This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Roper, Gadsden, Russel, Russell, Rose, Wragg, Price, Bee, Luther, Summers, Craft, Tucker, Izard, Villeponteoux, Roberts, Tyler Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kgDBAEB/805 Message Board Post: The Thursday, July 26, 1770, edition of the Virginia Gazette, as printed by Mr. Rind, gives a report from Charleston regarding extensive damage from a gale (which seems likely to have been a hurricane), including damage to the wharf of William ROPER, Esq. (d 14 Feb 1772 - Charleston, SC). The article, appearing on page 1 of that edition of the Virginia Gazette is fairly long. I am furnishing a transcription of only a small portion of that article as it pertains to William ROPER's wharf. Those with an interest in the hurricane may want to obtain a copy of this issue themselves: "June 7. Yesterday, last night and this day, we had a most violent storm of wind and rain here, that ever was known in this remarkably calm season of the year. It began yesterday [Wednesday, 06 Jun 1770] about ten o'clock, and continued till this evening, the wind varying, frequently from the E. N. E., to the S. S. E. The utmost violence of the gale was observed to be from two to four in the morning; when, according to the common course, the tide should have been the lowest; else the swell, that must have been thrown into the harbour, would probably have overflowed the greater part of the town. It is yet impossible to ascertain all the damages that have been sustained along the sea coast, and throughout the country; but if we may judge, from what appeared here this morning, it must be very considerable. The following, however, is as particular an account of the accidents that happened, as a certain affecting family circumstance has permitted us to give, from our own obs! ervation; in describing which, we hope our readers will excuse us for using so many tautologies as may occur, in relating a variety of incidents arising from one and the same cause, so that a sameness must, in a great measure, run through the whole. To begin at the northernmost pasrt of the town: Mr. Gadsden's wharf there, though so extensive and yet ?????, did not receive the least damage! A proof of its firmness and good construction. Mr. Russell's received as little. The southernmost corner of Mr. Rose's was beat down by a schooner which drove and beat against it. Mrs. Wragg's received no injury. Mr. Price's suffered a good deal of damage, both from the swell of the sea, and several small vessels striking against it. A schooner belonging to Thomas Bee, Esq., was drove almost as high as the curtain line, where another smaller one had her stern beat in. .. [numerous other omitted accounts ] The head of William Roper, Esquire's, wharf was carried away; the sloop Dove, George Luther, master, loaded and ready to sail for Jamaica, was driven from thence upon the fortification, where she suffered much in her bottom, and had six feet of water in her hold. In the dock, a schooner belonging to Capt. George Summers, drove almost to the curtain line, having two breaches made in her bottom; Mr. Robert Craft's schooner had her stern and bow beat in; the Hon. Henry Middleton's had one quarter stove; the Sally, Capt. Tucker, was much damaged; John Izard, Esquire's, had one quarter of her whole broadside destroyed; and one belonging to Zacariah Villeponteoux, Esq., was beat to pieces. The front wall and whole fortification between Granville's and Boughton's bastions, are entirely ruined; the repairs of which, it is supposed, cannot cost less than 20,000l. A schooner belonging to Mr. Benjamin Roberts, was here dashed to pieces and the schooner Elizabeth. George Tyler, master, just arrived from Jamaica, had her stern adn lasboard? quarter beat in down to the keel, the stern pole being caried away. .. [much more]." * This article occupied the greater part of the front page of the paper on Thursday, July 26, 1770. No doubt the extent of the damage prevented a more timely account from reaching Virginia. I found the account to also be telling of the extent of commerce occuring at Roper's Wharf, which was one of the largest and most principal wharfs at Charleston, SC.