Excuse the mess!

The dustbunnies have had the run of the place far too long, so
Two Bubbles is undergoing a long overdue makeover. Hence, the
posts on the Gatchells' journey from Weymouth to Massachusetts
and their lives there will sink from view into Older Posts,
so if you've a mind to read them again, a synopsis with
links to all of them is about halfway down the righthand
column under "On the 8th day, God created Marblehead".

Apologies for any confusion.

It's 1635 and a glorious May day in Dorset....

>> Thursday, January 28, 2010

Imagine you're 24, and there's no future in the Somersetshire village where you grew up and where your family has lived for at least a hundred years. You, your bride, and your younger brother Samuel have decided to seek your fortune in the New World. The journey will begin at Weymouth on the coast of Dorset, which borders Somerset.

As the coach at last crests the hill above Weymouth, you gaze upon the natural harbour bracketed in the distance by white chalk cliffs. From here, you can't tell which ship bobbing at anchor is the Hopewell, but you can't board her until morning anyway. Deferring to your wife's comfort, the two of you will pass your last night in England at an inn rumored to be a favorite of pirates who find the hidden coves around Weymouth Bay convenient for off-loading ill-gotten treasures. Samuel hasn't decided yet where he'll rest his head.

You'll try not to remember that you'll never see your beloved England again. You push aside thoughts of the perils of a month at sea. At least the Hopewell's passengers won't suffer the same fate as those of the Mayflower did fifteen years earlier. There have been reports that the Indians haven't totally accepted their new English neighbors, but there's now some semblance of civilization on the shores of Massachusetts Bay.

5 comments:

Evelyn Yvonne Theriault March 4, 2009 at 11:11 AM  

Thank you for taking me on a "virtual field trip" back to 1635!
Congratulations on you truly luscious and original site and welcome to Geneabloggers!

Becky Thompson March 7, 2009 at 8:51 PM  

I really like your blog--especially the beautiful photos! I had ancestors in the MA Bay Colony, but don't know near as much about it as you do. I'll enjoy following your blog.
Becky Jamison
http://beckysgraceandglory.blogspot.com

Les March 12, 2009 at 8:53 AM  

Welcome to Geneablogging! You have wonderful start and a great looking layout!!
Harrison's Son

familytwigs May 15, 2009 at 10:23 PM  

As a big fan of your blog, I have chosen to present you with the "One Lovely Blog Award". Come on over to TwigTalk and see!!

http://familytwigs.blogspot.com/

Heather Wilkinson Rojo February 6, 2010 at 8:42 PM  

I just discovered your blog. I had a lot of ancestors in Marblehead and Salem. I've often wondered why they hopped on board the Mayflower, Arabella, etc. and risked death and disease to come to the wilderness. I was born in Beverly, and we sailed around your area all the time! We just photographed Burial Hill last weekend, and ate at Woodman's in Essex whilst we were in Mass. I miss the North Shore...

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