FISHERMEN: # 31 Pine Creek

Tags

Canyon, Delaware, fishing, Grand Canyon of the East, New York, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pine Creek

 Oh – – – I am sure,

there is a Pine Creek,

in every state and every country,

and probably in every language – if my guess is right.

~

However – – – this one is in the territory,

that William Penn established,

after befriending the Lenapes.

~

Old Bill was a very peaceful man,

and that peacefulness remains,

in the streams and rivers,

until this very day.

 ~

Pine Creek Canyon is 1,400 feet deep,

and almost one mile wide,

the creek though,

is much,

smaller.

 ~

And the trout enjoy the shadows,

that the cliffs throw over,

the cool water.

~

That man enjoys fishing there,

because it is remote,

and fishermen,

are scarce.

~

Poor old Billy Penn,

probably never got to see,

this beautiful and remote canyon,

because he was too busy attempting,

to keep the English, Dutch and Swedish,

part of the commonwealth that he had founded.

~

They departed his company,

and founded the commonwealth of Delaware,

Billy formed the City of Brotherly Love with other Quakers.

~

Old Bill – – – if he is looking down,

on his city at this very moment,

is probably wondering – – – ,

“Where has the love gone?”

~

And those English, Dutch and Swedes,

never realized that they could have belonged,

to the beautiful state that holds Pine Creek within,

its wide borders and hemlock forests full of deer and fish.

 ~

And they probably missed the headwaters,

of the beautiful streams and rivers,

that join together to form,

the Delaware River,

both branches,

in New York.

~

 

 

© Copy written for what I will never know.

JOHN BESSAC ROLLS THE DICE

Tags

America, Baptiste Bessac, Brest, British, Chesapeake Bay, Continental Army, Dublin, French Fleet, International trade, John Bessac, New Jersey, New York City, Philadelphia

Baptiste Bessac had purchased a load of flax seed that filled the entire ship. It sailed out of Philadelphia for Brest on the westernmost tip of France.

The British men-o-war must have been too busy with outgoing goods headed for America. The ship load of flax seed made it safely to Brest. Baptiste sold the goods to a German merchant who had a customer ready to receive the seed in Dublin.

Business was going quite well in Europe.

Not so in America.

British forces had been camped in the area of New York City. They made a sudden excursion into New Jersey which was defenseless. They ravaged the countryside and plundered the inhabitants. This was not the honorable warfare as the French had practiced it nor as the Americans had expected. The principles of war were turned upside down.

Business and trade in New Jersey ebbed to a trickle. John Bessac needed merchandise for resale. The Continental Army had need of supplies. On the other hand there was not much faith put into the American currencies. The new nation was deeply in debt. The gloom of failure for the citizens of America was starting to weigh heavily. They had pledged “life, fortune and sacred honor” as their collateral for their independence. The British were ready to collect on that debt.

Another French fleet had arrived near the Chesapeake Bay; the mouth of the Susquehanna River. The fleet was in need of provisions. John Bessac purchased what he could with his remaining money and chartered a vessel to deliver the supplies. Unfortunately the pilot of the vessel pulled out of a fog bank only to find himself looking into the canons of an English man-o-war.

The vessel was taken as a prize. The crew and John Bessac were held as prisoners of war.

John Bessac’s calculated risk ended in disaster. John was starting to question this life of international merchandising.

JOHN BESSAC THE PRIVATEER

Tags

1779, American revolution, American Society, Atlantic Ocean, Baptiste Bessac, Bay of Biscay, Bordeaux, Caribbean, Central America, Continental Congress, Count d'estaing, Declaration of Independence, Delaware Bay, Diplomatic Meeting, dye wood, East River, George Clymer, Gulf of Mexico, John Bessac, Letters of marque, molasses, New York, Philadelphia, Prison Ship, Prisoners of Brittan, Prisoners of War, privateering, rum, South Sea, sugar

The privateer “Letter Of Marque”, who was ready for her dangerous mission, sailed out of the Port of Bordeaux in the early summer months of 1779.

There was, surprisingly, little action in the Bay of Biscay. The destination for the “Letter of Marque” was the West Indies. Her intentions were to sail both the Atlantic Ocean and the “South Sea” which was becoming known as the “Caribbean.” The Gulf of Mexico was quite calm aside from the privateering action.

The Marque took two prizes consisting of rum, sugar, molasses and dye woods which were rare except for in Central America. The ship was loaded to the point where it was best to head for port. She entered the Delaware Bay and sailed up to Philadelphia.

