"A'Ll the shocks were felt at 3 0 r clock~ or shortly after.
Wi7,ton~
MiZford~ Amherst and Mont Vernon aPe grouped in a semioirole about 12 miZes from Nashua, while GreenfieZd is 25 miles from the Gate City.
"Reports indicate that the 'quake did not "Last the same Zength of time in each of the cities and t01.JnS.
In Milford it lasted for 15 minutes.
(sic) Manohester 20 seconds and other pZaoes feU it for fuZZy haZf a minute.
"Manchester and Nashua felt only brief shocks, whiZe Milford and su:rrounding t01.JnS e:rperienced the terriblol' for at Zeast 15 seconds.
EARTHQUAKE OF DECEMBER 20 AND 24, 1940 CA:
07:27:26 (GMT)
(DECE¥~ER 20)
CA:
13:43:44 (GMT)
(DECEMBER 24)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
VII (MM)
LOCATION:
43.8N, 71.3W EVALUATION:
Both earthquakes are centered near Ossipee, New Hampshire.
The isoseismal map (Figure 2.5-2A-37) shows that the Intensity VII(MM} effects occurred at Tamsworth and Wonalancet, New Hampshire.
Damage of Intensity VI (MM) was noted in numerous localities in central New Hampshire and western Maine.
The shocks were felt over an estimated area of more than 786,000 square kilometers including all of New England, New York, and New Jersey.
The intensity at the site, as shown by the isoseismal map, Figure 2.5.2A-37, is IV(MM}.
In the ~icinity of the site, at such places as Portsmouth and Durham, New Hampshire, and Amesbury, Newburyport, Salem, and Gloucester, Massachusetts, the earthquakes were felt by many people, and were well accompanied by the creaking of buildings and the rattling of dishes, windows, and doors.
EARTHQUAKE OF JULy 29, 1954 CA.
19:57:06 (GMT)
EPlCENTRAL INTENSITY:
V(MM)
LOCATION:
42.7N, 70.7W EVALUATION:
The epicenter of the earthquake was located off the coast of north-eastern Massachusetts, about IS miles south-southeast of the site.
The epicentral location was determined from seismograms recorded at Weston Observatory, Weston, Massachusetts, and at the Harvard Seismograph Station, Harvard, Massachusetts.
The earthquake was felt from Lynn, Massachusetts, on the south to Kittery, Maine, on the north, and up to 20 miles inland over a 4,100 square kilometer area.
The quake was most strongly felt along the Massachusetts coast from Gloucester to Salisbury.
In this area there were a few reports of small objects overturned, dishes and glassware knocked over, and clocks stopped (Newburyport Daily News, July 3D, 1954: Gloucester Daily Times, July 30, 1954).
OUtside of this area, the earthquakes's effects consisted mostl~ of dishes, windows, and doors rattling.
Based upon press descriptions and reports collected by Weston Observatory through a canvass card survey, the intensity of this earthquake in the vicinity of the site was III-IV(MM).
EARTHQUAKE OF APRIL 26, 1957 CA.
11:40:06 (GMT)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
VI (MM)
LOCATION:
43.6N, 69.8W EVALUATION:
The epicenter for this event was located off the coast of Maine, about 71 miles northeast of the site.
Slight damage of Intensity V to VI(MM) occurred in the Portland area (Figure 2.5-2A-39).
The quake was felt over 82,500 square kilometers including most of Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and southern central Maine.
The isoseisma1 map prepared by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (see Figure 2-5.2A-39) shows that the intensity at the site was no higher than IV(MM).
EARTHQUAKE OF OCTOBER 16, 1963 15:31:01.8 (GMT)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
V(MM)
LOCATION:
42.5N, 70.8W EVALUATION:
The epicenter for this earthquake was located in Massachusetts Bay, southeast of Cape Ann about 27 miles southeast of the site.
The earthquake was felt over approximately 17,800 square kilometers of northeastern Rhode Island, eastern Massachusetts, southeastern New Hampshire, and extreme southwestern Maine.
von Hake and Cloud (1965) list this earthquake as Intensity VI (MM)
- They report damages at Somerville (fallen plaster - Intensity VI(MM>>
and at Winthrop (cracked windows -
Intensity V(MM>>, but these reports "were not substantiated" by Breitling (1965).
The one instance of damage in Somerville apparently occurred in a building which was either poorly constructed or had undergone settlement prior to the earthquake.
The Coast and Geodetic Survey report states that "cracks in the foundation and pantry became large" which indicates that the cracks were present prior to the earthquake.
Breitling's isoseismal map (Figure 2.5-2A-40) shows a maximum intensity of IV(MM) on land.
Analysis of press reports and of a canvass card survey conducted by Weston Observatory show that the maximum effects at many towns in eastern Massachusetts consisted of houses rocked, windows and dishes rattled, and knicknacks thrown from the shelves (Amesbury and Methuen).
