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| Susanna's headstone in the Pine Grove Cemetery, Hampton, NH |
On June 12, 1680 in Hampton, New Hampshire, my ancestor Mrs. Susanna Smith (about 71 years old) was struck and killed by lightning, or, as it was listed in the town records: "slaine with thunder."
My descent from Susanna:
My descent from Susanna:
Susanna md. Robert Smith-Jonathan Smith md. Mehitabel Holdridge--Leah Smith md. Israel Blake
---Jedediah Blake md. Mary Rowe----Molly Blake md. James Wadleigh
-----John Wadleigh md. Sally Taylor------John B. Wadleigh md. Abigail Tilton-------Oscar S. Wadleigh md. Charlotte Winters--------Odin F. Wadleigh md. Louise Custer---------Paul C. Wadleigh md. Bettye Brown----------Randy Wadleigh md. Barbara Plymale-----------Ryan Wadleigh
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| Abigail's headstone in the Center Cemetery, Wallingford, CT |
On August 4, 1758 in Wallingford, Connecticut, the house of Eliasaph and Abigail Merriman (my direct ancestors) was struck by lightning. Several people within the house, including Eliasaph and Abigail, were "struck down and lay senseless some time" but recovered. Their youngest daughter though, 10-year old Abigail Merriman, was standing in the doorway and was killed instantly. Eliasaph died two weeks later, it is said from grief over the death of his child, but probably from the effects of the strike.
My descent from Eliasaph:
Eliasaph Merriman md. Abigail Hull-Eliasaph Merriman Jr md. Jerusha Mattoon--Amos Merriman md. Abigail Williams---Reuben Merriman md. Betsy Bennett----William H. Merriman md. Artinecia Riddle-----George F. Merriman md. Mary Murray------Vera V. Merriman md. Benjamin Plymale-------Ben T. Plymale md. Patricia Bixby--------Barbara Plymale md. Randy Wadleigh---------Ryan Wadleigh
In about 1740 in Hampton, New Hampshire, the house of Joshua Lane was struck by lightning and although there were several people within the house, nobody was hurt but the house did sustain damage. Then 26 years later, on June 14, 1766, there was a similar thunder storm at the same house. Joshua Lane then observed that it was much like the thunder storm decades earlier and went to the doorway to get a better look. At that moment, the house was struck by lightning at the chimney and the bolt traveled through to the doorway where Joshua was standing and killed him instantly. He was 70 years old.
My descent from Joshua:
Joshua Lane md. Bathsheba Robie-Joshua Lane md. Ruth Batchelder--Sarah Lane md. John Stearns---Ruth Stearns md. Dudley Freese----Abigail S. Freese md. Jeremiah Tilton-----Abigail R. Tilton md. John Wadleigh------Oscar S. Wadleigh md. Charlotte Winters-------Odin F. Wadleigh md. Louise Custer--------Paul C. Wadleigh md. Bettye Brown---------Randy Wadleigh md. Barbara Plymale----------Ryan Wadleigh
Moral of the story: don't stand in the doorway during a lightning storm.
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