Westford Knight, Evidence of Templar Knights in the New World
Who is that mysterious man pecked into the granite bedrock in Westford, Massachusetts? How long has his image been there?
Beside a main road, right on the library lawn in the small town of Westford, Massachusetts is an amazing artifact. I first saw it back in the late 1960's, and it was much clearer then. When I visited it again in the late 1990's, I saw that it had deteriorated badly in those few years of exposure to weather. In fact, already some academic experts are claiming it exists only in imagination. It is a picture of a man in mail armor bearing sword and shield. A bird seems perched on the sword hilt. The sword seems to be broken, indicating that its bearer has died. Some who are knowledgeable in such matters say that the picture seems to have been produced by a puncture instrument used by medieval armorers. The design on the shield - a ship, the sun, and the moon - was found to be the arms of the related Sinclair (St. Claire) and Gunn families. The effigy was first noted in the ninteenth century and rediscovered in the 1950's. Interested researchers then found that, in fact, there is a record that the King of Norway sent his Scottish vassal, Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, on an exploratory voyage in 1398. Isn't that interesting? My purpose is to direct attention to this important artifact before it is completely weathered away now that it is no longer protected by a layer of soil. I would like to see steps taken to shelter and preserve the Westford Knight from the elements.
New Table of Contents
- UPDATE: The Westford Knight is under cover!
- What Do the Clans Have to Say?
- Amazon Book on Sir Henry Sinclair's Voyage
- Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney
- Amazon Book Emphasizing New World Evidence of Henry Sinclair's Voyage
- Views from Academia
- Other Descendants Heard From
- Amazon Book Highlighting the Sinclair ~ Templar Connection
- Who Were the Templar Knights and What Happened to Them?
- New Guestbook
The Westford Knight's Current "Protection"
The upright stones have been added fairly recently. When I first saw the knight in the 1960's, there were no markers, just exposed rock. The second time I saw the knight, more soil had been peeled away, and more of him had become visible. Location of Westford, Massachusetts
Raw Photo of the Knight's Rock
It appears that, in creating the knight's effigy, the craftsman took advantage of the natural glacial striations in the bedrock. UPDATE: The Westford Knight is under cover!
We have received word that the Westford Knight is now in a glass case in the Westford Library. Hallelujah! He was weathering away so quickly by the roadside that already those of us who saw his form and coat of arms more clearly a few decades ago might soon be presumed mad. Now the remnants of concrete evidence will be preserved - and none too soon!
What Do the Clans Have to Say?
Is the Westford Knight Sir James Gunn?
Members of related Scottish clans have done their own research. Their findings are gathered here.
- Voices from Clan Sinclair
- Here is a good overview of research on the voyage of Sir Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney with his relative, Sir James Gunn, whom many believe to be commemorated by the Westford effigy. We find that it was the Sinclair voyage or voyages which produced the now famous Zeno map of the North American Coast said to have been carried by Columbus.
- Voices from Clan Wylie, Son of a Gunn
- This well-researched webpage contains extensive information on the Westford Knight and related topics. It puts the find in context and leads to consideration of its implications. It appears that the Westford effigy is not Henry Sinclair himself, as he is known to have returned to Scotland. One of his kinghts, Sir James Gunn, is said to have died in the New World, and the Westford knight is thought to be e memorial to him
- Rosslyn Chapel
- This chapel near Edinburgh, Scoland, built by the Sinclairs before the time of Columbus, is unusual in its architecture which is said to be much influenced by Templar/Masonic symbolism. Although no one knows for sure, many speculate that buried in its crypts lie certain Templar treasures. Most astonishing, New World vegetation such as aloe plants and ears of corn appear in bas relief in its decorative stonework. Follow this link to read what some of today's Sinclairs have to say about it.
Why would the Templars, based in The Holy Land and in France, build a castle and chapel in Scotland? Perhaps it is because Scotland in the middle ages was one of the few European places out of reach of the Pope who, for reasons of his own, with Phillip of France, destroyed the order. Some members are thought to have survived, and there are persitent rumors that they carried with them and hid some of the fabulous wealth of the order, including, perhaps, holy objects from the ruins Solomon's Temple where they were housed in the stables and are said to have excavated. Who knows?
