John Childs, the "Flying Man" of Boston, Massachusetts

Massachusetts

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...

 performed the first known flight in America on September 13, 1757 to a crowd of spectators, suspended by a rope from a feathered glider. The next day, on September 14 Mr. Childs successfully flew two more times.

A plaque on one of the walls of Old North Church

Old North Church

Old North Church , at 193 Salem Street, in the North End of Boston, is the location from which the famous "One if by land, and two if by sea" signal is said to have been sent...

 in Boston commemorates the event:
"Here on September 13, 1757, John Childs-who had given public notice of his intention to fly from the steeple of Dr. Cutler's church-performed it to the satisfaction of a great number of spectators."

The September 1757 issue of The Boston News-Letter

The Boston News-Letter

First published on April 24, 1704, The Boston News-Letter is regarded as the first continuously published newspaper in British North America. It was heavily subsidized by the British government, with a limited circulation. The colonies’ first newspaper was Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and...

, featured an article by a reporter who witnessed the second day's flights:

"[Mr. Childs] set off with two pistols loaded, one of which he discharged in his descent, the other missing fire, he cocked and snapped again before he reached the Place prepared to receive him."

The September 23, 1757 issue of The New Hampshire Gazette

The New Hampshire Gazette

The New Hampshire Gazette is a non-profit, alternative, bi-weekly newspaper published in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Its editors claim that the paper, published on-and-off in one form or another since 1756, is America's oldest newspaper and has trademarked the phrase "The Nation's Oldest...

reported of the event:

"[Last] Tuesday in the afternoon John Childs, who had given public notice of his intention to fly from the steeple of Dr. Cutler's Church, performed it to the satisfaction of a great number of spectators; and Wednesday in the afternoon he again performed it twice; the last time he set off with two pistols loaded, one of which discharged in his descent, the other missing fire, he cocked and snapped again before he reached the place prepared to receive him. It is supposed from the steeple to the place where the rope was fixed was about 700 feet upon a slope, and that he was about 16 & 18 seconds performing it each time. As these performances led many people from their business, he is forbid flying any more in the town. The said Childs says he has flown from the highest steeples in England, and off the Monument, by the Duke of Cumberland's Desire."