1753 — “Throat Distemper (Diphtheria), Exeter, Stratham and Rye, NH — ~72

–~72  Caulfield. “Some Common Diseases of Colonial Children.” Transactions. 1942, p. 18,[1]

Breakouts:

–10  Exeter. Caulfield. “Some Common Diseases…Colonial Children.” Transactions. 1942, 18.[2]

—  5  Rye. Caulfield. “Some Common Diseases of Colonial Children.” Transactions. 1942, p.18.[3]

–57  Stratham. Caulfield. “Some…Diseases…Colonial Children.” Transactions. 1942, 18.[4]

 

Narrative Information

 

Caulfield: “….in New Hampshire, Stratham and Greenland were revisited in 1742, Newmarket in 1743, Kingston and Exeter in 1744, and Hampton in 1745. A third epidemic wave swept over this same area, involving Exeter, Stratham, and Rye in 1753…” (“Some Common Diseases of Colonial Children.” Transactions of the Colonial Society of MA, Vol. 35, April 1942, pp. 17-18.)

 

Source

 

Caulfield, Ernest. “Some Common Diseases of Colonial Children.” Transactions of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, Vol. 35, April 1942, pp. 4-65. Accessed 1-17-2018 at: https://www.colonialsociety.org/node/865

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1] The numbers are all from footnote 42. It will be noted, however, that, as Caulfield points out, the cause of death is not noted for the Stratham deaths. In that Caulfield includes this data he appears to have thought that the on-going diphtheria epidemic accounted for the unusually high mortality. We use the approximate sign (~) kin recognition of uncertainty. It should also be noted, however, that it is likely that diphtheria deaths were not confined to just these three settlements.

[2] Caulfield footnote 42 cites Diary of the Reverend Daniel Rogers (MS., Maine Hist. Soc.).

[3] From Caulfield footnote 42, citing Boston Gazette, August 28, 1753: “We hear that the Throat Distemper prevails and proves mortal in several Towns at the Eastward, particularly at Rye in New-Hampshire, where in one Family of five desirable Children, the Parents have been bereav’d of them all, in a short Time of one another.”

[4] From Caulfield footnote 42: “Samuel Lane of Stratham records fifty-seven deaths there, although the cause is not stated.” Journal, 70.