The Chetwynd Chronicles

Three months ago the text was completed along with the possibility thatThe Chetwynd Chronicles would be available by Christmas. But I had made a commitment that my book would not preempt the publication of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church’s history, Coming Home. For all sorts of reasons that book’s process was delayed.

Nevertheless, formatting, some tweaking, and the addition of a bit of information for The Chetwynd Chronicles proceeded but at a leisurely pace. My prediction is that the final copy will be ready for proofing right after the holiday. Then off to CreateSpace it goes.

Given the extra time I yielded to temptation by Googling “G. Stapylton” one more time but with no expectation of finding anything new. Up popped a website unknown to me, GenealogyBank.com, that primarily focuses on newspaper archives all over the United States. I clicked on the link provided. New York Herald Tribune, Saturday, November 26, 1881, page 5, cited a list, “Passengers Arrived from Liverpool—by steamship Gallia,.” a ship of the Norwegian Cunard fleet. G. Stapylton was one of the over 200 passengers that had endured the 11 day trip. Another week or so later he landed on Florida’s eastern shore destined for the third leg on the St. Johns and Ocklawaha Rivers to Fruitland Park.

Steamship Gallia

I had searched and searched some more previously for a ship list bearing his name but to no avail. So given public records I simply deduced that he arrived in Florida in the winter of 1882. It turns out that proved to be true.

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Five minutes ago I sent the last item of “The Chetwynd Chronicles,” the bibliography, to my amazing designer and formatter, Sallie Kautz. Although she’s completed the text through Chapter 1, much to my delight, I’m preparing for a brief period of mourning. I hate to let go and say, “goodbye” to a project I’ve so much enjoyed.

No longer will I compulsively Google “Chetwynd” only to find the usual references to Chetwynd, British Columbia. Because  a half-dozen of Florida’s Chetwynd colonists migrated to British Columbia, I first thought there might be a connection. Turns out that that Chetwynd, located near Dawson Creek, was founded by one Ralph Chetwynd and became a village in 1962.

No longer will I compulsively Google all possible configurations of Granville Chetwynd-Stapylton’s name in hopes of finding something new and interesting about him and not his kinsman by the same name who lived in Australia. Instead I found Alan Chetwynd Gillett, Granville’s great-grandson, who lives in Capetown, South Africa. Our hope is to golf together—either here in Florida or in South Africa or so Alan says. He doesn’t know that I don’t fly.

I am so grateful for my team of specialists, Sallie Kautz, Susy Richmond, Kareen Rashelle, and Emil Pignetti, who helped in great ways to make “The Chetwynd Chronicles” a reality. The wait will be unbearable!

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