CHRONOLOGY - Deadliest American Disasters and Large-Loss-of-Life Events 1 - A Catalog of, and Notes on, Natural and Man-Made Events Causing Ten or More Fatalities in America/the United States and its Territories Since 1492

Oct 6, 2026

A chronology cataloging deadliest disasters and large-loss-of-life events in America/the United States and its territories since 1492, covering natural and man-made incidents that caused ten or more fatalities. Entries summarize specific events with dates, locations, and death ranges, accompanied by notes on estimation methods, disputed details, and historical context for selected incidents. The document includes source-related guidance for additional narrative material.

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Chronology

Deadliest American Disasters and Large-Loss-of-Life Events

CHRONOLOGY Deadliest American Disasters and Large-Loss-of Life Events 1 A Catalog of, and Notes on, Natural and Man-Made Events Causing Ten or More Fatalities in America/the United States and its Territories Since 1492 B. Wayne Blanchard, PhD Blue Ridge Summit, PA November 1, 2017 Copyright August 2017 Lines highlighted in Yellow indicate that there is a narrative document with more information and sources to be found in the Spread-Sheet by clicking on the URL at the end of the entry. 1. 1492-1800--North American Native American population decline, esp. disease--~2,800,000 2. 1527--Nov, Hurricane, Matagorda Bay, TX -- 200 3. 1538-1539, Unknown epidemic,“Cofitachequi”2 Natives, central SC --Hundreds 4. 1539--~Sep 16, Napituca Massacre, Hernando de Soto executes Timucuans, No. Cen. FL-30-200 5. 1540--Oct 18, Spanish (de Soto) battle/massacre, with Atahachi, Mabila, AL --2,500-6,000 6. 1541-- ~Mar 10, Hernando de Soto forces and “Chicasa” battle and “slaughter,” MS 3-- >20? 7. 1541/42 Winter, Coronado’s Expeditionaries burn-at-the-stake Tiwa Natives, NM 4 --40-50 8. 1542--~Mid-May, Massacre, de Soto’s men attack Natives in Nilco province town, AR-~100 9. 1553--Hurricane, Lower Coast of TX --1,700 1 We use the term “Large-Loss-of-Life Event to denote ten or more deaths. There are a number in instances where, for a variety of reasons, we enter an event with fewer than 10 fatalities. We do not, though, include these in tally. 2 Cofitachequi is the name the Spaniards of Hernando de Soto’s expedition gave to these natives. Some speculate they could have been Catawban. (Holleman, Joey.“The lost tribe of South Carolina.” The State, 7-5-2009.) 3 No estimate at all is made of the Natives killed, thus we have conjectured the number “more than 20,” as a very conservative, we think, estimate of the number of Natives killed. We know from Duncan’s account (Hernando de Sota, 1995) that the “Chicasa” attacked with a force of over three hundred about seven days earlier. Duncan, pulling from the accounts of the expedition afterwards, notes that there was a rout and a “pent-up rage” slaughter. It was usual for this particular force to kill all they could kill when in battle. There must have been a Native force again of something in the neighborhood of 300. We suspect that dozens, if not many dozens, were killed. 4 Refers to those burned at the stake, not to the Natives killed in fighting, or killed after surrender by “lancing.” 10. 1554--April, Hurricane, today’s Brownsville, TX --50-100 11. 1565--Sep 20, Massacre, Spanish troops kill male French colonists, Fort Caroline FL 5--~140 12. 1585, June-June 1586--Disease, Natives visited by English from Roanoke Colony, NC >360 1597--Natives Massacre St. Franciscan Missionaries, Guale (St. Catherine Island), GA-- 5 13. 1598--Dec 4, Pueblo Natives kill Juan de Zaldivar & soldiers seeking corn flour, W NM-13 14. 1599--Jan 21, Spanish (Oñate) Massacre Acoma Natives, punitive expedition, NM-300-800 15. 1609-10 Winter, Starvation, Disease, Attack, Jamestown Colony, VA -- ~400 16. 1616--Yellow Fever, Wampanoag btw. Provincetown, MA and Narragansett Bay, RI-45,000 17. 1616--George Yeardley, Dep. Governor of Virginia Colony, Attacks Chickahominy --12-40 18. 1616-17--Epidemic, Native Americans, Maine -- >Hundreds 19. 1620-21 Winter, Disease, Exposure, Plymouth Colony, MA -- ~ 50 20. 1622--Mar 22, Jamestown massacre, Powhatan natives attack Jamestown Colony, VA--347 21. 1623--May 12, Cpt. Tucker VA party poison/kill Powhatans, Patawomeck, VA --150-200 22. 1632--Nov, Massacre at Fort Zwaanendael (Lewes), first Dutch Colony, DE -- 32 23. 1633-1634--Smallpox Epidemic, New England Natives, Plymouth Colonists, MA -->1000 24. 1634-1635, Smallpox Epidemic, Five Nations, especially Mohawks, Upper NY –>20006 25. 1635--Aug 14-15, Storm, Pinnace Watch and Wait Wrecks on Thacher Island, MA -- 21 26. 1635--Aug 25, Great Colonial Hurricane, New England -- 35

FAQs

What types of events does the chronology include?

It catalogs natural and man-made events in America/the United States and its territories that caused ten or more fatalities.

How are death counts handled when estimates are uncertain?

The notes explain that some events may have fewer than 10 fatalities and that estimates can be conjectured, sometimes using conservative assumptions or later historians’ accounts.

What information is provided for each listed incident?

Each entry includes a date (or date range), a location, a short description of the incident, and a stated death range, followed by footnotes where relevant.

Oct 6, 2026

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