PawCRYPTID BOARDDocument the weird. Investigate the unknown.New
New Post
Sign inSign in

Water Monster reports from the 1830s

38 cases, best-documented first. Page 1 of 1.

We map claims, not creatures. A case is what some source says someone saw or heard, with the link to that source. It is not proof that anything was there, and a retelling counts once, not as a second sighting.

  1. Water Monster · Boothbay, Maine · 1831

    Boothbay, Maine2 independent sources

    Witnesses in Boothbay report seeing an enormous brown and yellow-brown monster resembling a snake with humps on its back, estimated to be over 200 feet long, swimming near the shore and wharf.

  2. Water Monster · Rockingham County, New Hampshire · 1830

    Rockingham County, New Hampshire2 independent sources

    Witnesses report a sea serpent near the Isle of Shoals, with one crew sighting it within twenty feet and another describing its size and appearance.

  3. Water Monster · Bay of Bengal · 1835

    Bay of Bengal1 independent source

    Lieut. W. Holley reports seeing a whale-sized, leopard-spotted creature with a large dorsal fin and lizard-shaped head in the Bay of Bengal, which threw stones at their ship.

  4. Water Monster · Portsmouth, New Hampshire · 1839

    Portsmouth, New Hampshire1 independent source

    Witnesses on a schooner report seeing a large sea serpent with an elephant-like head and long line of humps moving rapidly off Portsmouth Harbor.

  5. Water Monster · Barnstable County, Massachusetts · 1833

    Barnstable County, Massachusetts1 independent source

    Witness reports that a man at the mast-head and others on board the schooner Mechanic observed a large marine creature resembling a serpent swimming near their vessel.

  6. Water Monster · Logansport, Indiana · 1838

    Logansport, Indiana1 independent source

    Witness reports that Mr. [name] saw an animal raise its head three or four feet above the water with a head three feet across and dingy color with large yellow spots.

  7. Water Monster · Provincetown, Massachusetts · 1835

    Provincetown, Massachusetts1 independent source

    Captain Shibbles and his crew reported seeing a large sea serpent with a barrel-sized head and mane-like neck swimming rapidly near Race Point Light.

  8. Water Monster · Nahant, Massachusetts · 1837

    Nahant, Massachusetts1 independent source

    Four gentlemen fishing near Nahant reported seeing a large dark sea serpent with four bunches on its back for about fifteen minutes.

  9. Water Monster · Penobscot County, Maine · 1835

    Penobscot County, Maine1 independent source

    Capt. Little of the U.S. Navy reported seeing a sea serpent at sunrise in Penobscot Bay from a public armed ship.

  10. Water Monster · Nahant, Massachusetts · 1833

    Nahant, Massachusetts1 independent source

    A passenger on the Steamer Connecticut provided a detailed account of sea serpents lying on the water with heads resembling pickerels.

  11. Water Monster · Portland, Maine · 1833

    Portland, Maine1 independent source

    A witness reported passing among a shoal of sea serpents measuring 80 to 130 feet long, which lifted their heads and showed snake-like undulations.

  12. Water Monster · Portsmouth, New Hampshire · 1831

    Portsmouth, New Hampshire1 independent source

    A sea serpent was reported seen off Portsmouth, N.H.

  13. Water Monster · Portsmouth, New Hampshire · 1831

    Portsmouth, New Hampshire1 independent source

    A sea serpent was reported seen off Portsmouth, N.H.

  14. Water Monster · Portsmouth, New Hampshire · 1831

    Portsmouth, New Hampshire1 independent source

    A sea serpent was reported seen off Portsmouth.

  15. Water Monster · Québec, Québec · 1835

    Québec, Québec1 independent source

    A large creature claimed to be a sea serpent is exhibited in Brock street, Quebec, described as having a small head, blunt muzzle, and spiracle.

  16. Water Monster · Nahant, Massachusetts · 1833

    Nahant, Massachusetts1 independent source

    Witnesses report that numerous ocean travelers and one ship captain saw and watched a 60 or 70-foot sea serpent for an hour off Nahant in 1833.

  17. Water Monster · Nahant, Massachusetts · 1834

    Nahant, Massachusetts1 independent source

    Witnesses on the Portsmouth Packet report seeing a large sea serpent near Nahant that withdrew beneath the surface.

  18. Water Monster · Nahant, Massachusetts · 1833

    Nahant, Massachusetts1 independent source

    Passengers on the steamer Connecticut reported seeing three or four sea serpents near Nahant, with one estimated at 100 feet long.

