Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635
Encyclopedia
The Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635 was a severe hurricane that hit the Virginia Colony at Jamestown
and the Massachusetts Bay Colony
during August 1635.
, considering its intensity. It may have taken a similar track to the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944 and Hurricane Edna
of 1954. It is first mentioned on August 24, 1635, in Jamestown, Virginia
. Though it did affect Jamestown as a major hurricane, no references to damage by the hurricane can be found, probably because the hurricane was evidently moving rapidly and east
of the settlement. The storm's eye is believed to have passed between Boston
and Plymouth, Massachusetts. Although neither the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale nor the equipment necessary to measure the storm's characteristics had yet been invented, contemporary descriptions are consistent with a Category 4 or 5 hurricane, and it was at least a strong Category 3 hurricane at landfall with 125 mph (201.2 km/h) sustained winds and a central pressure of 938 mbar (27.7 inHg) at the Long Island
landfall and 939 mbar (27.7 inHg) at the mainland landfall—the lowest ever for a landfall north of North Carolina
.
and the Piscataqua River
was damaged by the hurricane; some damage was still noticeable 50 years later. A letter from Governor William Bradford
said that the storm drowned seventeen Native Americans
and toppled or destroyed thousands of trees; many houses were also flattened. From an account by Antony Thacher, there were twenty-three people aboard a little bark
named the Watch and Wait and owned by a Mr. Isaac Allerton. The boat sank, and Thacher and his wife were the only ones to survive the shipwreck. Thus the island off Cape Ann
—where Thacher survived—was named in his honor and is still known as Thacher's Island.
In Narragansett Bay
, the tide was 14 feet (4.3 m) above the ordinary tide and drowned eight Native Americans fleeing from their wigwams. The highest ever such recorded value for a New England Hurricane, a 22 feet (6.7 m) storm tide, was recorded in some areas. The town of Plymouth, Massachusetts suffered severe damage with houses blown down and the wind cut great mile-long sections of complete blowdown outside Plymouth and other eastern Massachusetts rural areas. The Boston, Massachusetts, area did not suffer from the tide as did areas just to its south. The nearest surge swept over the low-lying tracts of Dorchester
, ruining the farms and landscape (from accounts of William Bradford and John Winthrop
).
A recent re-analysis of data from the Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635 by scientists of the Atmospheric Oceanic Meteorological Laboratory's Hurricane Re-analysis project analyzes the hurricane as being a Category Four hurricane when it made landfall in the Northeast. In addition, the hurricane is noted for potentially causing the highest storm surge along the Eastern Coast of the United States in recorded history: near the head of Narragansett Bay with a value of approximately 20 feet (6.1 m). The study also indicates that this hurricane was very likely the most intense hurricane to ever impact the New England region in recorded history. In addition, reconstruction of the track and intensity using storm surge modeling indicates that the hurricane potentially had an intensity of 938 mbar (27.7 inHg) when it made landfall near Long Island.
The Great Colonial Hurricane might have also been detected as erosional scarp in the western Gulf of Maine
.
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
and the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
during August 1635.
Meteorological history
The hurricane was likely a Cape Verde-type hurricaneCape Verde-type hurricane
A Cape Verde-type hurricane is an Atlantic hurricane that develops near the Cape Verde islands, off the west coast of Africa. The average hurricane season has about two Cape Verde-type hurricanes, which are usually the largest and most intense storms of the season because they often have plenty of...
, considering its intensity. It may have taken a similar track to the Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944 and Hurricane Edna
Hurricane Edna
Hurricane Edna was a deadly and destructive major hurricane that impacted the United States East Coast in September of the 1954 Atlantic hurricane season. It was one of two hurricanes to strike Massachusetts in that year, the other being Hurricane Carol...
of 1954. It is first mentioned on August 24, 1635, in Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
. Though it did affect Jamestown as a major hurricane, no references to damage by the hurricane can be found, probably because the hurricane was evidently moving rapidly and east
East
East is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.East is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of west and is perpendicular to north and south.By convention, the right side of a map is east....
