Connecticut River Flood 1639

Date: 5 Mar 1639 to 22 Mar 1639
Location: Windsor, Connecticut Colony
Surname/tag: Connecticut

1639. This must be the first recorded flood in Connecticut.

Normally the Connecticut River is wide and placid, however the surrounding land is not a lot higher than the river and flooding is expected every spring in some areas along the river.

Account of the Great Flood 1639

And that the great flood began on the 5th of march. On the 11th of March it [the level of the river] began to fall, but by reason of much rain on the 12 day it rose very high. On the 15th and 16th day it had fallen near two feet, but on the 16th day was much rain and great wind out of the south east which made it an exceeding great storm. It endangered houses and broke down many trees, so that by the cause of which rain all the 17th and 18th day the waters rose very high, more than ever had been known by the Indians. It drowned many houses very deep and endangered cattle over the river for all the ground there was drowned to one little ridge where Samuel grant now lives. It carried away much timber & haye. It beat up poles out of the ground and posts and railes and carried them away, and whole trees and all. On the 18th day at night there was great fear of another storm of wind and rain. It began but it pleased the Lord it ceased quickly and by the morning one might perceive the water was began to fall and so it continued. On the 22nd day at night it was well fallen & yet it was as high as ye highest flood we had known before.

Source: Spelling has been modernized. Grant, Matthew. Some early records and documents of and relating to the town of Windsor, Connecticut, 1639-1703 Hartford, Connecticut historical society, 1930. p. 78