1813: Virginians report shape-shifting UFO

In July 1813 two men, Portsmouth innkeeper Edward Hansford and John Clarke of Baltimore, wrote to Thomas Jefferson. Hansford and Clarke sought the former US president’s opinion about an unexplained phenomenon they claimed to have witnessed:

“…On the night of the 25th instant, we saw in the south a ball of fire full as large as the sun at Maridian which was frequently obscured within the space of ten minutes by a smoke emitted from its own body, but ultimately retained its briliancy…”

And if that wasn’t unusual enough:

“It then assumed the form of a turtle, which also appeared to be much agitated… It descended obliquely to the West, and raised again perpendicular to its original height… It then assumed the shape of a human skeleton which was frequently obscured by a like smoke… it then assumed the form of a Scotch Highlander, arrayed for battle and extremely agitated, and ultimately passed to the West and disappeared in its own smoke.”

Jefferson did not reply to their letter.

Source: Letter from Messers Hansford and Clarke to Thomas Jefferson, July 31st 1813. Content on this page is © Alpha History 2019-23. Content may not be republished without our express permission. For more information please refer to our Terms of Use or contact Alpha History.