In the early days of American history, mysterious sightings were not uncommon. One of the earliest reported sightings occurred on March 1, 1639, when a man named James Everell witnessed a strange light in the sky over the Muddy River in Massachusetts. This sighting was documented in the journal of Governor John Winthrop, who recorded several other unexplained sightings in his journal throughout the 17th century.

The Journal of John Winthrop

John Winthrop was the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1630 until his death in 1649. During his tenure as governor, he kept a detailed journal in which he recorded various events, including several mysterious sightings. The first of these sightings was recorded on March 1, 1639, when Winthrop wrote:

"James Everell, a sober, discreet man, and two others, saw a great light in the night at Muddy River. When it stood still, it flamed up, and was about three yards square; when it ran, it was contracted into the figure of a swine: it ran as swift as an arrow towards Charlton, and so up and down about two or three hours."

This mysterious sighting has been the subject of much speculation over the years. Some believe that it was a natural phenomenon, such as a meteor or a comet. Others have suggested that it may have been an early UFO sighting, as the description of the object is similar to other reported sightings of unidentified flying objects.

Other Mysterious Sightings in Winthrop's Journal

In addition to the sighting by James Everell, Winthrop's journal contains several other reports of mysterious sightings. One such report occurred on April 10, 1638, when Winthrop wrote:

"About midnight, three men, coming in a boat to Boston, saw two lights arise out of the water near the north point of the town cove, in form like a man, and went at a small distance to the town, and so to the southward, and disappeared in the same place."

This sighting is also believed by some to be an early UFO sighting, as the description of the lights rising out of the water and taking the form of a man is highly unusual.

Another mysterious sighting occurred on July 14, 1644, when Winthrop wrote:

"About midnight was seen in the air, over the water between Boston and Charlestown, a great light, which, as it were, sparkled; and sometimes about it were seen lightnings."

Once again, this sighting has been the subject of much speculation, with some suggesting that it may have been a natural phenomenon, while others believe it may have been an early UFO sighting.

The mysterious sighting by James Everell in March 1639, as well as the other sightings recorded in John Winthrop's journal, continue to intrigue and fascinate people to this day. While some of these sightings may have been explained as natural phenomena, others remain unexplained and continue to spark interest and speculation among UFO enthusiasts. The study of early American history and the documented sightings of mysterious objects and lights in the sky remain an important area of research for those interested in the phenomenon of UFO sightings.