This is the first in an occasional series of articles transcribed directly from The Narragansett Historical Register, a Rhode Island treasure now mostly forgotten. Published by James Newell Arnold between 1882 and 1891, the magazine was devoted to Rhode Island history and genealogy. No longer under copyright, the articles can continue to enlighten us. If the article below makes you curious, check out the full issues and index pages here.
The Yellow Fever in Providence, 1800
by A.H.
[Transcribed here from The Narragansett Historical Register, Volume 3, No. 1, July, 1884 (Published by the Narragansett Historical Publishing Company, Hamilton, R.I.), p. 136-138.]
Dr. E. M. SNOW, in an elaborate article printed in the Providence Journal in June, 1857, and re-printed in the Journal of September 23d, 1878, after detailing incidents connected with the prevalence of the disease in 1779, at which time there were 36 deaths reported, most of which occurred at the south end of the town and all south of Williams street, goes on to say that ” in the summer of the year 1800 the yellow fever seemed to be confidently expected in Providence, and an order was issued by the Town Council respecting the removal of nuisances on the 12th of May. As early as the 22d of June a vessel arrived from Jamaica with cases of yellow fever on board, which were sent to the hospital. Other infected vessels arrived in June and July, but no case occurred among the inhabitants until the 15th of August. The first case was a Mrs. Taylor, who lived on the west side of Wickenden street, a little north of the present location of the Providence Tool Company. She died on the 20th of August.”
An old paper found among the effects of Joel Metcalf, Esq., who died November 26th, 1834, and who was a member of the Town Council in the year 1800, contains a list of the names of those who were attacked by the disease, noting the date of attack, date of removal to the hospital of those that were sent there, and date of the death of those who did not recover, which is here presented. -A. H.
