[Tommies] permission request & Templar/Masonic research

Mon Mar 9 18:13:27 EDT 2009

BlankRt Hon. The Earl of Caithness
Dear Malcolm,

Thank you for granting me permission to use the photos from your website.  

I was somewhat familiar with Brian Smith's challenge to the Sinclair/New World theory, but had not seen his most recent article.  Thanks for helping me locate it.  

The trail I'm following is more tied to Templar activity and possible Sinclair travels to America with or without Native America/Zeno folklore.  I'm sure you are familiar with the Newport Tower.  I've attached a photo of a Templar building in Jerusalem, the Dome of the Ascension, believed by some to be where Jesus ascended into heaven.  It had been an open octagon which Muslims later bricked in.  For me, the similarities are striking (despite the rough New England stone materials found at Newport).  

I also found the Sir James Gunn, Westport Knight markings striking (about a 45 minute drive from my house.)   
I wonder if Smith has actually visited these sites?

I'm currently reading, "The Knights Templar of the Middle East, the Hidden History of the Islamic origins of Freemasonry," by Prince Michael of Albany.  Are you familiar with the book?  I'm investigating motives as well as artifacts to see if there might have been Templar voyages to the East Coast - and specifically, New England.  The Kirk at Corstorphine has distinct Templar features/artifacts and includes the first instance  of Arabic numerals in Scotland.  David Thomson of Corstorphine's arms contain a cross pattee fitche; the cross pattee without the knife point contains 8 points as do the Newport Tower octagon and certain Templar buildings as noted (as opposed to Crusader sites).  

Yes, trying to put all the pieces together can sound almost ludicrous.  But there seemed to be a core of tolerance among the original members of the Council for New England, which is more indicative of early Masonic philosophical leanings than the Puritan groups which soon followed.  Though Francis Bacon was not a member of the Council, he was close to many of its members and had been a Newfoundland "adventurer" in terms of financial support - looking for a New World - a possible Utopia?  He actually died at Thomas Howard, the Ear of Arundel's residence.  (I sent you a link to Thomson's letter to the Earl in my earlier correspondence. See below.) 

There is also another lead I'm investigating involving a cross engrailed seal with roses between the arms. (Sinclair??)  It was found with Samuel Maverick's belongings.  He was David Thomson's closest friend and married his widow.

Once again, thank you for granting permission regarding the pictures.  It was wonderful hearing from you.

Genevieve
(Massachusetts, USA)
PS  I will be publishing the book under my pen name, G. Thomson Fraser.

PS  My articles on David Thomson can be found on the Scottish Genealogical Society site:
http://www.scotsgenealogy.com/online/DavidPart01.htm
http://www.scotsgenealogy.com/online/DavidPart02.htm
http://www.scotsgenealogy.com/online/DavidPart03.htm

There is also a 4th published article which has not been put online.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Malcolm Caithness 
  To: gcfraser at peoplepc.com 
  Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 1:13 PM
  Subject: RE: permission request & Templar/Masonic research

  Dear Genevieve

  Apologies for not replying earlier. I would be delighted for you to use the two etchings of the castle with the appropriate accreditation.

  What an interesting link. between the Thompsons, Forresters and Sinclairs which I did not know.

  As to the Zeno saga there are those who swear by it and those that don't. Have a look at 
  www.users.zetnet.co.uk/ahamilton/sinclair.htm and see what you think. I would like to think his fleet did reach the New World but as far as I am concerned the jury is still out.

  Best wishes

  Malcolm

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  From: gcfraser at peoplepc.com [mailto:gcfraser at peoplepc.com] 
  Sent: 09 February 2009 23:59
  To: chief at clansinclair.org
  Subject: permission request & Templar/Masonic research

  211 Dana Road
  Orange, Massachusetts USA 
  01364

  Castle Sinclair Girnigoe
  Wick
  Caithness
  KW1 4QT

  Dear Rt Hon The Earl of Caithness,

  I was deeply impressed by the Sinclair-Girnigoe website and request permission to use the two etchings of the castles for a book I am writing, "In Search of David Thomson (died 1628) and the Alchemy of American Democracy." (see attached Thomson seal)  

  To date, I have had four articles published by the Scottish Genealogical Society entitled, "DAVID THOMSON, THE SCOTTISH FOUNDER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE... A GENTLEMAN, AND A SCHOLAR."  The book will be an expansion of the theories documented in the articles plus additional research conducted over the past several years.  David Thomson was named Governor of the Massachusetts grant (1623) under the Council for New England.  He was also granted 6,000 acres in Piscataqua (now New Hampshire).

  After extensive research (including many primary source documents) in the USA, Scotland, and England, I have come to the conclusion that David Thomson was of Corstorphine, Midlothian and of a family that had married into the Forresters of Corstorphine.  David was born about 1588, and his grandmother from the previous century would have been Jean Sinclair married to Sir John Forrester.  According to Sinclair genealogies I have had access to, Jean Sinclair Forrester's brother, William, was the builder of Rosslyn Castle.

  There is a three page letter written by David Thomson to Thomas Howard, the Earl of Arundel - http://www.wellswooster.com/tommies/arundel_letter.html - that the Duke of Norfolk granted me permission to have photographed and use.  The Earl of Arundel was a member of the Council for New England, along with King James I's cousin, Ludvick Stuart, the Duke of Lennox.  Arundel was believed to have been a grandmaster of an early Freemasonic order in London, succeeding in the title following the death of his brother-in-law, Philip Hebert, Earl of Pembroke.  

  If you examine the Thomson seal, you will note the Templar Cross and the ouroboros in chief.  David's closest friend in New England was Samuel Maverick who married his widow, Amias Cole.  Maverick was later named Royal Commissioner under Charles II.  He used the Thomson seal in that capacity and also a seal with an engrailed cross with roses between the extensions.  Maverick's actual heraldic arms were three hatchet.  I wondered if the engrailed cross was also one held by David Thomson.  (Maverick was from Exeter, England.)

  There is one additional element in the story with a possible Sinclair connection.  Thomson's Island in Boston Harbor was held by David, not through the Council for New England, but from an earlier claim.  According to Miles Standish of the Plymouth Pilgrims fame, David Thomson had shown him an "ancient map" with the Isle Thomson on it.

  Whether or not the Zeno saga is truly about Earl Henry Sinclair, the Earl's travels to North America might have been fact or perhaps others of the Sinclair family might have embarked on such a voyage.  Alexander Thomson (reputed to be the grandson on Sir Thomas Stewart , the Earl of Mar's son according to Thomson of Corstorphine genealogy) married Margaret Forrester in the later part of the 15th century.  Are there archives of other voyages taken by the Sinclairs?  If they are hidden away in a charter chest, I would be delighted to have access to them through the National Archives, and/or would be happy to follow through with any other source/suggestion you might have.

  Thank you for your kind indulgence.

  Sincerely,

  Genevieve Fraser

  a.k.a. G. Thomson Fraser

  gcfraser at peoplepc.com

  978-544-1872 (Massachusetts, USA)

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