There are many islands in the world that claim to be the repository of treasure, but none have the incontrovertible evidence to support such claims – except one; Norman Island in the BVI.
Facts tell us that 55 chests of silver coins were snatched by pirates and sailed to the Caribbean. The treasure was part of a large cargo from a Spanish galleon, Nuestra Senhora de Guadelupe, which had departed from Havana, Cuba bound for Spain. The year was 1750 and on August 29th a hurricane struck the fleet as it sailed northwards up the east coast of America and led to the demise of the galleon Guadelupe. She ended up as a wreck on the coast of North Carolina at Ocracoke Inlet – still holding the valuable cargo. The desperate Spanish Captain Bonilla was trying to make arrangements to secure the cargo and transship it to Spain when two bilanders sailed into the anchorage. After lengthy negotiations it was agreed to move the cargo aboard these two vessels guarded by Spanish crew. However, the Englishmen, who for years had had grievances against the Spaniards, sailed away with the cargo instead.
One of the bilanders, the Mary, captained by the peg-legged John Lloyd ran aground and he and his crew were captured by the Spaniards. The other vessel the Seaflower, captained by Zebulon Wade and a crew of 14 made a clean getaway and sailed south to Norman Island in the British Virgin Islands.
There were 55 chests of pieces of eight – silver dollars, as well as cochineal, indigo, vanilla, tobacco, skins and hides. The silver was divided between Lloyd and Wade who got five chests each. Most of the other cargo stayed aboard but the remaining 45 chests of silver were divided amongst the crew. Nearly all this treasure was offloaded on Norman Island and buried.
While this nefarious activity was going on, a Thomas Wallis sailed into the Bight and came up alongside the Seaflower to make enquiries and to remind Lloyd that correct protocol was to enter the territory at a recognised port. As soon as Wallis left, Lloyd weighed anchor and headed to neighbouring St Thomas.
The word spread on Tortola that treasure had been landed on Norman Island and soon many boat owning inhabitants arrived and started to dig up and seize parts of the loot.
On the 22nd of November, Gilbert Fleming, Lieutenant Governor of the Leeward Islands, whose authority included the territory now known as the British Virgin Islands, sailed to Norman Island with the support of two companies of marines to post a proclamation to recover the treasure. It stated that a third of any treasure returned would be allowed to be retained by the giver. An amount of only $20,429 was received, leaving nearly $180,000 unaccounted for.
Over the preceding years stories have been told of the treasure’s whereabouts. On the leeward side of the southwestern promontory there are caves accessible only from the water. It is believed that here a treasure chest was found by a Mr H.O. Creque.
As recently as 2016 a long-time sailing instructor and charter boat captain, told the following story:
I was on a charter at the popular ‘Caves’ at Norman Island, guiding the guests on a snorkeling expedition at the entrance to the southern-most cave when I saw a piece of coral with a pronounced arc. Back at the boat I managed to chip away at the coral until a coin emerged. I had the coin valued in Canada where I was told it was a piece of eight, from the late 1600s to early 1700s and was worth up to US$4,300.
There is compelling evidence that Robert Louis Stevenson used many facts from the Norman Island treasure story for his perennial favourite Treasure Island.
A visit to Norman Island and the Treasure Caves as well as the nearby Indians should be on every visitor’s ‘must do’ list.
