The Inspiration

See Below:

"A Bit of History"

"Information & Publications" 

Writers Block Interview:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qW4EM-DgL0

Prologue from Moss on Stone

Amazon Author Page

Cosmicseanotes Blog

The inspiration for the novella, Moss on Stone came gradually, triggered by a small sign. While my husband and I were taking a walk in the lovely town of Rockport, Massachusetts on a warm day in May, we passed the Inn on Cove Hill. On the gate was the sign: "Built in 1771 by Caleb Norwood with pirate gold found at Gully Point. Hmm...interesting, but was it true? I wondered.

A few weeks later, I went to the the Sandy Bay Historical Society (SBHS) in Rockport and to the Rockport and Gloucester libraries to do a little research. I found the Ebenezer Pool papers, a chronicle written by hand (1822-1870). In them he wrote of a discovery of gold by Caleb Norwood and that, "the money find was not made public, but was of many thousands value. Even more interesting! Gwen Stephenson, kind and patient curator at SBHS, directed me to Fish, Timber Granite & Gold by Eleanor Parsons/Peter Berkholtz, wherein there is reference to later research which found documents to support a discovery of gold by Caleb Norwood. Also, mentioned was Caleb's great granddaughter, Susannah, who kept a diary (March 1849 - August 1849) when she lived in that very house we had passed on that spring morning!

Sandy Bay Historical Society also had a copy of Susannah's diary (not the original) but a typewritten one and also a published book by Lucy B. Painter, a Norwood family descendant. When I read Susannah's entries, I became enthralled by the thoughtful and eloquent expressions of her experience. The diary revealed a young woman with fine sensibilities, a reflective mind, a sense of humor and many interests. Most notably, she was a keen observer of nature who seemed to live for solitude--in her "garret," or at the seaside, meadows and woods of Cape Ann where she gathered sea moss to arrange into beautiful designs on paper. She also collected moss on stone and grasses to weave into baskets and mats.

I wanted to (had to) bring Susannah to life again through her diary entries, a springboard to expand into a "story" consistent with the recorded thoughts, feelings, and events she describes. Ironically, the novella's perspective is from Susannah's afterlife, as she reviews her life in mid-nineteenth century Rockport, MA, "waiting to return to life anew." It is my fervent hope that she is rescued from oblivion, to once again "live" and be heard in her beloved native home - Rockport, Cape Ann.

Let us go forth, the tellers of tales, and seize whatever prey the heart longs for, and have no fear. Everything exists, everything is true, and the earth is only a little dust under our feet. (W.B. Yeats, The Celtic Twilight)

A Bit of History

 In 1605, Samuel deChamplain and John Smith, a decade later, came to Cape Ann. Champlain named the area "Island Cape," and Smith called it "Cape Tragabigzanda," thought to be after a Turkish princess. Later, Prince Charles renamed it Cape Ann, after his mother, Queen Anne, the wife of James I). 

In John Smith's guide book to New England, he refers to Cape Ann as the “Paradise of New England," noting that he would rather live there than anywhere else.  Subsequently, immigrants came to settle. By 1645 Cape Ann was chartered.

Francis Norwood (1636-1709), Susannah Norwood Torrey's great, great, great grandfather was of aristocratic heritage by all indications. He traveled to Saugus, MA in 1657 from Gloucestershire, England with other members of his family, seeking a safe haven from the Cromwell years. His father, Thomas, was killed during that time, and King Charles I was beheaded. Francis’s uncle (brother of Thomas), took guardianship of his young nephew, Francis, who lived with his uncle, his aunt and nine cousins at Leckhampton Court, a 2000 acre property with manor house in Gloucestershire.

Six years after his arrival in America, Francis moved from Saugus with his wife Elizabeth Coldum to Cape Ann. In 1664 he received a six-acre land grant in Goose Cove, then a remote settlement. The house is still standing and can be seen from the causway bridge across Goose Cove on the way to Annisquam. The Pooles, Tarrs, Allens and Haskells were other families who settled and made significant contributions to Cape Ann. Some of those families' descendants still live on Cape Ann. 