Names / Taken Sick / Removed to Hospital / Deaths and Recoveries
1 Mrs. Taylor August 15. …………. d. Aug. 21.
2 Elizabeth Whiting ” 15 .………….. Rec.
3 Joseph Tillinghast, son of John ” 16. ……………. d. Aug.22.
4 Mrs, Luther August 16. …………… d. Aug 21
5 Joseph Cooke ” 16. …………….. Rec.
6 Mrs. Earle ” 17. …………….. d. Aug 23
7 Sweet Luther ” 18. …………….. Rec.
8 Miss Dunn, a child ” 18. …………….. Rec.
9 Miss Warner “ 18. …………….. Rec.
10 Patrick Morriss ” 18. …………….. d. Aug 23
11 Jeremiah B. Howell ” 19. …………….. Rec.
12 Rebekah Carr ” 19. …………….. d. Aug 23
13 Jonathan Eddy ” 19. …………….. d. Aug 25
14 Jeremiah Whiting ” 19. …………….. Rec.
15 Mrs. Atkins ” 20. Aug 21 Rec.
16 Charles Tillinghast ” 21. …………….. Rec.
17 Wife of Charles Tillinghast ” 21. ……………. d. Aug 26
18 Nancy Briggs ” 22. Aug. 22 Rec.
19 Richard Hinman ” 22. “ 23 d. Aug 25
20 Lucretia Pearce ” 22. “ 22 d. “ 26
21 Mrs. Bogman ” 26. “24 d. Sept. 1
22 Mary Whiting ” 26. “24 Rec.
23 Patience Greatrix ” 27. ” 28 Rec.
24 Jos. Arnold ” 27. ……………. d. Aug. 31
25 Thos. Mitchell ” 27. Aug. 29 Rec.
26 Mrs. Bird ” 27. ……………… Rec.
27 Amey Read ” 27. Aug. 23 d. Sept. 1
28 Lucy Libby ” 29. Sept. 3 Rec.
29 Hannah Fuller, wife of John ” 29. Sept. 3 Rec.
30 Mrs. Newell Sept. 1. ” 3 Rec.
31 Mrs. Sheldon, wife of John Aug. 31. …………….. d. Sept. 7
32 Betsey Stokes Sept. 5. Sept. 7 d. “ 11
33 Prince Burrill ” 5. Sept. 7 d. “ 12
34 Wife of Prince Burrill ” 5. Sept. 7 Rec.
35 Ruth Curtis “ 7. “ 8 d. Sept. 11
36 Mrs. Warner, wife of John ” 6. ……………. d. “ 10
37 Stephen Ashton ” 6. ……………. d. “ 8
38 Amey Tillinghast ” 4. ……………. Rec.
39 Mrs. Warner, wife of Samuel ” 8. Sept. 9 d. Sept. 13
40 Nancy Blinn ” 4. ……………. Rec.
41 Edward Luther ………….. ……………. d. Sept. 12
42 Edward Dickens ” 8. Sept. 13 d. “ 15
43 Phebe Hull ” 8. ……………. d. “ 13
44 Mrs. Dickens ” 11. ……………. d. “ 16
45 William Olney, son of David ” 11. ……………. Rec.
46 Mrs. Pearce ” 13. ……………. d. Sept. 17
47 Mrs. Dickens, widow ” 8. ……………. d. “ 14
48 Sally Hull ” 14. Sept. 14 d. “ 17
49 Polly Godfrey ” 12. ……………. d. “ 20
50 Eliza Dickens ” 15. Sept. 15 Rec.
51 Moses, negro ” 13. Sept. 13 Rec.
52 Mary Tillinghast ” 13. ……………. d. Sept. 17
53 Sarah Gibbs, negro ” 16. Sept. 16 Rec.
54 Mary Fields ” 17. Sept. 17 d. Sept. 20
55 Child of E. Congdon ” 17. ……………. d. “ 21
56 Child ” ” ” 17. ……………. d. “ 23
57 Mrs. Brown, widow ” 14. Sept. 18 d. “ 19
58 James Temple Sept 17 …………….. d. Sept. 19
59 Daniel Bucklin ” 12 …………….. Rec.
60 Ephraim Congdon ” 18 Sept 19 Rec.
61 Mrs. Mitchel ” 18 Sept. 18 d. Sept. 20
62 Sally Howe ” 15 “ 17 Rec.
63 Jabez Bucklin ” 19 “ 19 d. Sept. 26
64 Provy Brown‘s wife ” 16 …………….. d. “ 19
65 Mrs. Davis, wife of John ” 16 …………….. d. “ 23
66 John Stokes ” 19 …………….. d. “ 21
67 Lydia Eveleth ” 18 …………….. d. “ 22
68 Betsey Huntington ” 22 Sept. 22 Rec.
69 Rebecca Luther ” 22 …………….. d. Oct. 1
70 Amey Godfrey ” 22 …………….. d. Sept. 27
71 John Warner ” 21 …………….. d. “ 26
72 Mary Stokes ” 22 Sept. 22 Rec.
73 Mrs. Tillinghast, wife of John ” 22 …………….. d. “ 26
74 Nancy Newfield ” 23 Sept. 24 d. “ 27
75 Violet Cook ” 20 …………….. d. “ 28
76 John Sheldon ” 23 Sept. 24 d. “ 27
77 Daniel Pearce ” 24 …………….. d. “ 25
78 Sally Waters ” 23 Sept. 24 d. “ 28
79 Nancy Waters ” 23 Sept. 24 Rec
80 Phoebe Sisco ” 25 Sept. 25 Rec.
81 Mrs. Congdon ” 26 Sept. 29 Rec.
82 Henry Faulknan Oct. 1 …………….. Rec.
83 Joshua Harding ” 3. …………….. d. Oct.–
84 Piney ” 7 Oct. 8 Rec.
85 Thomas Savin ……………. …………….. d. Sept. 26
86 Joshua Penneman ……………. …………….. d. Oct. 20
Number of deaths …52 Recoveries…..34 – 36
Sick at hospital…….27 Out of do. …..49
Died at “ …………18 Out of do. ……34-52
The post you are reading is located at: http://onerhodeislandfamily.com/2014/06/08/yellow-fever-providence/
I do not have any ancestors in Rhode Island, but I found this article fascinating. It makes me anxious to look for old newspapers in SC and NC where my mom’s family is from. http://nancyhvest.com/
[…] The Yellow Fever in Providence, 1800, by Diane Boumenot […]
For anyone interested in the yellow fever epidemic, there is a very interesting, well-researched book by Wayne G. Tillinghast called 1797: The Year the Elephant Visited Providence. It was published in 2010 by the Rhode Island Genealogical Society.
Thank you so much, Linda, that’s great advice. — Diane