America's First UFO Sighting: What Did John Winthrop Really See In 1639?
By Sarah Norman | October 24, 2023
Centuries-old UFO Sightings: America's Early Encounter with Extraterrestrials
Welcome to an extraordinary journey into the past, a time when America was still in its infancy, and the mysteries of the cosmos were shrouded in uncertainty. In this captivating slideshow gallery, we invite you to explore a story that has remained hidden in the annals of history for centuries – the possibility that John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, witnessed a UFO in 1639.
For all the UFO enthusiasts among us, prepare to be astounded as we delve into a tale that predates Roswell, Area 51, and modern-day UFO sightings. But this isn't just a story for the avid believer; it's a story for anyone who enjoys a good dose of wonder, mystery, and the inexplicable.
So, whether you're a seasoned UFO hunter or simply someone who loves an enthralling tale from the past, we invite you to journey with us through history. After you've explored these intriguing slides, we encourage you to continue reading and uncover the full story, unraveling the enigmatic threads that connect us to this early encounter with the unexplained. Are you ready to take this incredible voyage through time and space? Click on, and let the adventure begin.
While alien abductions and UFO sightings may seem to be unique to the 20th-century, humans have been witnessing visitors from beyond our planet for much longer. In fact, the first documented UFO sighting in America actually occurred before the country was even founded. Several years after John Winthrop and his fellow Puritans left England and began their life in the New World, they allegedly encountered visitors from another world.
Unexplained Lights Over Muddy River
The first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, John Winthrop, was responsible for chronicling the adventures of the settlers. His journal entry on March 1, 1639, described a bizarre incident which had occurred earlier that year. According to Winthrop, three men were rowing down Muddy River when they witnessed a strange light in the sky above them. Muddy River was located at Back Bay Fens about two miles from Charlestown and flowed through swampland before emptying into a tidal basin of the Charles River.
A Fire In The Sky
The witnesses claimed to have seen the light jumping back and forth between Back Bay Fens, Charlestown, and the Charles River. The light was also described as flaming up while standing still then transforming into a swine when it ran
The Occurence Lasted For Hours
This unnatural event was said to have continued for two to three hours, after which the three men found themselves a mile upstream from where they were when the lights first appeared. They had no memory of rowing themselves in that direction.
The Witness Were Credible
According to Winthrop, one of the witnesses was a man by the name of James Everell, whom he described as “a sober, discreet man.” The other two witnesses were unnamed, but he went on to say that “diverse other credible persons saw the same light, after, about the same place."
Was It The Devil?
In his 1825 edition of Winthrop’s Journal, John Savage posits that during that time period, the incident would most likely have been concluded to be the work of the devil, but modern researchers, Savage included, have more scientific explanations for the occurrence.
Ignis Fatuus or Otherworldly Phenomenon?
The light is thought to have been “ignis fatuus,” which is a glow often seen over marshes which are thought to be caused by the combustion of gases from the decomposition of organic matter. Disputers of this theory, however, point out that the light described by the witnesses was shooting across the sky rather than rising from the swamp.
Exploring Psychological and Environmental Factors in a Mysterious Light Encounter
Researchers have also attempted to explain the other characteristics of the incident. The transformation of the lights into a swine-like formation is explained by pareidolia, which is the tendency to see familiar images in random patterns. The witnesses would have been very likely to have encountered swine that day as the hamlet, also called Muddy River, was used for storing pigs and other cattle at that time. Therefore, the image of swine would have been fresh in the minds of the three men.
The Witnesses May Have Embellished Their Story
As far as the idea that the lights had somehow transported the men upstream, there are several possible explanations. The most likely one is simply an embellishment. Every fish story has at least some exaggeration to make it more exciting.
The Witnesses Couldn't Have Been Where They Say They Were
During their account of the event, the three men claim to have been sitting still throughout the light display; however, this is unlikely due to the great tidal flow that Muddy River would have had in 1639, before the damming of Charles River. Thus, it would have required effort on the part of the three men just to maintain their current position. If they were rowing against the tide to maintain position, then it is also possible that they overcompensated and rowed further upstream. Other possibilities include wind and reverse tidal flow.
John Winthrop Documented Another UFO Sighting
The 1639 sighting was not the only one to be documented by John Winthrop. A similar event happened to another group of three men in a boat on their way to Boston, according to a journal entry dated January 18, 1644. Winthrop goes on to say yet another event occurred a week later over Boston Harbor, only this time there was a strange voice over the water in addition to the strange light. This time, Winthrop offered his own explanation for the phenomenon: the devil had possessed the body of a sailor who had recently perished at sea.
