In this short historical research and travel study,
Gabrielle attempts to clarify the myths and combs through the historical
material to examine the lives and genealogy of the small group of first
settlers to Eleuthera in 1648, and originally from the UK. She uses actual
photographs of the undeveloped physical scenery that they would have first
encountered on their expedition along the long island’s landscape.
It is intriguing why they left their homes, the
lifestyle they initially endured and how they survived. Some of which has been
alluded to in the study. The historical information collected about daily life requires accuracy. Gabrielle
also uses exclusive knowledge by having partial ancestry on the island and having
spent many holidays over two decades.
The author objectively scans through the material. She
starts with the factual background and history of some of the illustrious lives
of the people who likely started the expedition to the unknown and the socio-economic
consequences of their plight. “Elutheria” was once considered to be an “Isle in
the middle of the ocean” among the 17th century navigators. She
describes the evolution over centuries of how a small island evolved and
produced thriving descendants from undeveloped terrain and the journeys that
reintegrated them into modernity. This is a story of determination and sacrifice
of those who contributed to start a new way of life.
