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Virginia Gazette Notice
Eighteenth-century newspapers are an incredibly rich source of information. They contain the usual wealth of content dealing with local, colony, and English government, politics, advertisements for goods and services of all descriptions, social commentary, and other information. Sometimes other interesting tidbits are buried within the text of otherwise typical pages of news.
The following notice from the July 29, 1773, Virginia Gazette attempts to dispel rumors of rampant illness in the city of Williamsburg. The notice itself is a revealing, but the fact that several specific illnesses (flux and measles) are mentioned makes it even more interesting:
WILLIAMSBURG, July 29.IT being current through the Country, as we are credibly informed, that the Flux, or some pestilential Disorder, rages so in this City as to carry off five and six in a Day, it is certainly necessary that the Publick should be undeceived in this Particular, and we do affirm, with much Truth, that the said Report is entirely groundless. It is true the Measles have robbed us of a Number of Children, and it is with Concern that we hear other Parts of the Colony have been equally unfortunate. All the Inhabitants have enjoyed their usual good Health, which the Situation in this Metropolis is so renowned for bestowing. We could wish that every one who is in a different State would but come and make Trial of our salubrious Air, and we dare say that in a little Time... they may return, with Joy and Gladness, to their own Habitations.
Virginia Gazette (Purdie & Dixon), July 29, 1773
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