Based on Breitling's investigations and reports collected by Weston Observatory through a canvass card survey, the intensity of this earthquake in the vicinity of the site was IV(MM).
EARTHQUAKE OF OCTOBER 30, 1963 17:36:57.9 (GMT)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
IV-V (MM)
LOCATION:
42.7N, 70.BW EVALUATION:
The epicenter for this earthquake was located in northeastern Massachusetts, about 13 miles south of the site.
The epicentral location was determined from seismograms recorded at four stations of Weston Observatory's New England Seismic Network (stations are located at Weston, Massachusetts; Berlin, New Hampshire; Milo and Machias, Maine).
The earthquake was felt in northeastern Massachusetts from north Boston, and in adjacent portions of southeastern New Hampshire over a 5,900 square kilometer area.
A questionnaire canvass conducted by the Weston Observatory indicated that the intensity of the earthquake was IV (MM).
However, the press report for a few instances of craked plaster and -other minor damage in the Ipswich-Rowley area (Salem Evening ~, October 31, 196f) indicate that the intensity may have been as high as V(MM) near the epicenter.*
"The intensity of the tremor was feZt particuJarly in Ipswich and in Rowley.
Householders in Rowley reported that dishes rattled and lamp fixtures swayed" (Salem Evening News, October 31, 1963).
Based on the press descriptions and questionnaire survey conducted by Weston Observatory, the estimated intensity of this earthquake at the site was IV (MM).
EARTHQUAKE OF OCTOBER 21, 1971 00: 54: 46.2 (GMT)
EPICENTRAL INTENSITY:
V (MM)
LOCATION:
42.7N, 71.1SW EVALUATION:
The earthquake of October 21, 1971 was reported by Coffman and von Hake (1971) as felt in several Merrimack Valley communities at Intensity V(MM).
It was not reported felt in any coastal New Hampshire area.
PERTINENT ACCOUNTS:
Coffman and von Hake (1973)
"Northeastern Massachusetts.
The shocK shifted objects and shook buUdings at a few towns in northeastern. Massachusetts. Int. V at Andover~
EiZZerica~ Methuen~
Newburyport~ and Tewksbury.
Int.
IV at Georgetown~ G7,ouaester~
Grove*tand~ Ipswich~
La2urence~ Merrimaa~
Midd7,eton~ North Aniiover~
Reading~ and WakefieZd~ Mass. ~ and Sa7,em~ N.B. Int. II at Lowell and Witmington~ Mass. /I REFERENCES Adarns, Nathaniel, Annals £! Portsmouth, ~ Hampshire, Exeter, C. Norris Printer, pp. 151-152, 195-196, 1825.
Allen, Rev. James, cited in Richard D. Pierce, The Records £! ~ ~
Church in Boston 1630-1868, The Colonial sOCiety of Massachusetts, Published by the Society, Boston, Massachusetts, Vol. 39, p. 112, 1961.
Anon:
Citation in Newbury Town Records, 1638, cited in currier, Damrel and Upham, History ~ NeWbury, Massachusetts, 1635-1902, Boston, 1902.
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1 of 3 TABLE 1 AFTERSHOCKS OF THE EARTHQUAKE OF NOVEMBER 9, 1727 FROM THE MINISTER'S RECORD (1727-1748)
OF THE REV.
MATTHIAS PLANT DATE TIME INTENSITY*
YR MO DA (LOCAL)
EVALUATION (MM) 1727 11 09 2300 F
1727 11 09 2335 IV 1727 11 09 2354 F
1727 11 10 0215 F
1727 11 10 0410 F
1727 11 10 0545 IV 1727 11 10 1530 F
1727 11 10 1700 F
1727 11 11 F
1727 11 11 1010 F
1727 11 11 1435 F
1727 11 11 1933 F
1727 11 11 2042 F
1727 11 12 F
1727 11 13 F
1727-11 14 1700 IV-V 1727 11 14 2400 F
1727 11 15 0410 F
1727 11 15 F
1727 11 16 1630 F
1727 11 16 2300 F
1727 11 17 1000 F
1727 11 18 1120 IV 1727 11 19 F
1727 11 23 1630 F
1727 11 24 0400 F
1727 11 26 1430 F
1727 11 30 2200 F
1727 12 01 F
1727 12 01 IV 1727 12 10 F
1727 12 12 F
1727 12 16 IV 1727 12 19 1000 IV 1727 12 28 2230 IV 1727 12 29 0400 F
1728 01 04 2300 IV-V 1728 01 09 F
1728 01 12 1400 F
1728 01 14 2100 F
1728 01 17 1800 F
1728 02 04 2130 IV 1728 02 04 2130 IV 1728 02 04 2130 IV 1728 02 05 1300 F
1728 02 08 0630 IV 1728 02 08 1000 F
TABLE 1 (cont/d.)
