Kentucky Genealogy Trails

Mount Giliad, Kentucky (1812)
Earthquake on Sunday night Decr 15h about 2 o'clock at night a severe shock of an Earth Quake was felt the motion of shaking continued about 15 minutes. About half an hour after this shock was over another was felt as severe Continued only a minute or two the next day Monday morning 16th alittle after sun rise another shock was felt the tremor continued a few minutes two other slight shocks was felt that morning - the next shock was on Tuesday about midday not so violent as the first The weather for some day before had been dull and cloudy - again on the night of the 30th instant a shock was felt - again on Jany (Thursday) 23 1812 about? of the clock in the morning another severe shock was felt The tremor continued for several minutes when it had stilled another shock was felt which lasted a minute or two on Monday morning Jany 27h a slight shock was felt -- on Tuesday evening 4th Feby 1812 a slight shock was felt the trembling of the earth continued for several minutes supped? 6 or 7 - and a rumbling noise heard - these are the shocks that we have felt at this place by report hardly a day passes but the trembling of the Earth is more of less felt -- in time of the severest shocks to attempt to walk as one feel light headed and reel about like a drunken man -- again on the night of Thursday 6 Feby about 4 o'clock a.m. a very severe shock was felt which lasted fully 15 minutes with a rumbling noise like distant thunder and 3 very distinct reports like cannon was heard at the end of each -- again on Friday night the 7h a smart shock abt ? oclock then again about 11 oclock another less severe -- frequently you may feel a trembling in the earth when there is no ???ible appearance of shaking it has invariably been cloudy weather about the time of the shocks and rains or snow shortly after again on the night of Thursday 20h Feb about 9 or 10 oclock 2 slight shocks were the last of which continued it tremor for more than 15 min - when - again on Saturday night 22d about 10 oclock another slight shock.
[Source: "Journal of William Brown while traveling from Virginia to Kentucky" - transcribed by K.T.]