Being American, I was given a story about our family crest and a famous ship named the Blue Pelican. I do not have any type of documents other than word to mouth through the generations but was told my English ancestors built the ships for the queen that defeated the Spanish in the Spanish Armada. During that time period, Sir Francis Drake requested ships by my ship building ancestors and acquired the finest without payment. Even the finest ship, the Blue Pelican which was renamed Golden Hinde. Drake lied about where the ship origins were, and he lied about where he took the ship. When he returned he lost the fleet, and only had the Goldne Hinde. My ancestors stole the ship back from him, and dry docked it. Never to sail again, it rotted where it was in the family ship yards of Cornwall, or Cornwell. (I’m not familiar with the exact name of the city other than it was south of London). My ancestors made certain that the deterioration was observed so Drake won’t lay claim on it again if they made the repairs.
There is an icon on the top of our family crest, a Blue Pelican, on other crests there is a hideous looking sheep/deer creature facing right but looking left with a forked tongue. I can’t help to think this must be the Drake influences.
I have tried to look for this particular Bond Family (part of the original viking clans known as Bonde De Earthe) in family archives and not really getting far.
My question would be, will you be writing about The Golden Hinde? And Sir Francis Drake? Or do any of your current books contain information about Drake and the Golden Hinde?
Thank you for your time,
Marie Bond