Water Monster reports from the 1850s
45 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.
Water Monster · Allegany County, New York · 1855
A gentleman from Perry, New York, reports seeing two large monster snakes and young ones in Silver Lake, describing one with a head larger than a horse's rising eight feet out of water.
Water Monster · Trondheim, Trøndelag · 1856
Witness reports the Bishop of Nordland testified that he saw two sea-serpents about eight miles from Droutheim.
Water Monster · Washington, District of Columbia · 1854
An eye-witness reports seeing a serpentine monster thirty to forty feet long moving in the bay, with fishermen claiming knowledge of an unknown creature capable of great speed.
Water Monster · Saint Helena, Saint Helena · 1857
Captain and officers of the Castillian sighted a huge marine animal that reared its head out of the water, which they concluded was 200 feet long and belonged to the serpent tribe.
Water Monster · Silver Lake, New York · 1855
Witnesses report seeing a large serpent-like monster sunning itself on the surface of Silver Lake for ten to fifteen minutes.
Water Monster · Elkton, Maryland · 1855
Four credible gentlemen from Warsaw saw about ten feet of the Silver Lake Serpent near a spring above the inlet.
Water Monster · South Atlantic Ocean · 1857
The Captain of a Dutch bark reports that a large sea monster attacked their ship and followed it for five days before being driven off.
Water Monster · Nevada City, California · 1852
The narrator and crew observed a massive, snake-like creature in the ocean that rose from the water, moved sideways, and was eventually pursued by boats before disappearing.
Water Monster · Cape Town, Western Cape · 1857
Witness reports Dr. [name] claimed to have seen and fired at a sea serpent about 200 feet long off the lighthouse at Greenpoint.
Water Monster · Chennai, Tamil Nadu · 1853
A report claims a sea serpent was recently seen at Madras, though it is described as inferior to the 'Yankee snake'.
Water Monster · Penobscot Bay, Maine · 1850
Rev. Allen Bradford cites evidence establishing that a large sea serpent has been seen in Penobscot Bay.
Water Monster · Saint Johns Creek, Florida · 1853
Captain Show reports that approximately thirty passengers on the steamship William Gaston observed a large sea monster near St. John's Bar in Florida.
Water Monster · Great Bay, New Jersey · 1856
Captain Birse reports seeing a large serpent-like creature with an oval head and sparkling eye in the water near Great Egg Harbor.
Water Monster · Silver Lake, New York · 1855
An Indian named [name] recounted that two tribe members were frightened by a serpent monster big as flour barrel on the shore of Silver Lake.
Water Monster · Algoa Bay, Eastern Cape · 1856
The British ship Imogene sighted a sea serpent between Algoa bay and London.
Water Monster · Village of Perry, New York · 1855
Two young ladies report seeing a serpent while making an excursion on Silver Lake.
Water Monster · Nahant, Massachusetts · 1852
The text mentions a far-famed sea-serpent annually seen off Nahant during watering seasons as a possible identity for the caught creature.
Water Monster · Village of Perry, New York · 1855
Witness reports that Mr. S., Mr. [name], and two watchmen observed a large snake-like creature swimming in Silver Lake.
Water Monster · Nahant, Massachusetts · 1850
Mr. [name] states that himself, wife and coachman saw the serpent in Nahant, Mass.
Water Monster · Shetland Islands, Alba / Scotland · 1857
Witness reports Dr. [name] states the great sea serpent has been recognized occasionally in the Shetland seas.
Water Monster · Trondheim, Trøndelag · 1856
The Bishop of Nordland testified to seeing two sea-serpent-like creatures near Drontheim.
Water Monster · Ohio River, Kentucky · 1850
Witness reports an immense serpent seen in the river at Jeffersonville on March 28.
Water Monster · Great Bay, New Jersey · 1856
Captain Birse reports seeing a large, black, eel-tailed creature with an oval head and large eye in the water near Great Egg Harbor.
Water Monster · Broad River, South Carolina · 1850
Passengers on the steamer William Seabrook reported seeing a large serpent-like creature in Broad River near Beaufort.
Water Monster · Carolinas, Northern Mariana Islands · 1850
Witness reports that a sea monster recently seen on the coast of the Carolinas has been captured and is described as having the head of a whale with a snakish body.
Water Monster · Town of Perry, Wisconsin · 1855
Four young men fishing and bathing in Silver Lake reported seeing a large serpent-like creature rising from the water.
Water Monster · Jamaica · 1851
Witness reports a party of British officers on a fishing excursion from Halifax to Mahon Ray experienced the existence of the American sea serpent as a reality.
Water Monster · Staunton, Virginia · 1855
Three gentlemen from Warsaw saw about ten feet of the animal near a spring in Silver Lake.
Water Monster · 1851
A shipmaster reports seeing a singular fish-like creature approximately 120 feet long in the Atlantic Ocean, which he struck with a grapple, causing its body to part and lose the tail while…
Water Monster · United Kingdom · 1858
Witness reports that the captain of an English vessel saw a sea serpent off St. Helena, which was later captured and identified as a giant piece of sea-weed.
Water Monster · Ravenna, Ohio · 1850
Witnesses report a large sea serpent seen in Port Royal Sound and moving up the Broad river and Whale Branch river.
Water Monster · Portugal · 1855
A witness recounts being on a frigate off Portugal when the crew spotted and fired upon a large black monster identified as a sea serpent, which vanished leaving only blood.
Water Monster · 1852
The captain of the Ship Monongahela reports that crew members observed a large, snake-like creature in the ocean which they attempted to pursue but lost sight of due to weather conditions.
Water Monster · 1857
Witness reports a credible man and his two sons saw a sea serpent follow their boat and swim by on an island.
Water Monster · Beaufort County, South Carolina · 1857
Officers on the ship Castilian observed a huge marine animal with a long nun-buoy shaped head and neck ten or twelve feet out of water.
Water Monster · River Falls, Wisconsin · 1857
Witness reports a creature identified as a sea serpent was captured by a boat from a British merchantman in the Atlantic Ocean.
Water Monster · South Atlantic Ocean · 1858
A captain reports that a 90-foot long sea monster attacked his ship in the South Atlantic and followed it for nine days before being driven off.
Water Monster · Éire / Ireland · 1850
Witness reports that a sea serpent appeared on the coast of Ireland and left scales on rocks called the Bairels.
Water Monster · Springfield, Massachusetts · 1855
Witnesses report that the Silver Lake monster was seen sunning himself and described as being as large as a log with thirty or forty feet visible.
Water Monster · Washington, District of Columbia · 1855
A dispatch reports a sea monster was caught near Punta Rosta with specific physical measurements.
Water Monster · United Kingdom · 1852
Captain Vaile and the crew of the ship Barham reported seeing a large sea serpent with a mane and fins during their voyage.
Water Monster · South Carolina · 1850
Editors of Charleston papers published proof of a Sea Serpent seen by a steamer's crew and later investigated at Beaufort inlet.
Water Monster · 1851
Capt. Richard Burr reports seeing a large sea serpent and its young near his brig in the Atlantic Ocean.
Water Monster · Hawaii · 1855
Witness reports that the master of a schooner arriving at San Francisco reported seeing a sea monster not less than eighty feet long with a head like a common water snake.
Water Monster · 1856
Witness reports a credible man with his two sons saw a serpent follow their boat and swim slowly by.