There, the prize was exchanged for money which was divided between the ship owners, the officers and the crew. John and Baptiste deposited their money with Clymer & Sons, a reputable ship builder and banker.

Money had been set aside for repairs and refitting of The Marque. As soon as that task was complete she sailed once more, in search of a prize.

A British sloop-of-war outmaneuvered The Marque. The sloop fired a majority of its eighteen guns and The Marque lost the battle. Three men were killed and several wounded. The Marque was captured and held by the British. Likewise, Baptiste and John Bessac also came to the same fate.

The British had a prison ship docked in the East River of New York. Baptiste, John, the officers and crew were imprisoned within this ship. Diplomatic efforts were made between the British and the French. An exchange of British for French prisoners was made. John and Baptiste Bessac headed to Philadelphia to retrieve their money from Clymer.

The gentleman handed over their money and the two brothers traveled to Jersey City across the Hudson from New York. Once there, they intended to start merchant and commercial businesses.

Connections had to be established. A light ship of shallow draft was chartered with the intent of visiting the French Fleet laying off the coast. The chartered ship was sufficient enough to avoid the heavy British men-o-war that remained hovering off the coast. The British were attempting to strangle the American uprising by starving it of needed goods.

The Bessac brothers met with Count d’Estaing who commanded the fleet. Arrangements were made for newly shipped goods to be delivered to Jersey City. These good would be sold and distributed by the Bessacs.

From Wikipedia

It was a very lucrative business and the brothers did quite well for themselves. John, cutting a masculine figure about town, rapidly commanded the English language. He was graced with the polished manners of a well-bred Frenchman and soon became a known figure within the best of American society.

Another chapter of John Bessac’s life was in full bloom.

JOHN BESSAC ON THE MOVE (Again)

Tags

American ships, Bay of Biscay, Bordeaux, Burgos, Cantabrian Mountains, French ships, Madrid, Philadelphia, San Juan, Santandar, St. Andero, Valladolid

John Bessac’s commitment of one year in the service of the Spanish Royal Guard had been completed. He accepted his mustering-out pay and purchased a few new clothes.

Since the episode of the knife fight John had received two letters from his old friend Barte and one from his brother Baptiste. Barte’s letters were letters of friendship, as were Baptiste’s. However, Baptiste’s letters were also about business. He informed John that he had made contacts in Philadelphia and would be travelling there that summer. John’s hopes of joining him were high.

Without looking back, except for his lost love, he departed Madrid without so much as one regret.

A clumsy and tumble-down coach took him to Valladolid.

He had two other passengers to contend with. One was so silent that John kept checking to see if he had passed on from this earth. The other was quite opposite. Before the trip was completed John knew about the talkative passenger’s family, his business acumen, his inheritance and a few of his mistresses. It finally dawned on John why the other passenger was so silent; he had heard it all before.

The ninety mile coach trip from Madrid to Valladolid was not without constant chatter. The silent and almost dead passenger came to life. It was from him that John heard about a treaty between the United States and France which was signed in Paris. The Bay of Biscay, where he was headed for in order to meet his brother Baptiste, was overrun with British vessels. The British were taking prizes; the contents of all American and French ships that they fell their way.

John knew that he would have to take the shortest route from Valladolid to the Bay of Biscay. There was no carriage road on that route. John decided take carts from Valladolid to Burgos and finally to San Juan. After that it was over the mountains to St. Andero; also called Santander.

The Cantabrian Mountains were scenic but only offered transportation by mule. John was offered a mule and an armed guide. Feeling confident John declined the service and departed on foot.

With his leather sack, the one that originally held a bible and a few silver coins from his mother, he departed San Juan. The path was used by mules and pedestrians. John was able to ford several small streams but eventually came to a very deep one with a bridge crossing. He was about half way across when he met a burly man on a mule coming from the other direction. John was about to pass when the man turned his mule sideways so as not to let John pass. After a few impertinent remarks by the man John had quite enough. John grabbed the mule by the reins in order to make enough room to get by. The mule lost his footing and both the beast and the man ended up in the stream. John watched for a few seconds to ensure that both were uninjured and then went on his way toward St. Andero.

John was fatigued when he reached St. Andero. All he had eaten since leaving San Juan were a few figs. He found a place to eat and rest.

His next task was to find a ship on which he could take passage to Bordeaux.

