For anyone descended from Gideon B. Hitchens (1819-1882) of Sussex County, you probably have heard the story that sometime around 1878, three of his children were killed in a thunderstorm. However, I never knew anyone to pinpoint the date or more specifics. Just this past weekend, I was able happy to locate an item in the newspaper that gives the date and some details - it's from the September 14, 1877 Philadelphia Inquirer:

DEATH BY LIGHTNING

Three Children Killed While Under a Tree

"GEORGETOWN, Del., Sept. 13 - During a thunderstorm this afternoon Gideon B. Hitchens, with his four sons and two daugthers, took refuge under a tree in a field about five miles from Georgetown. Lightning struck the tree, and three of the children - two sons and a daughter - were instantly killed. The father and the remaining children were seriously but not fatally hurt."