18 January 1644 and subsequent January nights; contemporary Old Style 1643/4 / T008
Boston harbor lights, with an independent contemporary letter
Boston harbor, Castle Island, Noddle's Island, and nearby waters
Witness account
Winthrop described two lights rising near Boston's town cove around midnight on 18 January, appearing in a human-like form and moving before disappearing. He also recorded later lights joining and separating near Noddle's Island and reports of a voice over the water. These are several reported experiences, not one continuous tracked object.
Public record
The Massachusetts Historical Society publishes both journal excerpts and an image of Endecott's 29 January 1643/4 letter from Salem. Endecott says that stories of figures or fire on the water had reached him, while noting that few believed them. His letter corroborates that the reports circulated at the time; it does not independently confirm the observed phenomena.