  19. Water Monster · Cape of Good Hope, Western Cape · 1838

    Cape of Good Hope, Western Cape1 independent source

    The crew of her majesty's ship Daedalus sighted a large serpent passing close to the ship in October 1838.

  20. Water Monster · Nantucket Island, Massachusetts · 1839

    Nantucket Island, Massachusetts1 independent source

    Witness reports a sea serpent one hundred and thirty-five feet long was seen off Nantucket, Nahant, and Salem.

  21. Water Monster · Nahant, Massachusetts · 1839

    Nahant, Massachusetts1 independent source

    Captain Sturgis reports that he and his crew saw a marine monster off Nahant which sank into the water after remaining in sight for a few minutes.

  22. Water Monster · Nahant, Massachusetts · 1837

    Nahant, Massachusetts1 independent source

    The text reports that a Sea Serpent was seen at Nahant, though it sarcastically suggests this may be due to editors being intoxicated.

  23. Water Monster · Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, Michigan · 1835

    Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, Michigan1 independent source

    Witness reports a regular built Snake of male appearance, seventy five feet in length with hunches, floating down the Detroit river with its head elevated.

  24. Water Monster · Harpswell, Maine · 1835

    Harpswell, Maine1 independent source

    Witnesses report seeing a Sea Serpent in the bay between Portland and Harpswell on July 9, noting its head above water and undulating motion.

  25. Water Monster · Nahant, Massachusetts · 1833

    Nahant, Massachusetts1 independent source

    Witnesses on the steamer Connecticut report seeing a large serpent-like creature in the harbor that passed under the boat's stern.

  26. Water Monster · Montréal, Québec · 1835

    Montréal, Québec1 independent source

    Witness reports a large serpent-like monster struggling against the current in the St. Lawrence River near Montreal for several days.

  27. Water Monster · Suffolk County, Massachusetts · 1839

    Suffolk County, Massachusetts1 independent source

    Witness reports that Lieut. John Bubier observed a large, fish-like creature with protuberances and a barrel-sized head while sailing near Boston harbor.

  28. Water Monster · Knox County, Maine · 1834

    Knox County, Maine1 independent source

    Witness reports a large sea serpent was seen for several days near Cape Rosier, carrying its head above water and passing under a boat.

  29. Water Monster · Race Point, Massachusetts · 1835

    Race Point, Massachusetts1 independent source

    Captain Shibles and his crew reported seeing a large sea serpent with a mane-like neck near Race Point light. Witness reports the creature was 200 to 250 feet long, moved swiftly backwards and…

  30. Water Monster · Hampton Beach, New Hampshire · 1831

    Hampton Beach, New Hampshire1 independent source

    Witness reports a large dark sea monster with protuberances along its back was observed for fifteen minutes near the beach.

  31. Water Monster · Kennebunk, Maine · 1830

    Kennebunk, Maine1 independent source

    Three men fishing off the coast of Kennebunk reported seeing a sea serpent in 1830, with one witness later making oath to its size.

  32. Water Monster · 1834

    location unknown1 independent source

    Three fishermen reported seeing a brownish sea serpent seventy feet long near the surface; one witness had a good view as it raised its head.

  33. Water Monster · Alexandria, Virginia · 1839

    Alexandria, Virginia1 independent source

    The Boston Transcript reports that Captain Sturgis of a Revenue Cutter claimed to have seen an animal near his vessel that corresponded with accounts of the sea serpent, though he did not identify it…

  34. Water Monster · Raleigh, North Carolina · 1839

    Raleigh, North Carolina1 independent source

    A narrative describes a Major looking back at a Sea Serpent while on a steamboat.

  35. Water Monster · Norway · 1837

    Norway1 independent source

    A credible man and his two sons saw a serpent near Storfosen in 1837 that followed their boat.

  36. Water Monster · Staunton, Virginia · 1831

    Staunton, Virginia1 independent source

    Witness reports newspapers of Drontheini in 1831 stated the serpent has been seen at various parts of the coast.

  37. Water Monster · 1833

    location unknown1 independent source

    Three Maine fishermen encountered a sea serpent basking near the surface in 1833; one fisherman had a good view as it raised its head and looked at him.

  38. Water Monster · Indiana · 1838

    Indiana1 independent source

    Witness reports that Mr. [name] saw an animal with a head three or four feet above the water, described as having a serpent-like neck and yellow spots.