With Francis and Elizabeth, began the “Norwood Dynasty.” By the time Francis died (buried in Bayview Cemetery, Gloucester), he had acquired 170 acres on Cape Ann from Goose Cove to Pigeon Cove, where his 8th child, Joshua (1683-1782), and his wife (also an Elizabeth) settled (north end of Curtis Street) in the Garrison House, also known as the Witch House or Old House. This house is associated with a long-circulated story that a Salem woman accused of being a witch was sheltered there because of its obscurity in the woods of Pigeon Cove. Some believe the sheltered accused “witch” was Elizabeth Proctor, whose story is dramatized in Arthur’s Miller play, The Crucible.

Joshua sold Garrison House and moved to Cambridge and Attleboro, MA for a time.  He came back to Cape Ann and bought property across Sandy Bay behind Straitsmouth Island and built a cottage. Visible from there were the comings and goings of pirates and privateers, who had scouted the coves trading in rum, molasses and sugar, Gully Point and Gap Cove being among their known haunts. The Davises, Allens and Norwoods were aware of, and sometimes tolerant of these “visitors,” as many were British from their homeland before the American Revoluton.

Joshua's cottage was later moved from Straitsmouth to Atlantic Avenue in Rockport and still stands next to the Inn on Cove Hill (Susannah's childhood home). Joshua's youngest son, Caleb (1736-1814, AKA Red Cap) was said to have discovered the gold at Gully Point. Caleb married Elizabeth Grover, who died after 10 years and five children. Caleb, Jr. was the last child from this marriage. 

Within three months, Caleb had remarried widowed Jerusha Story of Ipswich, MA, who had other children. Together they had three children, one of whom was another Francis (1771-1823), William, and Lucy (half-siblings of Caleb Jr.), part of the third generation of Norwoods on Cape Ann. 

When Caleb died (1814), he left 14 acres (from Sandy Bay to Norwood Avenue) to his three sons, Caleb, Jr., (1762-1839) from Caleb’s first marriage, and to William and Francis from his second marriage. Caleb, Jr. married a cousin, or step-sister (sources revealed two different versions), also named Jerusha.

In 1771, the twin Thacher lighthouses were built and illuminated, and was also the year the rumors began of Caleb’s discovery of pirate gold, referred to in the Ebenezer Poole papers (Sandy Bay Historical Society). He writes that “the money find…of many thousands value” was found, “south of the seashore Gully….” It is thought that Caleb shared his find with neighbor, Francis Poole, on whose land the gold was said to have been found—estimated in 2001 with a conversion value of $700,000. 

Though the gold discovery remained a rumor, it seems very probable according to the findings of Peter Bergholtz and Donald Dawson, researchers for Parson's book, Fish, Timber, Granite & Gold.  Records reveal that Joshua (AKA Old Joshua) and Francis were referred to as "gentlemen" because of their land holdings and business dealings. Caleb and Francis Poole also made significant investments in Revolutionary War bonds, all evidence of unusal, out-of-the ordinary wealth for average citizens.

The Norwood family, within the 20 years after the said discovery of gold, had bought up property, built six large houses (not of usual construction, style and size for the average person at the time), and, according to Gloucester tax records, had their status at the highest assessment in town. All these expenditures and expansions further fueled (and still do) the rumors of discovery of gold.

Two of the houses built were homes to Susannah Norwood (1826-1908), 37 and 39 Mt. Pleasant Street, both still standing in Rockport (see picture above of 37 Mt. Pleasant -  The Inn on Cove Hill). 

Susannah was the great, great granddaughter of Caleb (Red Cap), who was father of Caleb, Jr., (great grandfather to Susannah). Caleb Jr.'s son, Charles was Susannah's father and her mother was Susanna Norwood. Both sets of her grandparents were Norwoods.

At age 17, in 1843, she married Solomon F. Torrey, a stone cutter, who worked for his father, William Torrey, the owner of quarries in Rockport and Quincy. After their marriage, they lived at 39 Mt. Pleasant Street with her maternal grandparents, William Norwood (Caleb Jr.s’ half brother) and Susanna Wheeler, who had built an addition on the home for the couple. In 1845, Susannah and Solomon had a child, William Francis. Sadly, he died a few days before his first birthday. 

Susannah kept a diary for a short time, from March of 1848 to August of 1849, which was the inspiration for Moss on Stone. When Solomon left with 10 other young men from Cape Ann for the gold rush in California, Susannah again moved next door with her parents, Charles and Susanna (Norwood) Norwood, to 37 Mt. Pleasant Street, formerly the Inn on Cove Hill, now renovated into luxury condos, losing much of the historic value, and perhaps sweeping out the ghosts of the lives once lived there).

