The Dark Day of May 19th, 1780 (3)

  The time of this extraordinary darkness, was May 19, 1780. It came on between hours of ten and eleven, A. M. and continued until the middle of the next night; but with different appearances at different places. [...] The degree to which the darkness arose, was different in different places. In most parts of the country it was so great, that people were unable to read common print—determine the time of day by their clocks or watches—dine—or manage their domestic business, without the light of candles. In some places, the darkness was so great, that persons could not see to read common print in the open air, for several hours together: but I believe this was not generally the case. The extent of this darkness was very remarkable. Our intelligence, in this respect, is not so particular as I could wish: but from the accounts that have been received, it seems to have extended all over the New-England states. It was observed as far east as Falmouth [Portland, Maine].—To the westward, we hear of its reaching to the furthest parts of Connecticut, and Albany —To the southward, it was observed all along the sea-coasts:—and to the north, as far as our settlements extend. It is probable it extended much beyond these limits, in some directions: but the exact boundaries cannot be ascertained by any observations that I have been able to collect. With regard to its duration, it continued in this place at least fourteen hours: but it is probable this was not exactly the same in different parts of the country. The appearance and effects were such as tended to make the prospect extremely dull and gloomy. Candles were lighted up in the houses;—the birds having sung their evening songs, disappeared, and became silent;—the fowls retired to roost;—the cocks were crowing all around, as at break of day;—objects could not be distinguished but at a very little distance; and every thing bore the appearance and gloom of night.

Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, vol. 1, 1785, pp. 234-235.

The Dark Day of May 19th, 1780 (2)

You will readily recollect that, previously to the commencement of the darkness, the sky was overcast with the common kind of clouds, from which there was, in some places, a light sprinkling of rain. Between these and the earth there intervened another stratum, to appearance, of very great thickness. As this stratum advanced, the darkness commenced, and increased with its progress till it came to its height; which did not take place till the hemisphere was a second time overspread. [...]

[...]

[...] The rays, that fortunately effected their passage through the first, were [...] turned out of their direct course, so that they must have struck upon the second very obliquely. [...] The Wonder is much greater, that any of them were able to penetrate. [...]

The darkness of the following evening was probably as gross as ever has been observed since the Almighty fiat gave birth to light. It wanted only palpability to render it as extraordinary, as that which over spread the land of AEgypt in the days of Moses. [...] I could not help conceiving at the time, that if every luminous body in the universe had been shrouded in impenetrable shades, or struck out of existence,  the darkness could not have been more complete. A sheet of white paper held within a few inches of the eyes was equally invisible with the blackest velvet. Considering the small quantity of light that was transmitted by the clouds, by day, it is not surprising that, by night, a sufficient quantity of rays should not be able to penetrate the same strata, brought back by the shifting of the winds, to afford the most obscure prospect even of the best reflecting bodies.

Letter of Samuel Tenney (an eye-witness at Rowley [Mass.?]), dated Exeter [N.H.?], Dec., 1785, in

Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, For the Year 1792, vol. 1, Boston: Munroe & Francis, printers to the Historical Society, 1806, pp. 95, 97, 98.

The Dark Day of May 19th, 1780 (1)

The 19th of May, 1780, was a remarkable dark day. Candles were lighted in many houses; the birds were silent and disappeared, and the fowls retired to roost. The legislature of Connecticut was then in session at Hartford. A very general opinion prevailed, that the day of judgment was at hand. The House of Representatives, being unable to transact their business, adjourned. A proposal to adjourn the Council was under consideration. When the opinion of Colonel Davenport was asked, be answered, 'I am against an adjournment. The day of judgment is either approaching, or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for an adjournment: if it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. I wish therefore that candles may be brought.'

Barber, John Warner, Connecticut Historical Collections, 2 ed., New Haven, Connecticut: Durrie & Peck and J. W. Barber, 1837, p. 403.