Dear Virginia list service readers:
     I had the pleasure of talking to Brent Tarter when he was in
Memphis for the Southern History Association meeting.  He suggested that
I send this question  to the list to see what is out there.  I am a
historian researching for any primary source information on the New
Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812.  They were felt all over the United
States of the time with varying effects.  At Richmond,  for example,  it
caused  suspended items to sway, dishes to rattle and awakened people
from their sleep.  At Norfolk it caused boats in the harbor to move and
even to dislodge a pipe( barrel) of wine from its skids and cause it to
roll.  I have already looked at the existing  Virginia newspapers for
the time period but gaps in the information exist.  I'm particularly
interested in accounts from Western Virginia.  This area should have
felt the earthquakes but accounts are scarce from the area.  The main
quakes occurred on December 16, 1811,  January 23, 1812, and February 7,
1812.
    The reason for searching for these accounts is to see the effects
the earthquakes had on the continental United States and to help refine
how powerful the earthquakes were.
Thanks for the help in advance
Sincerely
Kent Moran
Center for  Earthquake Research and Information
University of Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee

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