b'Names on the LandThe answer is simple, but not obvious. Mar-tha was Gosnolds mother-in-law, Martha Gold-ing, for whom he also named his daughter. The elder Martha was a woman of substantial wealth and influence, who had twice hosted Queen Elizabeth (and the royal entourage) at her estate. Martha had been one of the princi-pal backers of Gosnolds voyage to the New World, and Gosnoldalready planning his next voyage across the Atlanticdoubtless wanted to remain in her good graces. The coast of New England was adorned with the names of English royalty: Cape Cod was once Cape James (for James I), Cape Ann was named for his wife, and the Charles River for his son. Martha Golding was not of royal blood, but in giving her name to the largest of Massachusetts offshore islands Gosnold put her in good company.Marthas name, and othersEnglish and Wpanakthat remain on the land, remind us of the past. History is recorded not just in fad-ing photographs, fragile documents, and crum-bling buildings, but in the names on brightly painted road signs and crisply printed maps. All we have to do is look for it, and stay curious.This is Hy-Line 25'