of the settlement. The storm's eye is believed to have passed between Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
and Plymouth, Massachusetts. Although neither the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale nor the equipment necessary to measure the storm's characteristics had yet been invented, contemporary descriptions are consistent with a Category 4 or 5 hurricane, and it was at least a strong Category 3 hurricane at landfall with 125 mph (201.2 km/h) sustained winds and a central pressure of 938 mbar (27.7 inHg) at the Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
landfall and 939 mbar (27.7 inHg) at the mainland landfall—the lowest ever for a landfall north of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
Impact
Much of the area between Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
and the Piscataqua River
Piscataqua River
The Piscataqua River, in the northeastern United States, is a long tidal estuary formed by the confluence of the Salmon Falls and Cocheco rivers...
was damaged by the hurricane; some damage was still noticeable 50 years later. A letter from Governor William Bradford
William Bradford (1590-1657)
William Bradford was an English leader of the settlers of the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts, and served as governor for over 30 years after John Carver died. His journal was published as Of Plymouth Plantation...
said that the storm drowned seventeen Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
and toppled or destroyed thousands of trees; many houses were also flattened. From an account by Antony Thacher, there were twenty-three people aboard a little bark
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
named the Watch and Wait and owned by a Mr. Isaac Allerton. The boat sank, and Thacher and his wife were the only ones to survive the shipwreck. Thus the island off Cape Ann
Cape Ann
Cape Ann is a rocky cape in northeastern Massachusetts on the Atlantic Ocean. The cape is located approximately 30 miles northeast of Boston and forms the northern edge of Massachusetts Bay. Cape Ann includes the city of Gloucester, and the towns of Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and...
—where Thacher survived—was named in his honor and is still known as Thacher's Island.
In Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay is a bay and estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound. Covering 147 mi2 , the Bay forms New England's largest estuary, which functions as an expansive natural harbor, and includes a small archipelago...
, the tide was 14 feet (4.3 m) above the ordinary tide and drowned eight Native Americans fleeing from their wigwams. The highest ever such recorded value for a New England Hurricane, a 22 feet (6.7 m) storm tide, was recorded in some areas. The town of Plymouth, Massachusetts suffered severe damage with houses blown down and the wind cut great mile-long sections of complete blowdown outside Plymouth and other eastern Massachusetts rural areas. The Boston, Massachusetts, area did not suffer from the tide as did areas just to its south. The nearest surge swept over the low-lying tracts of Dorchester
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Dorchester is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is named after the town of Dorchester in the English county of Dorset, from which Puritans emigrated and is today endearingly nicknamed "Dot" by its residents. Dorchester, including a large...
, ruining the farms and landscape (from accounts of William Bradford and John Winthrop
John Winthrop
John Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of migrants from England in 1630, and served as governor for 12 of...
).
A recent re-analysis of data from the Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635 by scientists of the Atmospheric Oceanic Meteorological Laboratory's Hurricane Re-analysis project analyzes the hurricane as being a Category Four hurricane when it made landfall in the Northeast. In addition, the hurricane is noted for potentially causing the highest storm surge along the Eastern Coast of the United States in recorded history: near the head of Narragansett Bay with a value of approximately 20 feet (6.1 m). The study also indicates that this hurricane was very likely the most intense hurricane to ever impact the New England region in recorded history. In addition, reconstruction of the track and intensity using storm surge modeling indicates that the hurricane potentially had an intensity of 938 mbar (27.7 inHg) when it made landfall near Long Island.
The Great Colonial Hurricane might have also been detected as erosional scarp in the western Gulf of Maine
Gulf of Maine
The Gulf of Maine is a large gulf of the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of North America.It is delineated by Cape Cod at the eastern tip of Massachusetts in the southwest and Cape Sable at the southern tip of Nova Scotia in the northeast. It includes the entire coastlines of the U.S...
.
See also
- List of tropical cyclones
- List of Atlantic hurricanes
- List of New England hurricanes
- Angel Gabriel (ship)Angel Gabriel (ship)The Angel Gabriel was a 240 ton English passenger galleon. She was commissioned for Sir Walter Raleigh's last expedition to America in 1617. She sank in a storm off Pemaquid Point, near the newly established town of Bristol, Maine, on August 15, 1635...
External links
- The Great Hurricane of 1635 and the Legend of Thacker Island by Keith C. Heidorn