Vermont was dealt its earliest recorded earthquake on this day in 1639. It affected most of New England. One journal entry tells of a rumbling, like murmuring thunder, that seemed to approach from the north. As the noise grew louder the shaking began, causing dishes to fall from their shelves and shatter.

Governor Bradford of Plymouth, Massachusetts wrote, “they earth begane to shake...that yea persons were afraid of ye houses themselves.” People caught outside clung to whatever they could or were knocked to the ground.

As the violent shaking ended, the rumbling followed the quake southward.

Image courtesy Library of Congress.