The 18th century was the "golden age" of piracy, and captain "Black Sam" Bellamy was the best known of all the pirates of the "seven seas.
"Black Sam' by Bellamy
All his sea robberies made him, apart from his fame, acquire considerable assets, which also guaranteed him the title of the richest. Archaeologists have found the treasures of the sea's villain, and the value has been estimated at more than $120 million!
Pirate burial
On the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the largest pirate burial site in America was found. The remains of 102 people were thrown away by the Whydah ship, which sank at the beginning of 1717. There are many reasons to believe that they belong to Black Sam and his crew.
Decorative weaponry
Next to one of the skeletons, a unique pistol with ornament was found. According to historical records, such weapons belonged to the king of pirates. As Black Sam's offspring live in the UK, research is ongoing to confirm the identity of the pirate.
Charismatic villain
Bellamy gained fame because of his kindness and charisma, not because of his brutality, as one might think. The wreck of his ship (Whydah) was discovered in 1984. However, the pirate crew suffered a tragic fate. During a storm the ship sank off the coast of Massachusetts.
Honest evildoer
The Whydah crew consisted of 146 people of different origins. There was no room for prejudice on the Bellami ship, and the pirate itself was an extremely honest and democratic captain. He allowed many things to be decided by his companions and shared his wealth with others.
Reliable evidence
Although the ship went to the bottom with most of the crew, two men managed to survive. About the indigenous Americans John Julian's trace disappeared, but the Welsh man Thomas Davis was brought to justice for the sea robberies. Thanks to his testimony, so much is known about the king of pirates.