tHE WESTFORD KNIGHT THOUGHT TO BE sIR rOBERT gUNN
In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. That is what we've learned in history classes across America for generations. As it turns out, Columbus wasn't the only one on that blue ocean exploring the great wide world. He was just one of many men, I'm sure, who was lost and realized if his company found out he was clueless, he'd be crewless (sorry guys, I couldn't help it). Long before his voyage, others had already done some worldly sight seeing of their own, leaving behind hints of their presence dotted across the landscape.
In Westford, Massachusetts, an effigy of what appears to be a knight in full armor remains etched into stone. Dubbed "The Westford Knight", this rock etching gives rise to the theory that this land was explored by people from 14th century Europe well before it was thought. Skeptics, obviously, oppose the claim and continue to debate this with those who believe it is authentic. What is known is that a voyage to this area of the world did take place nearly a century before Columbus took his wrong turn at Albuquerque. This journey was made by Prince Henry Sinclair, grandfather of William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness and builder of the Rosslyn Chapel.
The knight depicted in the effigy is said to be Sir James Gunn, who accompanied Henry Sinclair during his expedition in 1398, almost 100 years before Columbus set foot in the new world. The voyage was documented in what is known as the "Zeno Narrative". In this narrative it is said that Prince Henry Sinclair sailed from Orkney to Nova Scotia, and from there to Massachusetts, leaving recognizable artifacts in each place. It's suggested that he may have also built Newport Tower in Rhode Island. Other theories of the Newport Tower origin, also known as the Old Stone Mill, suppose that the Norse built it as early as the twelfth century, or that it was built in colonial times, perhaps by colonial Governor Benedict Arnold (successor to Roger Williams and great-grandfather of General Benedict Arnold, the traitor), who owned the tower at one point. The tower appears on maps as early as the 16th century.
Prince Henry Sinclair was born in Scotland in about 1345 A.D. He became Earl of Rosslyn and the surrounding lands as well as Prince of Orkney, Duke of Oldenburg (Denmark), and Premier Earl of Norway. Sinclair's ancestry was a mixture of Norman, French, Norwegian, and Scottish. The first Sinclair known in what is now the United Kingdom had arrived with William the Conqueror in 1066. Sinclair's grand-father, a friend of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, died fighting the Saracens in Spain in 1330. His father, Sir William Sinclair, also died in battle while fighting the Lithuanians from a base in Prussia in 1358. Henry was 13 at the time. He was trained in martial exercises with sword, spear, bow and arrow. He spoke Latin and French, and became a knight at the age of 21 years. His first wife, who died young, was the great-grand-daughter of King Magnus of Sweden and Norway. His second wife, Janet Holyburton of Direton Castle, bore him four children.
Sinclair may have traveled to Annapolis Basin and across the Micmac canoe route to Liverpool. By October, he was back on Green Hill, southwest of Pictou harbor, to attend a gathering of the Micmacs. " 'Twas the time for holding the great and yearly feast with dancing and merry games" His winter campsite was on the high promontory of Cap d'Or, overlooking Advocate Harbor. During the winter, the expedition built a ship and, when spring arrived, Sinclair sailed away from Nova Scotia. They traveled southward, perhaps carried by a nor'easter, to the New England Coast, just north of Boston. The party landed and spent the winter, living peacefully with the Indians. To the west they could see a hilltop from which the Indians frequently sent smoke signals. Accompanied by his 100 men, Henry marched inland to the summit of this hill, now called Prospect Hill, located in Westford, Massachusetts. It is 465 feet in altitude and afforded a good view in all directions.
While at this area, one of Prince Henry's loyal attendants by the name of Sir James Gunn, also from Scotland, died. In memory of the lost companion, the party carved a marker on the face of a stone ledge. It consisted of various sizes of punched holes, which depicted a Scottish knight, with a 39 inch long sword and shield bearing the Gunn Clan insignia. The punch-hole method of carving involved making a series of small impressions with a sharp tool, driven by a mallet. Where glacial scratches or rock coloration existed, they were incorporated into the man-made design. Some holes were larger and deeper than others, probably due to the dulling of the carver's tool and centuries of weathering. In the words of Frederick Pohl, "the following are undeniably man-made workings: the pommel, handle, and guard of the sword; below the guard the break across the blade that is indicative of the death of the sword's owner; the crest above the pommel; a few holes at the sword's point; the punched-hole jess lines attached to the legs of the falcon; the bell-shaped hollows; the corner of the shield touching the pommel; the crescent on the shield; and the holes that form a decorative pattern on the pommel." Now weather worn and faint, one can see just enough of the carving to visualize the rest of it.
