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Ramsey Swing Bridge No 5. ( sounds a bit like a dodgy perfume)Fletcher Christian. Now there's name synonymous with all things mutinous and apparently Manx, that is the Isle of Man. Ooh er. How exciting!
Fletcher Christian was born In Cumberland in England, however he was related to The Christians of Miltown Ramsey. So explodes the first myth he was a Manxman. Afraid not. His family though did at one time including the man himself seek refuge in Ramsey to escape bad debts in England though.
As we all know Fletcher Christian( Marlon Brando to me) instigated the Mutiny on the Bounty (more Isle of Man/Bounty links for another time) settled with a load of mutineers on the Isle of Pitcairn(many Manxmen amongst them) and then it all gets a bit Hazy. In other words here starts the myth and fact nightmare.
John Adams the last surviving mutineer gave several accounts of Fletcher's whereabouts, changing his story several times. Firstly Fletcher had committed suicide. Secondly he was killed by Pitcairn natives, and thirdly he escaped back to England, an onto the the Isle of Man.
The poet Wordsworth was distantly related to Fletcher Christian by marriage. It is rumoured that Wordsworth and Christian met in Bristol and Fletcher recounted details of the mutiny to him. Subsequently the Rhyme Of The Ancient Mariner was written and rumour has it, the Ancient Mariner was Christian himself, as it bore uncanny details to certain events of the mutiny and time after that were never for public consumption.
The date or place of Christian's death is still unknown. No remains have ever been found. Could he in fact of died on the island, with his Miltown Ramsey relatives? Who knows, but it's a great tale either way.
Just remember this blog is a bit of fun. So please think about your comments. Don't get all po faced. I'm not an historian, it's all whimsical Isle of Man related stuff, with some photography thrown in. Ok!
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