no NATURAL HISTORY AND TOPOGRAPHY OF GROTON, MASS. 



farther even than this. The exact time of their falling is not 

 known, as it occurred after dark. 



Warwick October 1821 — 

 Caleb Butler Esq. 



Sir — Yours of the 24"' Ult. was received in due course of mail 

 — stating that clapboards shingles books &c. had been found in the 

 fields in Groton, which were supposed to be carried from Warwick 

 by the wind in the late Tornado. There is no doubt of the fact, as 

 there has been found in Winchendon and Fitchburg large quantities 

 of the ruins of buildings that went from this place. 



The daybook mentioned in your letter was the property of Eben- 

 ezer Willson, who at the time of the dates, kept a tavern in this 

 place. — He commenced business on the i- day of April 1S02 — 

 about which time it is probable, the accounts in the book begin — 

 according to the description you give of the book, it was made & 

 letter'd on the cover, by my own hand. A leaf of Willson's Ledger 

 was picked up in Winchendon containing an account against myself & 

 James Ball in the year 1802, which is probably posted from the day- 

 book in your possession — If so, you will find me charged with i cwt. 

 hay April 5!!^ — 50 — [cents] May 6- 74"' hay, 34 & August 12"" 

 2 Pts brandy, 58. — 



I am well acquainted with all the names you mention, and the 

 charges against them will give you a very good idea of the character 

 & habits of some of them. Said Willson removed from this ])lace to 

 Upper Canada, and left his accounts & papers with his father (Jona- 

 than Willson) in this town, whose Dwelling-house, Barn »S: out Build- 

 ings were all demolished, and the greatest part of their contents carried 

 away by the late Tornado. Those buildings in the centre of the track 

 of the Whirlwind, were more exposed to its ravages, than any others 

 in its whole extent. I visited this place about an hour after the wind 

 had passed, but have it not in my power to picture to your view, this 

 field of desolation — everything was swept close to the ground, and 

 that considerably torn up. The orchard was carried all away — 

 scarcely a tree within sight, and the heavy stone walls were level with 

 the earth. From the best information I can obtain, those buildings 

 we [re] demolished in less than 10 seconds of time. The family, six 

 in number, who were all in the house, were providentially saved from 

 instant death. Two boys escaped without injury, the other four were 

 taken up much bruised and wounded — one was found in the cellar, 

 one was taken up in the wind, and after being knocked about by the 