In Westford, Massachusetts, an effigy of what appears to be a knight in full armor remains etched into stone. Dubbed "The Westford Knight", this rock etching gives rise to the theory that this land was explored by people from 14th century Europe well before it was thought. Skeptics, obviously, oppose the claim and continue to debate this with those who believe it is authentic. What is known is that a voyage to this area of the world did take place nearly a century before Columbus took his wrong turn at Albuquerque. This journey was made by Prince Henry Sinclair, grandfather of William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness and builder of the Rosslyn Chapel.
The knight depicted in the effigy is said to be Sir James Gunn, who accompanied Henry Sinclair during his expedition in 1398, almost 100 years before Columbus set foot in the new world. The voyage was documented in what is known as the "Zeno Narrative". In this narrative it is said that Prince Henry Sinclair sailed from Orkney to Nova Scotia, and from there to Massachusetts, leaving recognizable artifacts in each place. It's suggested that he may have also built Newport Tower in Rhode Island. Other theories of the Newport Tower origin, also known as the Old Stone Mill, suppose that the Norse built it as early as the twelfth century, or that it was built in colonial times, perhaps by colonial Governor Benedict Arnold (successor to Roger Williams and great-grandfather of General Benedict Arnold, the traitor), who owned the tower at one point. The tower appears on maps as early as the 16th century.
Prince Henry Sinclair was born in Scotland in about 1345 A.D. He became Earl of Rosslyn and the surrounding lands as well as Prince of Orkney, Duke of Oldenburg (Denmark), and Premier Earl of Norway. Sinclair's ancestry was a mixture of Norman, French, Norwegian, and Scottish. The first Sinclair known in what is now the United Kingdom had arrived with William the Conqueror in 1066. Sinclair's grand-father, a friend of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, died fighting the Saracens in Spain in 1330. His father, Sir William Sinclair, also died in battle while fighting the Lithuanians from a base in Prussia in 1358. Henry was 13 at the time. He was trained in martial exercises with sword, spear, bow and arrow. He spoke Latin and French, and became a knight at the age of 21 years. His first wife, who died young, was the great-grand-daughter of King Magnus of Sweden and Norway. His second wife, Janet Holyburton of Direton Castle, bore him four children.
Sinclair may have traveled to Annapolis Basin and across the Micmac canoe route to Liverpool. By October, he was back on Green Hill, southwest of Pictou harbor, to attend a gathering of the Micmacs. " 'Twas the time for holding the great and yearly feast with dancing and merry games" His winter campsite was on the high promontory of Cap d'Or, overlooking Advocate Harbor. During the winter, the expedition built a ship and, when spring arrived, Sinclair sailed away from Nova Scotia. They traveled southward, perhaps carried by a nor'easter, to the New England Coast, just north of Boston. The party landed and spent the winter, living peacefully with the Indians. To the west they could see a hilltop from which the Indians frequently sent smoke signals. Accompanied by his 100 men, Henry marched inland to the summit of this hill, now called Prospect Hill, located in Westford, Massachusetts. It is 465 feet in altitude and afforded a good view in all directions.
While at this area, one of Prince Henry's loyal attendants by the name of Sir James Gunn, also from Scotland, died. In memory of the lost companion, the party carved a marker on the face of a stone ledge. It consisted of various sizes of punched holes, which depicted a Scottish knight, with a 39 inch long sword and shield bearing the Gunn Clan insignia. The punch-hole method of carving involved making a series of small impressions with a sharp tool, driven by a mallet. Where glacial scratches or rock coloration existed, they were incorporated into the man-made design. Some holes were larger and deeper than others, probably due to the dulling of the carver's tool and centuries of weathering. In the words of Frederick Pohl, "the following are undeniably man-made workings: the pommel, handle, and guard of the sword; below the guard the break across the blade that is indicative of the death of the sword's owner; the crest above the pommel; a few holes at the sword's point; the punched-hole jess lines attached to the legs of the falcon; the bell-shaped hollows; the corner of the shield touching the pommel; the crescent on the shield; and the holes that form a decorative pattern on the pommel." Now weather worn and faint, one can see just enough of the carving to visualize the rest of it.
Inscription:
"Prince Henry First Sinclair of Orkney, born in Scotland made a voyage of discovery to North America in 1398. After wintering in Nova Scotia, he sailed to Massachusetts and on and inland expedition in 1399 to Prospect Hill to view the surrounding countryside, one of the party died. The punch-hole armorial effigy, which adorns this ledge is a memorial to this knight." |