     

When Solomon returned home, he and Susannah built their dream house they had referred to as the "stone cottage,"  the dream of building it is mentioned many times in Susannah's  diary, although she stops writing in the diary before Solomon returns from the Gold Rush. The house still stands on Norwood Avenue and today is known as "Granite Lodge,"  a most unique construction. in Rockport.  Susannah and Solomon subsequently had two daughters, Aria and Susannah, but Solomon lived only 5 years after his return from the Gold Rush.  Susannah lived a long life as a widow thereafter, died at age 82 in 1908, and is buried at Union Cemetery in Rockport, MA. 

The author of Moss on Stone has settled in Rockport and is able to see both 37 and 39 Mt. Pleasant St. from her window and sometimes imagines Susannah in the garden with her grandmother or walking down to the sea. 

There is no separation!

References

• Callam, G. Marion Norwood. The Norwoods II: A Chronological History. Bexhill-on-Sea. East Sussex, England: published by the author, 1997.

• Parsons, Eleanor. Bergholtz, Peter and Dawson, Donald, researchers. Fish, Timber, Granite & Gold. Sponsored by Sandy Bay Historical Society and Museums: Rockport, MA, 2003.

• Saville, Marshall, H. Champlain and His Landings on Cape Ann 1605, 1606. American Antiquarian Society, 1933. Collection of Sandy Bay Historical Society.

Sandra and husband Robert at Susannah and Solomon's stone cottage in Rockport, MA, who were kindly given a tour by the new owners.

Events & Information on Publications

THE WRITER'S BLOCK 

Sandra's Interview with John Ronan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qW4EM-DgL0

1623 Studios Cable TV

Airs: December 10, 2020 at 8:00

The Writer’s Block with John Ronan, a New England Cable Television Award winner, just celebrated its 30th year featuring writers, poets and other artists. It is produced at 1623 Studios, in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and cablecast to Gloucester, Essex, Manchester and Rockport. John Ronan, former poet laureate for the city of Gloucester is producer and host. Many recent shows are available on You Tube. 

VENUES

Cape Ann Indie Authors- Sandra and Dan Duffy (et al)

WHAT:    The Holiday Book & Author Fair

WHEN:    Saturday. Dec. 3 ~ noon to 3 pm

WHERE: Brackett’s Restaurant, Rockport, MA

FEATURING: Sandra's Moss on Stone and Time and Tide

                      

EASTERN POINT LIT HOUSE BOOK CLUB AT DUCKWORTH'S: Discussion of Shakespeare's Hamlet on Sunday, March 15, 2020 5:00 pm at Duckworth's Bistrot , 197 E. Main Street, Gloucester, MA - Tickets at: easternpointlithouse@gmail.com 

MOSS ON STONE: A HISTORICAL NOVELLA:   Cancelled due to weather, will be rescheduled in the spring 2020 - Sponsored by: MANCHESTER HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Thursday, October 17, 2019 - 7:00 pm - at Sacred Heart Parish Hall, 62 School Street, Manchester, MA

POETRY IN PLACE WORKSHOP AT T.S. Eliiot House - SOLD OUT. Saturday, September 28, 2019 - 1:30 - 4:00, an offereing of the Dogtown Writers Festival: Finding Words in Place sponsored by Gloucester Writers Center.

FULlY PRESENT: MEETING HOUSE WRITERS POETRY READING at Chester County Library on November 29, 2018 - 7:00 pm, Exton, PA

TIME AND TIDE: A COLLECTION OF TALES at Ideas Bookstore on Sunday, December 17, 2017,  5 pm.  2234 Kimberton Road, Kimberton, PA. Reception to Follow.