2 of 3 DATE TIME INTENSITY*
YR MO DA (LOCAL)
EVALUATION(MM) 1728 02 09 0100 F
1728 02 09 F
1728 02 10 1350 V
1728 02 10 1530 F
1728 03 04 0030 F
1728 03 11 1315 F
1728 03 17 2345 F
1728 03 23 F
1728 03 28 0300 F
1728 03 30 1340 F
1728 03 30 2100 F
1728 05 03 F
1728 05 09 1700 F
1728 05 16 IV 1728 05 23 0940 F
1728 05 28 2000 F
1728 06 02 F
1728 06 02 1000 F
1728 06 04 2300 F
1728 06 17 0300 F
1728 06 19 0300 F
1728 06 22 0900 F
1728 07 14 0200 F
1728 07 30 1000 IV 1728 08 02 0315 IV 1728 08 05 F
1728 09 28 0400 F
1728 11 20 0400 F
1729 01 29 2000 F
1729 02 02 2400 F
1729 03 30 1400 IV 1729 08 06 IV 1729 09 19 1530 F
1729 10 08 1630 F
1729 11 09 2240 F
1729 11 25 0800 IV 1729 12 08 2000 IV 1730 02 19 2000 F
1730 02 19 2400 F
1730 03 09 0145 IV 1730 03 30 F
1730 04 23 2000 IV 1730 08 08 0900 F
1730 08 26 0800 F
1730 11 25 0900 F
1730 11 25 0900 F
1730 12 05 2020 F
1730 12 17 2245 F
1730 12 22 1845 F
TABLE 1 (cont'd.)
3 of 3 DATE TIME INTENSITY*
YR MO DA (LOCAL)
EVALUATION(MM) 1731 01 12 1900 IV 1731 01 22 2400 IV 1731 03 18 1700 F
1731 06 08 0900 F
1731 07 16 F
1731 09 01 2100 F
1731 10 12 2300 IV 1732 02 18 1900 F
1733 01 10 F
1733 03 12 F
1733 10 30 2400 F
1734 01 27 2200 F
1734 07 10 0315 F
1734 10 20 1020 F
1734 11 27 0600 F
1735 02 13 1745 F
1735 04 01 1030 F
1736 02 13 1745 F
1736 07 24 0915 F
1736 10 12 0130 F
1736 11 23 0200 IV 1736 11 23 0600 F
1737 02 17 1615 F
1737 09 20 1020 IV 1740. 12 25 0635 F
1741 01 29 0400 F
1741 02 05 1550 F
1742 04 08 0645 F
1742 09 24 1730 F
1743 08 21 1700 F
1744 05 24 F
1744 05 27 1115 F
1746 08 13 F
1747 01 17 2400 F
1747 12 14 0430 F
1747 12 17 1600 F
1748 03 22 0645 F
- F indicates unassigned intensity, inferred to be
~III(MM).
TABLE 2 RECORD OF AFTERSHOCKS OF THE 1727 EARTHQUAKE AT NEWBURY AND MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS DATE(O.S.)
October 29 October 30 TIME (LOCAL) 2:15 a.m.
4:10 a.m.
5:45 a.m.
3:30 p.m.
5:0.0 p.m.
p.m.
EXCERPTS TAKEN FROM ORIGINAL MINISTER'S RECORD BOOKS KEPT BY REV.
MATTHIAS PLANT AT NEWBURY, MASSACHUSETTS
"..* and Eight more immediately followed louder than the rest that followed and lasted al ye week sometimes breaking with loud clasps 6 times or oftener in a day and as oftern in ye night *.. "
RECORD OF AFTERSHOCKS AT MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS
" *.* There were about 7 or a small rumblings, after this, heard before one of the clock; *** "
".** there were two others, one only heard the other felt."
" *.*we heard another."
" *.. another,"
" **. we heard it again, *.* "
....* the same afternoon; *.. "
".*. and I
am told by some that were up in the following Night, that they heard the rumbling twice or thrice;..* "
DATE(O.S.)
TIME (LOCAL)
October 31 10:00 a.m.
6:35 p.m.
7:33 p.m.
8:42 p.m.
TABLE 2 (Cont'd.)
EXCERPTS TAKEN FROM ORIGINAL MINISTER'S RECORD BOOKS KEPT BY REV.
MATTHIAS PLANT AT NEWBURY, MASSACHUSETTS 2 of 3
RECORD OF AFTERSHOCKS AT MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS
..... there was a pretty strong one."
..... an other;.....
It *** an other;.....
..... and a Fourth Time.** and I am told was heard several times in the Night after."
November 2 November 3
November 4 November 4 Night
-- p.m.
4.00 a.m.
