Boston News-Letter, No. 1020, 15 Aug 1723, p. [2]: 'An exact Account of the awfull Burning of Capt. John Keyes House' at Shrewsbury (William Oakes of 18, an apprentice, among the five who died). The account says Capt. Keyes's new house was nearly finished and that Mr. Bragg the carpenter, his brother Abiel of 17 Years and William Oakes of 18, his Apprentices, with three of the Captain's sons, slept in it; Bragg alone escaped, and the remains of the five were put into one coffin.

Word-for-word transcription (spellings kept; uncertain letters in brackets).

(Passage concerning the family only; the rest of the page is not transcribed. Long s printed as ordinary s.)

BOSTON.

An exact Account of the awfull Burning of Capt. John Keyes House, with Five Persons in it, at Shrewsbury, in the Night between the 7th and 8th of this Instant; taken from a Letter of the Reverend Mr. Breck of Marlborough, and from the Mouth of M. Ebenezar Bragg of the same, formerly of Ipswich, the only Person of those who lodg'd in the House, that by a distinguishing Providence escaped the Flames:

Capt. Keyes was Building an House about 9 or 10 Foot off his old one. It was almost finish'd; and Mr. Bragg aforesaid the Carpenter, with his Brother Abiel of 17 Years of Age, and William Oakes of 18, his Apprentices, were working about it. Capt. Keyes with his Wife and four Daughters, lodg'd in the old one; and the three Carpenters, with three Sons of the Captain, viz. Solomon of 20, John of 13, and Stephen of 6 Years of Age, lay in the New. On the Wednesday Night, going to Bed they took a more than ordinary Care of the Fire, being excited thereto by the saying of one, He wd'nt have the House Burnt for 100 Pound, and the Reply of another, that He wd'nt for [?]00: Upon which they carefully rak'd away the Chips lying near it, and stay'd till the rest were almost burnt out; and then they went all six together to three Beds in one of the Chambers; and were very Chearly and Merry at their going to Bed, which was about 10 of the Clock.

But about Midnight, Mr. Bragg was awak'd with a Notion of the House being a Fire, and a multitude calling to Quench it: With which he got up, saw nothing, heard no voice, but could hardly fetch any Breath thro' the stifling smoak, concluded the House was a Fire, perceiv'd some body stirring, against whom he hit [?] or 3 times in the Dark; and not being able to speak, or to Breath any longer, after striking his Forehead against the Chimney, he tho't of the Window, and happily found it: When he gain'd it, he Tarry'd a Minute, holding it fast with one hand, and reaching out the other in hopes of meeting with some or other to save them, till the Smoak & Fire came so thick and scorching upon him, he could indure no longer: And hearing no noise in the Chamber, only, as he tho't a Faint Groan or two, he was forced to Jump out, and the Window being small, head fore-most; tho' he supposes by GOD's Good Providence, he turn'd before he came to the Ground. As Mr. Bragg was just got up again, Capt. Keyes being awak'd in the Old House, was coming to this side of the New and met Him. But the Flame immediately Burst out of the Windows, and the House was quickly all a light Fire. No noise was heard of the other Five that Perish'd; and it is very Questionable, whether more than One of them mov'd out of their Beds. The Old House was also Burnt and almost every thing in it: But the People were sav'd, thro' the Great Goodness of GOD. But a most dreadful sight it was in the Morning, to see the Five Bodies, Frying in the Fire among the Timbers fallen down in the Cellar, till towards the Evening; when the few almost consum'd Fragments, without Heads or Limbs, were gather'd, and put into one Coffin, and Buried.

Psal. 66. 3. Say unto God, How Terrible art Thou in thy Works! Jam. 4. 15. Ye know not what shall be on the Morrow. Luk. 12. 40. Be ye therefore Ready.