Massachusetts Bay colonists first recorded smallpox in their
communities in 1677, with epidemics also occurring in 1689–1690, 1702, 1721, 1751,
1764, and 1775. The highly infectious disease started with a fever followed in two or
three days by a skin rash that turned into fluid-filled
bumps with a dent in the center. Some colonists were familiar with or had the
disease in the old country and knew that isolating its victims from the general
population helped contain the spread of smallpox. But they did not have medical
treatments or preventative measures.
Of the 4,283 deaths reported from 1676 to 1688 in the
database, 32 notations mentioned death by smallpox. Typically, the rate of
death after contracting the disease was 30 percent, though higher for babies. This
suggests an average of 1,285 people died of smallpox, though only .74% were
reported.
However, from the small sample (the 32 listed below), it’s possible
to see how smallpox traveled (by placing the dates in order) and how relatives and
neighbors were infected.
Roxbury
----, Peter, a[n Indian] boy of Holbrook’s, small pox, 5:
11m : 1678-9. C.R. 1.
Davis, Samuel, s. Toby, small pox, bur. 10: 2m : 1679. C. R.
1.
Davis, Willia[m], small pox. at Boston, bur. 18: 10m: 1678.
C. R. 1.
Gary (see also Garee, Gery), Dorcas, inf. d. ----, wid.
Nathtaniel], small pox, bur. 21 : 12 m : 1678-9. C. R. 1.
Gery, Deborah [Gary, d. wid., small pox. C. R. 1.], Mar. 8,
1678 [1678-9. C. R. 1.]
Gery, Nathaniel [Gary, small pox. C. R. 1.], Jan. 28, 1678.
[1678-9. C. R. 1.]
Goard, John [a young man], small pox, bur. 18: 12m: 1678-9.
C. R. 1.
Goard, Phebe, w. Richard, small pox, bur. 28 : 12 m :
1678-9. C. R. 1.
Heath, Dorothy, d. wid., small pox, 3: 11m: 1678-9. C. R. 1.
Holbroke (see also Holbrook), John [Holbrook, small pox. C.
R. 1.], Dec. 25, 1678.
Hopkins, Hannah, w. Willia[m], small pox, 5: 11m: 1678-9. C.
R. 1.
Hopkins, Mary, small pox, bur. 8: 12m [Feb.]: 1678-9. C. R.
1.
Lamb, Mary, d. Caleb [small pox. C. R. 1.], July 4, 1679.
Newel, Abraham [Newell, C. R. 1.], s. Isaac [small pox: C.
R. 1.], Dec. 25, 1678. [a. 11 y. C. R. 1.]
Newel, Jakob, small pox, 30: 10m: 1678. C. R. 1.
Newel, Mary, d. Jakob, small pox, 5: 12m: 1678-9. C. R. 1.
Stevens, ____, small pox, 13: 10m: 1678. C. R. 1.
Tatman (see also Totman), Elizabeth, inf. d. Jabesh, small
pox, 30:9m: 1678. C. R. 1.
Weld, Elisabeth, w. Joseph [small pox. C. R. 1.], Feb. 15,
1678. [1678- 9. C. R. 1.]
Weld, Margaret [Marget. C. R. 1.], d. Joseph and Elisabeth
[small pox. C. R. 1.], Feb 12. 1678.
Williams, Theoda, small pox, bur, 8: 12m: 1678-9. C. R. 1.
Wise, Jeremiah, small pox, 17 : 9m: 1678. C. R. 1.
Billerica
Hamlet, Mary, w. Jacob, small pox, July 9, [16]78.
Newbury
Beedle, ________, ch. Robert, small pox, Jan. 4, 1678. [Jan.
9. CT. R.]
Blanchard, John, small pox, July 24, 1678.
Lunt, ________, ch. John, small pox, Sept. 30, 1678.
Moody, Judith, d. Caleb, small pox, at Salisbury,
Jan. 28, 1678.
Morse, ________, ch. Joseph, small pox, Feb. 5, 1678.
Morse, Joseph, small pox, Jan. 15, 1678.
Woburn
Cutler, John, Sen., s. of ____, of the small-pox, in the
family of Isaac Brooks, 1678 or 1678-79.
Farrar, Jacob, s. of ____, of small-pox, 1678 or 1678-9.
Wyman, David, s. of ____, of small-pox, 1678 or 1678-9.
See also: Smallpox in Massachusetts Bay 1689-1692
