Yet More historical citations:
“The darkness of the following evening was probably as gross as ever has been observed since the Almighty fiat gave birth to light. . . 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.” Samuel Tenney, in Collections of Massachusetts Historical Society for the year 1792, volume 1, pp. 97, 98
“The extent of the darkness was very remarkable ... 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 seacoasts. And to the north as far as our settlements extend." William Gordon, History of the Rise, Progress, and Establishment of the Independence of the U.S.A., Vol. III, p. 57
"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 everything bore the appearance and gloom of night." Samuel Williams, An Account of a Very Uncommon Darkness in the States of New England, May 19, 1780 in Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Boston, 1785, pp. 234-246
"The Dark Day, May 19, 1780 -- so-called on account of a remarkable darkness on that day extending over all New England ... The obscuration began about ten o'clock in the morning, and continued till the middle of the next night, but with difference and duration in different places ... The true cause of this remarkable phenomena is not known." Noah Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, Vocabulary of the Names of Noted ... Persons and Places, ed. 1869, 1882 & 1883
"About eleven o'clock the darkness was such as to demand our attention, and put us upon making observations. At half past eleven, in a room with three windows, twenty-four panes each, all open toward the southeast and south, large print could not be read by persons of good eyes.” Samuel Tenney, in Collections of the Massachusetts’s Historical Society for the Year 1792, Vol. I, pp. 97-98
"About one o'clock a glint of light which had continued to this time in the east, shut in, and the darkness was greater than it had been for any time before ... We dined about two, the windows all open, and two candles burning on the table. In the time of the greatest darkness some of the ... fowls went to their roost. Cocks crowed in answer to one another as they commonly do in the night. Woodcocks, which are night birds, whistled as they do only in the dark. Frogs peeped. In short, there was the appearance of midnight at noonday." Correspondent's report from Ipswich Hamlet, Massachusetts, Boston's Gazette and Country Journal, May 29, 1780
"Perhaps it never was darker since the children of Israel left the house of bondage. This gross darkness held till about one o'clock, although the moon had fulled but the day before." Report from Salem, Boston’s Gazette and Country Journal, May 30, 1780
"During the whole time a sickly, melancholy gloom overcast the face of nature. Nor was the darkness of the night less uncommon and terrifying than that of the day; notwithstanding there was almost a full moon, no object was discernible, but by the help of some artificial light, which when seen from the neighboring house and other places at a distance, appeared through a kind of Egyptian darkness, which seemed almost impervious to rays." Isaiah Thomas, Massachusetts Spy; or `American Oracle of Liberty, Vol. 10, No. 472, May 25, 1780
"This unusual phenomenon excited the fears and apprehensions of many people. Some considered it as a portentous omen of the wrath of Heaven in vengeance denounced against the land, others as the immediate harbinger of the last day, when `the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light.' The Boston Independent Chronicle of June 8, 1780 quoted from Thomas's Massachusetts Spy. See also `Some Memorials of Edward Lee' in The Publications of the American Tract Society, Vol. XI, p. 376
“Various have been the sentiments of people concerning the designs of Providence in spreading the unusual darkness over us. Some suppose it portentous of the last scene. I wish it may have some good effect on the minds of the wicked, and that they may be excited to prepare for that solemn day." The Boston Independent Chronicle of June 8, 1780 quoted from Thomas's Massachusetts Spy. See also `Some Memorials of Edward Lee' in The Publications of the American Tract Society, Vol. XI, p. 376
"That the darkness was not caused by an eclipse is manifest by the various positions of our system at that time; for the moon was more than one hundred fifty degrees from the sun all that day." Dr. Samuel Stearns, who had been appealed to because of his knowledge in "philosophy and astronomy", in a letter printed in the Independent Chronicle, June 22, 1780.
Dr. Stearns continues in good King James English:
"The primary cause must be imputed to Him that walketh through the circuit of heaven, who stretcheth out the heaven like a curtain, who maketh the clouds his chariot, who walketh upon the wings of the wind. It was He, at whose voice the stormy winds are obedient, that commanded these exhalations to be collected and condensed together, that with them He might darken both the day and the night; which darkness was, perhaps, not only a token of His indignation against the crying iniquities and abominations of the people, but an omen of some future destruction." Dr. Samuel Stearns, who had been appealed to because of his knowledge in "philosophy and astronomy", in a letter printed in the Independent Chronicle, June 22, 1780
"The legislature of Connecticut was then in session in 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 [a second legislative body called the Governor's Council] was under consideration. When the opinion of Colonel Davenport was asked, he 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.'" Timothy Dwight of Yale College, contemporary, wrote this account according to John W. Barber, Connecticut Historical Collections, p. 403
"The Dark Day, May 19, 1780 - so called on account of a remarkable darkness on that day extending over all New England ... The true cause of this phenomenon is not known. ... The dark day in Northern America was one of those wonderful phenomena of nature which will always be read of with interest, but which philosophy is at a loss to explain." Gage's History of Rowley, Massachusetts