10:00 p.m.
..... somewhat abated... "
" *** 3 very loud claps... "
(i.e. referring to the three reported November 3-4; also at Marblehead, time given as evening and about midnight)
"... about ye Brake of day.** "
"... we also had it upon Saturday**. "
(no time given).
..... the Earthquake heard twice last night."
..... it was heard again last night:... "
..... and a very considerable one that made our windows jar."
some say they heard it about 4
(original illegible, Weston Geophysical).
DATE(O.S.)
November 5 November 5 November 6 November 7 TIME (LOCAL) 4:30 --
11:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
TABLE 2 (Cont'd.)
EXCERPTS TAKEN FROM ORIGINAL MINISTER'S RECORD BOOKS KEPT BY REV. MATTHIAS PLANT AT NEWBURY, MASSACIRJSETTS
" ***we also had 'it.** Sabbath**. "
(no time given).
" **.much abated in ye noise and terror."
Not reported by Plant Weston Geophysical Note:
significant textural differences in the original Minister's Record and the account in the Philo-sophical transactions published years later.
Descriptions are taken from the original record.
RECORD OF AFTERSHOCKS AT MARBLEHEAD I MASSACHUSETTS "It was distinctly heard about 4h 30m just after we came from meeting."
"..* and I am told about 11 at night they heard it again."
"..* it was plainly heard *.. "
"... so that it has been heard about 30 times in the compass of the 9 or 10 days past."
Weston Geophysical Note:
the record ends on November 7, 1727.
The letter, written at Marblehead, Massachusetts is dated November 8, 1727.
TABLE 3
AFTERSHOCKS OF THE 1755 EARTHQUAKE DATE Nov. 18, 1755 Nov. 18, 1755 Nov. 19, 1755 Nov. 20, 1755 Nov.
22, 1755 Dec. 19, 1755 Mar. 11, 1756 Mar. 15, 1756 TIME 5:29 a.m.
4:00 p.m.
10:00 p.m.
Not Given 8:27 p.m.
10:00 p.m.
3:00-4:00 p.m.
Not Given REPORTING LOCALITIES Massachusetts:
Amesburyt, Boston, Chelmsford, Essex County, Marshfield, Northampton, Salem, Westborough, Worcester; Maine:
York; New Hamp-shire:
Bedford; Rhode Island:
Exeter.
Kittery, Maine.
Massachusetts:
Chelmsford, Ipswich; Maine:
York.
York, M.aine.
Massachusetts:
Amesburyt, Boston, Chelmsford, Essex County, Lynn, Marshfield, Northampton, Plymouth, Worcester, Westborough; Maine:
Portland, York; New Hampshire:
Hampton, Portsmouth; Rhode Island:
Exeter, Newport; New York: New York.
Massachusetts:
Boston, Essex County, Marshfield; Maine: Portland.
Reported in "towns east of Boston."
Reported along the coast from Salem, Massachusetts to Wells, *Maine.
tAmesbury reports are uncertain and are not used in consideration of aftershocks.
TABLE 4
SUMMARY
OF OBSERVATIONSt ON AFTERSHOCKS Chauncy (1755):
"... These are aU the shocks we have had in this tawn~ tho' elsewhere they have been more nwnerous. In some places they have felt 5 or 6; in others 10 01' 11;
& in others stiZZ~ at Least 20. "
Mayhew (1755):
"... Many other shocks have been felt sinae the first and the greatest~
to the eastward and northward of Boston; at 20~ 30, 40~ and 50 miles distanae~ if not farther. "
Winthrop (1755):
",.. Sinae the reading of this 1,ectu'1'e~ there has been another sman shock~ viz. on Friday the 19th of December in the evening~ exactly at 10 o'clock; the sky being then perfectLy cLear~ and a very gentle gaLe at S.W.
It was preceded by the peculiar noise of an Earthquake about :5 or 4 seconds~
and the ja:rring lasted near as long; causing the windOw-shutters and door of the chamber~ in which I then was~ to clatter.
Those of my family, who were in a Zower room~ perceived nothing of the shake, though they heCU'd the noise.
These are the only shocks that I have been sensible of; though it is said~ that many others have been felt in the Province of New-Hampshire, since the first great one."
Winthrop (1757):
"... These four are the only shocks, that I have been sensible of from the 18th of November last to this date; tho' more are said to have been felt in other parts of the country to the northward of us....
"The center of our f01'11ler earthquakes, as tVeZ2 as of this, seems to have been near the river Merrimac, about the 1,atitude of 430 north, and 40 miZes north from hence; many shocks having been felt in that neighbourhood, which did not extend to this pLace."
Williams (1785):
",.. Many others, but very smaH, were feU in different parts of the Massachusetts and New-Hampshi'r'e, for several months after."
tAccount arranged chronologically in order of publication.