Appearing in the San Jose News (not yet the Mercury-News), Monday, January 1, 1968, page 102:

`` GUESS WHEN THE FIRST SAUCER WAS SIGHTED

Willowdale, ONT. (NEA) - What may have been the first reported
sighting of unidentified flying objects over North America has been
found in an 18th-century diary by the Rev. James. S. McGivern, S.J.,
historian at Regis College.

The incident is recorded under the date Oct. 12, 1796, in the
diary of one Simeon Perkins, published by the Champlain Society.

The extract reads:

"A strange story comes from the Bay of Fundy that ships have
been seen in the air. Mr. Darrow is lately come from there
by land. I enquired of him. He stated that they were said
to be seen at New Mines near Mr. Ratchford's by a girl
about sunrise.

"The girl cried out and two men who were in the house came
out and saw them. There were 15 ships and a man forward
with his hand stretched out. They made to the eastward.
They were so near people saw their sides and ports. The
story did not obtain universal credit, but some people
believed it."

Comments Father McGivern: "It is of interest that in the era of
sail, the UFOs were reported in the form of ships, whereas today
they are reported seen as exotic aircraft."
''


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