JOHN BESSAC CROSSES THE PYRENEES MOUNTAINS

Tags

Abd ar-Rahman III, Alicante, Alicante Wine, America, American Army, Arabs, Badalona, Barcelona, Blanes, Cadiz, Coll de Panissars, France, Gerona, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, John Bessac, Jonquera, Madrid, Mataro, Mediterranean, Minstrel, Perpignon, Philadelphia, Pompey the Great, Pryrenees, Roman Roads, Romans, Spain, Tortosa, Toulouse, Via Augusta, Via Domitia, Vidreres

John had been sitting in the city of Toulouse, France, knowing that he had to make a decision about where to settle. But Madrid? Why Madrid? Cadiz had no calling for him since his brother Ruffus died. But why did John choose Madrid? It had to be his adventuresome spirit. Young men tend to think romantically about far places as well as beautiful women. So Madrid it would be.

John’s first leg would be from Toulouse to Perpignon. He would still be in France; however, he would be on the cusp of the Pyrenees Mountains. Perpignon would allow him to gather whatever information he may need to help him cross the mountains.

It was an eighty mile trek from Toulouse to Perpignon. Being excited about his next great adventure he made the trip in three days. John had overestimated his endurance. He required rest. He found some solitude on the banks of the river. There was thick brush near the bridge that would shield him from the sun and the prying eyes of the church.  That is where he spent the fourth day. Many others were also there resting their tired feet and doing their best to get out of the November sun. The nights were cold but by nine in the morning the heat was well on its way.

It was there that he met a minstrel of sorts. They agreed to become traveling companions while they crossed the Pyrenees. A plan was made between them. They would enter Spain at Jonquera. The die was cast and they set their course forward.

Their path through the Pyrenees was only six miles from the Mediterranean Sea. John could smell the mountain shrubs and the salt air simultaneously. He had never experienced an aroma like this before. His senses were aroused and his romantic thoughts of wanderlust almost undid him. He considered staying there. His new companion, the minstrel, convinced him that they needed to keep moving.

There were no inns across the mountains and a person needed to be “established” in order to set roots in the villages. They met many local people along their way through the Pyrenees. It was not that the people were terse or rude. In fact they went out of their way to offer the two travelers shelter. The mountain people shared their black bread and onions with them.

After a twenty mile trek they finally reached Jonquera.

John Bessac’s romanticism once again took control as he viewed the castle in the mountains. It rested above Jonquera with a commanding presence. A Roman road, the Via Augusta , which ran from Cádiz to the Pyrénées , also captured John Bessac’s imagination. There, at Jonquera, it joined the Via Domitia at the Coll de Panissars. The people informed John that this was an alter built by Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus; Pompey the Great. John Bessac was carried away with the history of La Jonquera.

Once John came to his senses he realized that it was a long eighty miles to Barcelona and another three hundred miles to his goal of Madrid. The next day he and his companion were once more on the pathway to their final destination.

Some of the trip was through the countryside of Gerona and Vidreres which reminded him of his home country. The trip was, at times, more enjoyable once he reached Blanes, Mataro and then Badalona. Along that route he could see the Mediterranean and it took his mind off of his feet.

The eighty mile walk from Jonquera along the coast to Barcelona was completed in four days.

John’s minstrel friend decided to stay in Barcelona. There were many people there and several venues in which he could ply his craft. John travelled alone for the remaining one hundred miles to Tortosa.

Another castle and more romantic notions held John’s attention as he spoke to the people of Tortosa.

John heard stories of Roman conquest and the start of this castle. The Arabs under the second caliphate of  Abd ar-Rahman III added to it. John was mesmerized by the view of the castle above the Ebro River.

John still had another two hundred miles after leaving Tortosa.  The trip gave him plenty of time to think. He had thoughts about eventually getting to Philadelphia to become an agent for a business. His brothers had recently become involved with establishing contacts in America.

Or possibly, if that did not work out, he would join the American army. John carefully weighed several different plans. His trip was not all planning. He had plenty of time to enjoy himself.

Once he slept in a cottage and another time in the open air under a wide spread chestnut tree.

He remembered one evening staying with a priest and three lay brothers. That evening he enjoyed roasted chestnuts followed up with a few servings of Alicant wine.

Most of the trip was on foot.

Once in a while, rain – – – sun – – – or fog, he would hitch a ride on a rickety mule-hauled cart.

He never knew if he would be sitting next to a keg of olive oil – – – or at other times sacks of figs. There were a few times when a cart was loaded with honey or bee’s wax. Then he would have to keep swatting at bees that were drawn to the load.

John arrived in Madrid without a coin in his pocket.