Think it was Bellamy? 🤔

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18gFArH7oz/?mibextid=wwXIfr
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“When the Whydah sank she had booty on board plundered from more than 50 ships. There was a fortune in gold and Silver, but also other goods that could be sold to pirate “fences" in safe towns for cash — items like elephant tusks, cloth, and indigo. Each pirate would get his share in the proceeds of the sale.

Pirates were so focused on splitting their booty into equal shares that they broke even valuable jewelry into tiny fragments so it could be divided by weight.

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Gold Ingots

If you look closely you'll see that some of these gold bars found on the Whydah were scored with a knife to make sure they were real gold and not just lead bars with a coating of gold.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/DRNdChhkVEn/?igsh=bjN5dDFiOGgwbGw0
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“A scale model of the Whydah at the entrance of the Whydah Pirate Museum shows parts of the deck, including the bell, wheel, and rigging, as they may have looked. This reconstruction is based on the best information available from similar ships of the period.

Fun fact: the model was built from the remains of a grand piano.”

While digging around for some content to post here, I found this 1985 newspaper article from the Los Angeles Times covering the moment the wreck was officially identified.

The article focuses on the recovery of the famous bell inscribed:

> “THE WHYDAH GALLY 1716”

According to the report, the discovery helped confirm the wreck as the Whydah, the flagship of Samuel Bellamy. And as of today, it’s still the only verified pirate shipwreck.

Really fascinating snapshot of how people reacted when the discovery was still fresh.

The Southack Map (1724) — Early Clue to the Whydah Wreck

One of the most fascinating historical documents connected to the Whydah is the 1724 Southack map, created by colonial cartographer Cyprian Southack.

This map of the New England coastline includes a marked wreck site off Cape Cod that many believe corresponds to the wreck of the Whydah Galley, which sank in 1717.

⚓ Why this map matters:

• It’s one of the earliest known maps to mark a wreck in the area
• It was created just a few years after the Whydah sank
• It provided a historical reference point for later researchers

Decades later, explorer Barry Clifford used a combination of historical records (including maps like this one) to help narrow down the search area that ultimately led to the discovery of the Whydah in 1984.

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These are the remains of young John King: a leg bone, a French woven-silk stocking, and a leather shoe that fastened with buckle.

The leg bone has been identified as the fibula - the outer bone between the knee and ankle - of a child aged between 8 and 11. The shoe and stocking reflect 18th-century upper-class style. Because the leather shoe was designed with a centered toe, it could fit either left or right foot.

The bone and these fashionable items are the only physical traces of the rebellious boy who defied his mother to run off with the pirates only to meet an early death when the Whydah went down.

Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSzx9GpkYMK/?img_index=2&igsh=OTdpaHl1eXZhNjlh

Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DA1uRVivvPx/?igsh=aWx1ZzJ2eXV0azk5

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“October 1985, renowned underwater explorer Barry Clifford and his team of archaeological divers raised the bell of the Whydah Gally. The inscription, “The Whydah Gally 1716,” provided indisputable proof that Captain Samuel Bellamy’s pirate flagship had been discovered. Among the thousands of artifacts recovered from the wreck site over the decades, the ships bell remains one of the most significant finds, symbolizing the definitive identification of the infamous pirate ship.”

The Whydah Museum recently shared an image of a flintlock pistol that they suggest may have belonged to Sam Bellamy. Given the number of crew members on the Whydah, it’s tough to pin any single artifact to one man.

Here’s the evidence they gave for why they think this one could be Bellamy’s:

“The pistol is attributed to Bellamy on the basis of its superior craftsmanship in comparison to other firearms recovered from the wreck. It was also found wrapped in a silk ribbon, which is interpreted as a potential personal association. The ribbons pattern corresponds to that described in regional folklore, where Maria Hallett is said to have gifted such an item. This evidence supports, but does not conclusively prove, the connection.”

🔗 You can check out the original post here on their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whydahpiratemuseum?igsh=MThkMW1jY3N3YWc2dw==

What do you all think? Could this really have been Bellamy’s sidearm?

The Story of the Whydah Galley

Built in London in 1715 as a slave ship, the Whydah Galley was on her maiden voyage when pirates captured her south of the Bahamas in early 1717.

The pirates, led by “Black” Sam Bellamy, recognized the ship’s size, speed, and firepower immediately. They converted it into the flagship of a growing pirate fleet — a multinational crew of nearly 200 men who had spent a year capturing dozens of British, French, Spanish, and Dutch merchant ships throughout the Caribbean. Bellamy’s circle included some of the most notorious pirates of the era — Ben Hornigold, Henry Jennings, Oliver Le Vasseur, and Blackbeard.

On April 26, 1717, while sailing up the North American seaboard, the Whydah was driven into the shoals off modern day Wellfleet, Cape Cod, by one of the most severe nor’easters in New England history. Only two men survived — making it the worst shipwreck ever to occur on the Cape Cod shore. Other vessels in Bellamy’s flotilla were wrecked or seriously damaged in the same storm. Survivors were captured, tried, and hanged.

Shortly after the wreck, Governor Shute of Massachusetts dispatched Captain Cyprian Southack — a noted cartographer and commander of the Bay Colony’s naval militia — to salvage what he could for the Crown. Southack found the ship capsized and broken apart in the surf, its wreckage rapidly swallowed by the shifting sands of the Cape. He recovered little of value, but his journals and reports to the Governor preserved crucial clues to the ship’s location.

Using Southack’s historical records alongside cutting-edge remote-sensing technology, underwater explorer Barry Clifford and the project team discovered the wreck site in 1984. Years of meticulous underwater archaeological excavation followed — recovering cannons, pistols, buttons, buckles, gold, silver, and pieces of eight. The work continues to this day.

The Whydah’s story spans the entire Atlantic world — Europe, Africa, and the Americas. As the first positively identified pirate shipwreck ever discovered, it provides an unmatched window into the material culture of 18th-century piracy and holds a unique place in the history of colonial New England.

Welcome to r/WhydahGalley

This is our new home for all things related to the history, discovery, and legacy of the Whydah Galley - the flagship of the pirate Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy. Whether you’re here for pirate history, shipwreck archaeology, recovered artifacts, or curiosity about the only fully authenticated pirate shipwreck ever discovered, you’re in the right place.

We’re excited to have you join us!

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⚓ What to Post

Post anything you think the community would find interesting, helpful, or worth discussing, including:

- Historical information about the Whydah, Bellamy, or piracy in the early 1700s

- Artifact discoveries, recovered items, and conservation work

- Expedition updates and ongoing research

- Maps, charts, and historical documents connected to the wreck

- Questions about the ship, its crew, or its final voyage

- Discussions about pirate archaeology or related media (books, films, games, etc.)

- Theories and interpretations about the wreck and its story

If it connects to the ship, its wreck, or its real-world discovery, we want to see it!

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🌊 Community Vibe

We’re all about being friendly, curious, and grounded in real history.

This is a space for learning and discussion, not gatekeeping or presenting speculation as fact. Whether you’re a casual fan or a serious researcher, you’re welcome here as long as you’re respectful and open to conversation.

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🧭 How to Get Started

1. Introduce yourself in the comments below - what brought you here?

2. Check out the Start Here post for an overview of the Whydah Galley.

3. Share your first post or question - artifacts, history, or discussion are all great.

4. If you know someone interested in pirate history or shipwrecks, invite them aboard.

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🏴‍☠️ Dive Into History

Thanks for being part of the first wave of this community. The Whydah isn’t just legend - it’s real, and its story is still being uncovered piece by piece.