The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-08-01
A Curious Story
About a Welsh Settlement i'm this
Country i'm the Year l1l7O---
CabOt's Singular DiscOV- 81.

In lecture deliYered by Mr.. James
| Wood, of Albany, N. Y, he related the
following curious tradition which ex-
lists among the Welsh:
In 1170 two brothers, David and Ae-
doc, quarreled for the throne. The
younger, Medoc, becoming disgusted,
gave up the struggle, and fitting out
ship sailed west. The next year he re-
turned, said he had ,discovefed a fruit
full country, and called upon his friends
to follow him. He had no difficulty in
filling ten ships with men, women and
children. They sailed away. and; ac-
cording TO Welsh story, were never
heard OF again. 1ol1 lGG adt42ut- 81
This would not be worth much as his
tory were 1t not that it seems confirmed
by evidence found upon this side Of the
ocean. -.-.-.
In 1870, five hundred years after
Prince Medoc left Wales, Welsh min
lister named Morgan was sent frem New
York to North Carolina to preach to
some Welsh people who settled there.
He remained with them some time. One
day he wandered too far beyond the
outskirts of the settlement and WAS cap
tured by Indians. They took him many
miles inland, and prepared to burn him
at the stake. The fagots were piled
around him and his doom seemed seal
ed, Suddenly he exclaimed, in Welsh,
"Have come SO far to die like a dog
at lastP' To bis surprise, the Indian
chief sprung forward. loosed his bonds
and embraced him, crying in Welsh,
"No, not if you speak that languagei"
Henceforth he was the honored guest
of the, tribe .fsrr --eesr 60, /. ~
Morgan's surprise deepenedi when the
principal members of this Indian tribe
gathered around him and began to con-
verse with him in Welsh. He preached
to them and they understood him. But
what amazed him most was to discover
that they had a manuscript copy of the
bibls in the Welsh language. b8ao.
Morgan relates this story in letter
sent to friends in Wales. This letter is
well authenticated, but it is the only
evidence that We have in the matter.
so far as we are aware, nothing more
was ever heard of this Indian tribe who
spoke Welsh and had a Welsh bible.
But, about fifteen or twenty. years
later, an exploring party returning from
beyond the Mississippi river relate,
among other wonders that they have
found tribe of Indians who speak the
Welsh language. They, too, have. a
manuscript copy of the Welsh bible.
Meme of their numbers can read it, and
they keep it as a mysterious treasure,
carefully rolled up in the skins of ami
mails. r. r.r 5yg aE rs
And, fifteen or twenty years later still,
another exploring party brings us back
strange news from the Red river of the
North. They have found there sing
ular people, with whitened hair and
blue eyes. These people speak the
Welsh language. ogsosE1 s13 - O.
Lastly, Catlin speaks of tribe Of
white Indisns dwelling along the up
per courses Of the Missouri. They are
different from the tribes around them.
Some have fair hair and blue eyes, and
their language is strangely mixed with
a great number of Welsh words.
Now" says Mr.. Wood, "here we
have five Independent accounts. which
seem to tell one story, They are SC
strange that historians don't knew what
to do with them. But if Indians on the
American continent can speak the
Welsh language, they must have beer
taught at some time; if there are manu-
script copies of the Welsh bible here
they must have come here somehow
And you can put the facts together a.
you please I" ha han .sgsslf stsAa d
Another curious fact was stated BY
the lecturer. In speaking of the dis
coyeries Of John Cabot, he said in SUB
stance;' Wed Ise qnisssIoBi vg1ass
Here is a strange thing. John Cabo
reached the shores of Newfoundland II
1897, only five years after Columbus Sc
sail. He found that the Indians wer,
in possession of great number o
French words, and could understand
him when he spoke to them in that Ian
guage. They knew the French tern
for Goldfish and fishing. He soon learn
ed that the Breton fishermen from th'
rock-bound coast OF northern France
were in the habit of coming to thes
bleak American shores in their littl
fishing smacks and catching the cot
with which these waters abounded
Remember, this was only five years al
ter the time of Columbus. II thes
fearless fishermefF,nin their frail vessels
had been travelling backward and for
ward across the ocean long enough &
teach the Indiansa good part Of thei
language, who knows whether or no
they saw the continent OF America evel
before Columbus didg s a