The Search for Pirate Gold

Barry Clifford grew up on Cape Cod in the 1950s and 1960s. He heard about the Whydah from his uncle Bill. 

Uncle Bill knew all about Bellamy. He knew about the bags of gold and silver. He knew about that killer storm. 

Young Barry often stared out at the ocean. He wondered: What happened to the treasure?

Many people said the treasure was gone. They said that after the storm, people had swum out to the shipwreck. They took all the gold and silver. 

Uncle Bill did not agree. He thought the treasure was still out there. Barry believed him. And when Barry grew up, he wanted to prove that his uncle was right. Barry was a good diver, and he knew the waters of Cape Cod. 

But first he had to figure out where the Whydah had sunk.

Barry Clifford grew up on Cape Cod. It was the 1950s and 1960s. His Uncle Bill told him about the Whydah.

Uncle Bill knew all about Bellamy. He knew about the bags of gold and silver. He knew about the storm.

Young Barry wondered what happened to the treasure.

People said the treasure was gone. They said people had swum out to the shipwreck. They took all the gold and silver.

Uncle Bill did not agree. He thought the treasure was still there. Barry believed him. When Barry grew up, he wanted to prove that his uncle was right.

Barry was a good diver. He knew the waters of Cape Cod.

But first he had to figure out where the Whydah had sunk.

Barry Clifford grew up on Cape Cod in the 1950s and 1960s. He heard about the Whydah from his uncle Bill. 

Uncle Bill knew all about Bellamy. He knew about the bags of gold and silver. He knew about that killer storm. 

Young Barry often stared out at the ocean and wondered—what happened to the treasure?

Many people said the treasure was gone. They said that after the storm, people had swum out to the shipwreck and taken all the gold and silver.

Uncle Bill did not agree. He thought the treasure was still out there. Barry believed him and when Barry grew up, he wanted to prove that his uncle was right.

Barry was a good diver and had knowledge of the waters of Cape Cod. 

But first he had to figure out where the Whydah had sunk.

It is hard to find sunken treasure. Barry had to do research. He went to libraries for information. He studied old maps. He wanted to find clues to where the ship sank. 

After many months of work, Barry was ready to search underwater. He needed special tools and a crew. This would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. People heard about his goal and gave him money. 

In May 1983, Barry and his crew began exploring. But they didn’t find any treasure. 

They searched for four months. Then the cold weather and rough seas made it too 

risky to continue. The crew became grumpy. Some quit. Maybe Uncle Bill was wrong after all. 

It is hard to find treasure in the ocean. Barry needed to find clues. He had to do research. He went to libraries. He studied old maps. 

Finally, Barry was ready to search underwater. He needed special tools. He needed a crew. It would cost money. It would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. People heard about his goal. They gave him money.

In May 1983, Barry and his crew began exploring. But they didn’t find any treasure.

They searched for four months. The weather was the cold. The rough seas made it too risky to continue. The crew became grumpy. Some quit. Maybe Uncle Bill was wrong after all.

It is hard to find sunken treasure so Barry had to do research. He went to libraries for information and studied old maps. He searched for clues to where the ship sank. 

After many months of work, Barry was ready to search underwater. He needed special tools and a crew, but it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. People heard about his goal and donated money. 

In May 1983, Barry and his crew began exploring, but they didn’t find any treasure.

They searched for four months, but then the cold weather and rough seas made it too risky to continue. The crew became grumpy, some even quit. Maybe Uncle Bill was wrong after all.

Barry’s crew has salvaged more than 200,000 items from the Whydah. To salvage something is to save it from being destroyed. 

They have found gold and silver coins. They have found jewelry. They have found plates. They have found a big bronze bell. They have even found shoes! 

In 1998, they found the ship’s wooden hull, or frame. Barry believes many more items are still underwater. 

Barry owns all the treasure. 

It could be worth as much as $400 million. He could sell it.

But Barry has decided not to sell the treasure. He wants people to understand the Whydah’s history. Many of the items are shown at the Whydah Pirate Museum on Cape Cod.

Barry says finding the Whydah was never about making money. It was about making a dream come true—and about proving his uncle Bill right.

Barry’s crew has saved more than 200,000 items from the Whydah. 

They have found gold and silver coins. They have found jewelry and plates. They have found a big bronze bell. They even found shoes!

In 1998, they found the ship’s wooden hull, or frame. Barry thinks there are still items underwater.

Barry owns all the treasure. 

It could be worth as much as 400 million. He could sell it.

But Barry has decided not to sell it. He wants people to understand the Whydah’s history. There is now a Whydah Pirate Museum on Cape Cod. Many of the items are there. 

Barry says finding the Whydah was never about making money. It was about making a dream come true. 

It was about proving his uncle Bill right. 

Barry’s crew has salvaged, or saved, more than 200,000 items from the Whydah.

They have found gold and silver coins. They have found jewelry, plates and a big bronze bell. They have even found shoes!

In 1998, they found the ship’s wooden hull, or frame. Barry believes many more items are still underwater.

Barry owns all the treasure, and it's worth as much as $400 million. He could sell it.

But Barry has decided not to sell the treasure. He wants people to understand the Whydah’s history, and many of the items are shown at the Whydah Pirate Museum on Cape Cod. 

Barry says finding the Whydah was never about making money. It was about making a dream come true—and about proving his uncle Bill right.