Is a 14th Century Knight Buried in Westford, Massachusetts? (The Westford Knight)

J-MASS INSTAGRAM: @jmassofficial The official theme song for my channel, “City of Steam”, was originally composed by my friend, Jesse Walsh! Check out the full song here on his YouTube channel:    • [J-MASS THEME] City of Steam   On the side of a busy road in an ordinary suburban neighborhood, an obscure monument displays a theory that could change the way we view the history of the Americas. Right along the sidewalk on Depot Street, in Westford, Massachusetts, is the Westford Knight, a site many believe to be the grave of a 14th century Scottish knight. The legend behind the site is as follows: in 1398, Scottish nobleman Henry I Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, and his band of explorers traveled across the North Atlantic, exploring Nova Scotia and New England. In 1399, they embarked on an inland expedition into what is now Massachusetts, before one of the crew—who many believe to be Sir James Gunn, member of the Clan Gunn and a Knight Templar—suddenly died. This knight was buried underground, and his grave was marked by a boulder with a sword and a shield etched in the stone. And where was his final resting place? None other than what is now the quiet town of Westford. Of course, this is all speculation, and, frankly, pseudohistorical theorization. Prior to Christopher Columbus’s discovery of the Americas in 1492, the only pre-Columbian European exploration we can confirm is the Norsemen’s 11th century exploration of Newfoundland. There is no credible evidence that the Scots ever set foot in the Americas prior to 1492, let alone in Westford, Massachusetts. Nonetheless, this theory persists, as it has for decades now. Since 1976, the Westford Knight monument has sat on the side of Depot Street in Westford, arguing the case for this wild theory. To this day, if you look close enough at the glacial boulder on the site, you can still see the markings of a sword and a shield etched into the stone. Some even say that you can see the full figure of a knight in the stone as well, although I failed to see that for myself. Having lived in the area my entire life, I am acutely aware of the Westford Knight and its speculative theories. When walking along the sidewalk on Depot Street, this seemingly random knight sculpture and monument beckon you to look closer, only to realize that you’re staring at a site argued by many to be one of the earliest cases of European exploration in the Americas. I always found this site, and the monument itself, incredibly interesting, even if I don’t believe in the theories behind it. Originally, in the late 19th century, historians believed that the stone etchings were made by Native Americans; it was only by the mid 20th century when some began to speculate that they were carved by Europeans, specifically Scots. Again, I cannot stress enough that these are merely speculations with bo concrete historical basis—but it’s still a fun theory to consider. The monument itself is also a fun roadside attraction, worth a quick stop if you’re ever in Westford. I would suggest parking at the Abbott Elementary School nearby and then walking right over, as it is only a quick five minute walk away. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westfor... 00:00 J-MASS Intro 00:41 Introduction to the Westford Knight 01:30 Walking Over to the Knight 03:13 Legend and History 08:28 The Monument Itself 10:45 Outro