The Merchants of Wine

In the early 1700's my Very Great (7th) Grandfather, Samuel Bliss went into business with a French Wine Merchant, Daniel Jaunott or Johnnot. 

                                                    Wine Merchant -Granger

Daniel had offices in Boston, tracts of land at harbors in Greenland and was part owner in several ships. He is stylized on legal documents as a Distiller. 


Grandfather Bliss and Daniel also were part owners in a sloop called "Love and Ann" and a Brigantine called "Success". 

There may have been some wine involved but the Success sailed only to Barbados. And, what product came out of Barbados in the 1700's? Rum! And, what type of ship did Pirates favor? Brigantines! 

Dear old granddad may have called himself in business with a Wine Merchant but I think he was a Rum Runner. 

                 

This week enjoy The Merchants of Wine! 

Yes to Benedict

I don't usually follow-up on stories. But this one took an odd twist as I did more ghost hunting on my kin, the family of Pelatiah Bliss. 

You see his cousin John Bliss, born in 1645 married a girl named Damaris Arnold. Her father was a Benedict Arnold and so was her brother and a nephew and so on until 1741 when the Benedict Arnold who burned Newport came about. 

So, to answer my question from Monday, "I wonder if they knew each other" the answer is probably yes.

I love Ghost Hunting!

New London Flame

In 1762 Pelatiah Bliss, a very great Uncle dies and has his will probated while living in New London, Connecticut.  It is over 50 pages. He had one son, 1 step-daughter, and 9 daughters. 
                            
Had he lived another 19 years he would have been there when British Brigadier General Benedict Arnold orders his troops to burn the village to the ground.  

                    

New London was a supply depot for the rebellious men and women who made up and supported the Continental Army. It was a thriving seaport as well as a hub of commerce. General Arnold ordered the burning of not only the town but also the many Privateer (Pirates against Great Britain) ships in the harbor. 

15 Miles north of New London is Norwich Connecticut. In 1741 Benedict Arnold was born there as was my great uncle in 1697. 
                         
                        The birthplace of Benedict Arnold in Norwich

This week enjoy a look at New London Flame.

The Grinder

Henry Fletcher, my 3^rd Great Grandfather was born in 1806 in England.  In 1826 his first born daughter Louisa was baptized in Yeovil, Somerset, England at Church of St John the Baptist. His occupation on the Baptismal record is recorded as Grinder.  He lists his occupation as a Grinder for about 10 years. On the manifest of The Arlington, the ship that brought him to New Orleans he lists his occupation as Gun Smith. 

What is a Grinder?

 I had an idea, thought, inkling so I went exploring. A Grinder is a person or thing that grinds something, a person employed to grind cutlery, or tools. This means sharpen. They usually went from door to door and sharpened cutlery, scissors, knives and tools.

Photograph of a Russian Grinder by photographer William Carrick

The Grinder would cart around a portable grindstone and sharpen right there at your home, barn, shop or wherever you needed him.

In very rural areas of the world grinders still arrive at your doorstep. My mother tells me she recalls Grinders calling on them at her home and her grandparent’s home.  

This week enjoy The Grinder. 

Skeletal Remains

I have a neighbor who has apparently lost their mind and believes that any trash you toss off the balcony goes straight to the garbage heap. 

Where it has been going is my porch.

Trash, hair bands, forgotten little toys, plastic cups, miniature marshmallows and on Sunday morning a skeleton. 

A glossy black skeleton. 

Laying on the cold cement, facing my door as though he was watching for me to come to the window or out the door. It is as if some Voodoo is being worked for the benefit of someone else. 

My inspiration this week is the skeleton that still lies on my porch as a warning to others who may decide to send trash and unwanted items out into the great Beyond. 

Enjoy Skeletal Remains.

Isabella l of Castile

Today we celebrate Columbus Day which was a very big deal ages ago when I lived in Columbus Ohio.

Many people are focusing on the Columbus part of this event. But I would like to take a look at Isabella I of Castile.

She was born on the 22nd of April 1451 to John II of Castile and Isabella of Portugal. Isabella became third in line of succession after her brother Alfonso was born.

When her brother Henry ascended the throne her, her mother and Alfonso were banished to Arevalo which was then a remote area of Castile. They were left with little money and basically forgotten. Isabella's mother insisted on educating her two children because the will of GOD was greater than the will of King Henry.

Statue of Isabelle of Castile by Bigarny


Isabella quickly learned the ways of court when Henry moved her to Segovia. She was intelligent, quick witted, deeply religious and artistic. She paid attention to strategy for war, how to compromise, when to give in and when not to. By the time she married Ferdinand she had developed an enormous talent for negotiations.

In 1492 Isabella has agreed to sponsor Christopher Columbus and a year later he returns with gold, natives, and an Island he named San Salvador.

The enslaving of the natives of the Americas was the beginning of the end of Queen Isabella's support of Christopher. In her mind the natives were subjects of the Castilian Crown and therefore could not be enslaved.

In her later years Isabella suffered the loss of children, grandchildren and vowed to wear black the remainder of her life. On 26 November 1504 she died.

This week Isabella I of Castile.

Don Quixote

“...for hope is always born at the same time as love...” 

― Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Don Quixote 

                                

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra - Eduardo Balaca

                                          

Don't you love this? Don't you wish to believe this? It is true you know... I always started with hope ... but then I always end with hope too. A different hope but hope none the less.

Next week I am going to see Don Quixote. I have loved this character since I was a child and viewed my friends as my Sancho Panza; and since I was a Mother and my children were Sancho Panza and now I am Sancho Panza to one of them.

                                 

‘The Adventures of Don Quixote De La Mancha’', illustrated by William Heath Robinson.

I think we are a wee little bit of both of them.

This week enjoy Don Quixote.