MEET LOCAL AUTHORS EVENING - Moss on Stone: a historical novella at Rockport Library on Thursday, October 26, 2017,  7 pm, 17 School Street, Rockport, MA with Dan Duffy, author of Brother, Brother

MEET THE AUTHORS at Rocky Neck
Cultural Center on Thursday, May 18th - 6:30 pm

Sandra's Moss on Stone and Brother, Brother by Dan Duffy, 6 Wonson Ave., Gloucester, MA

OTHER READING HAVE BEEN HELD AT:

INN ON COVE HILL B & B at 37 Mt. Pleasant St., Rockport, MA 

EMERSON INN on the BACK PORCH, 1 Cathedral Avenue, Rockport, MA

EASTERN POINT LIT HOUSE 261 Main Street, Gloucester, MA

GLOUCESTER WRITERS CENTER, 126 E. Main St., Gloucester, MA with Jan Blais, author of  Finding Botticelli

Sandra Williams taught Language Arts, World Literature, and Reading, Writing & Research at the university and secondary levels, with an MA in British Literature from Villanova University. She is a poet and writer with several articles published in New View Magazine UK, and has written PR pieces and articles in newsletters and journals for non-profits schools and organizations. Sandra also writes book reviews for Metapsychology Online. She is author of Moss on Stone, a historical novella, based on the diary of Susannah Norwood Torrey, a young woman of mid-nineteenth Rockport, MA, and of Time and Tide: a collection of tales. She is a member of the Meeting House Writers in Kimberton, PA and the Finish Line Writers in Gloucester, MA. She co-chaired the first writers' conference on Cape Ann: The Dogtown Writers Festival: Finding Words in Place, sponsored by Gloucester Writers Center, and has served on its board of directors. She lives in Rockport, MA with her artist husband Robert, illustrator of Moss on Stone robertlouiswilliams.com. Both are inspired by the beauty of Cape Ann and its community of creativity. They have two grown sons and four grandchildren. 

Moss on Stone and Time and Tide available at: Amazon.com & BarnesandNoble.com and these locations:

• Cape Ann Museum, Gloucester
• Gloucester Bookstore, Gloucester
• Rockport Library, Rockport
• Sawyer Free Library, Gloucester
• Premier Gifts, Gloucester
• Most B & Bs in Rockport
• Sandy Bay Historical Society and Museum (Rockport)
• IDEAS Bookstore, Kimberton, PA

Trailer: Time and Tide: a collection of tales

Time and Tide: a collection of tales speaks of change— sometimes a long time coming, sometimes in an instant, but always inevitable. The introductory tale, “Book of Hours,” frames the stories that follow. Helen, an American writer, living in Italy, believes her creativity is gone forever as she returns to her childhood home to care for her dying mother. A curious encounter in a clock shop leads her to a strange experience of inspiration, wherein: 

"All manner of dark and light beings began to flash and flutter before her—some in images like holographs, their voices heard in whispers and secret thoughts. When they came, they came like a swift, incoming tide, surreal, filled with beauty and sadness, old regrets and new life—all muddled and intertwined as in a dream….She understood them, loved them. She both dreamed their dreams and was in the dreams—hundreds of them, maybe enough to last a lifetime. She would speak as them and for them."

Each subsequent story in the collection, with Helen as conduit, reveals the strange alchemy of human experience, bringing forth golden revelations.

 

Time and Tide

                                Moss on Stone

Moss on Stone -  illustrations: robertlouiswilliams.com

MOSS ON STONE - Prologue

Prologue

To have a dream is to remain hopeful—a vision of some future time when all will be well and worry ceases. I found that when dreams fade there are other ways, if not to cherish thoughts of the future, or to reflect upon regrets of the past, then to sustain us day to day with a small measure of light. Mine were things of beauty—moss on stone.
     Now, from this distance of space and time, indeed the absence of those illusions that do not exist here, I linger— preparing to return to life anew. What did I leave behind? A portrait for others to look upon, a scrapbook of moss designs, a diary and a stone cottage by the sea.
     I review my life as one would a colorful tableau, with the insights and knowledge that come when the physical body is no more. I see that mine was a life worth living. I will tell you something of that life: of dreams and dreams fading; of intimations and transformations; of time passing; of dear family and friends loved and lost; and of people and places changed. Through it all, there were the immutable gifts of nature to renew my soul with unequaled joy, asking nothing in return.

     Between this thicket and the wood, lay the sought for valley covered with rocks piled one about another…and these rocks were covered with the most beautiful mosses that I ever saw. (October 17, 1848)

ILLUSTRATIONS

"Moss" from original scrapbook of Susannah Norwood Torrey's moss designs

"Between this Thicket and the Wood" by Robert L. Williams 

 Amazon Author Page