Is our expression "Holy Moley!" from DeMolay, head of the order who
was captrured and eventually executed? - Voices from Clan Gunn
- The descendants of Sir James Gunn, thought by many to be the subject of the Westford effigy, have history to share.
Rosslyn Castle
Amazon Book on Sir Henry Sinclair's Voyage
Prince Henry Sinclair: His Expedition to the New World in 1398
This is a solid description of the historical background of Henry Sinclair's voyage and the journey itself based on primary sources. After reading this, few would doubt that that Henry Sinclair's trip was actual.
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Amazon Price: (as of 10/12/2008)
Indian Corn Motif at Rosslyn Chapel
This suggests that whoever carved this stone had been to the New World or had been given a design by someone who had. Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney
- Weird Story Locations - Westford Knight
- http://www.clangunn.us/knight.htm Sinclair Clan Site (Don't know if it is 'official'): http://sinclair.quarterman.org/effigy.html Summary of an archeologist's report, skeptical: http://www.ramtops.co.uk/westford.html.
Amazon Book Emphasizing New World Evidence of Henry Sinclair's Voyage
The Sinclair Saga: Exploring the Facts and the Legend of Prince Henry Sinclair
This book focuses on the evidence in and around Nova Scotia pointing to Henry Sinclair's voyage. The Oak Island treasure mystery is seen as part of the picture.
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Amazon Price: (as of 10/12/2008)
Views from Academia
Oh-oh! This doesn't fit the paradigm.
- Dissing the Knight
- This link describes the Westford Knight and points to several articles which cast contempt on those who would entertain the possibility that the Westford Knight is a genuine artifact of the 1300's. Much can be learned from what these people have to say. Whether what we learn is about the knight, about academia, or about both, I leave to you.
Other Descendants Heard From
- Speculation
- Here's an informal, rambling speculation on James Gunn and his new World activities, but it opens interesting possibilities.
Was Treasure Island's Ben Gunn entirely fictional?
Amazon Book Highlighting the Sinclair ~ Templar Connection
The Knights Templar in the New World: How Henry Sinclair Brought the Grail to Acadia
You don't have to swallow every point of this book to find it fascinating. It's an eye-opener that challenges many of our assumptions.
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Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 10/12/2008)
Who Were the Templar Knights and What Happened to Them?
The Knights Templar Chronology: Tracking History's Most Intriguing Monks
This book begins with the origins of the Templars and traces them from rags to riches and power and the accusations against them followed by the sudden downfall of the order. Many Templars were executed. Did the order disappear or did it go underground? What happened to the fabulous Templar wealth and treasure which led to their destruction?
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Amazon Price: $12.55 (as of 10/12/2008)
Knights Templar Encyclopedia: The Essential Guide to the People, Places, Events, and Symbols of the Order of the Temple
This is a good place to begin for those who want a thorough understanding of the Templar Knights, and it is also an excellent reference for someone familiar with their story.
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Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 10/12/2008)
The Knights of the Holy Grail: The Secret History of the Knights Templar
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Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 10/12/2008)
An Illustrated History of the Knights Templar
If a picture is worth a thousand words, this book is a wonderful companion to some of the other informative books in this section. Illustrations range from images from earlier times to the romantic.
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Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 10/12/2008)
In Search of History - The Knights Templar (History Channel)
This scholarly DVD from The History Channel leaves many questions unanswered, but, after all, that's what makes the subject so intriguing. If we had all the answers, it just wouldn't be fun anymore.
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Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 10/12/2008)
New Guestbook
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owlperson
Dear Ragnor, Posted September 08, 2008 |
I am currently investigating this effigy of the clan Gunn knight having been given information at Rosslyn Abbey. I belong to the Gunn clan and I'm hooked by this mystery.
There is a book which may be of interest to others interested in this subject. It is called "Rosslyn Chapel" by the Earl of Rosslyn. In the book there is an image of a rubbing taken of the grave. On the shield is the image of what could easily be interpreted as the Gunn clan emblem. It is said to depict the image of Sir James Gunn of Clyth.
Thankyou so much for a very imformative site.
Posted September 04, 2008
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owlperson
Hello, hellams, Posted July 28, 2008 |
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OhMe
I really enjoyed this lens as well as the one on Glenn Knoblock but I couldn't find where to leave a comment. He sounds so interesting. I would like to read one of his books. 5* Posted July 28, 2008 |
