After nearly three centuries submerged in the cold Atlantic, the remains of six pirates from the infamous Whydah Galley have been recovered, offering a tantalizing possibility: one of the skeletons may belong to the legendary captain Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy himself.
The discovery, announced by the Whydah Pirate Museum, marks a significant breakthrough in the ongoing exploration of the only authenticated pirate shipwreck in the world. The skeletal remains were found encased in a concretion — a hardened mass of stone, sand, and marine deposits that formed over centuries on the seafloor off Cape Cod. They are now on public display at the museum in West Yarmouth.
The Whydah Galley met its fate in April 1717 during a violent nor’easter. Of the 146 pirates aboard the stolen vessel, only two survived. One hundred and one bodies washed ashore, while the remaining 43 — including Bellamy — were presumed to have gone down with the ship. Until now, the ocean had guarded their final resting place.
Underwater explorer Barry Clifford, who first located the wreck in 1984, expressed optimism about the find. “We hope that modern, cutting-edge technology will help us identify these pirates and reunite them with any descendants who could be out there,” he said.
A DNA Clue to Pirate Legend
Leading the identification effort is Casey Sherman, who in 2018 located a living descendant of Bellamy in Devonshire, England. The descendant provided a DNA sample for comparison — a critical piece in a puzzle that has remained unsolved for over 300 years.
Investigators are hopeful that the oxygen-poor underwater environment helped preserve genetic material within the 300-year-old bones. A pistol discovered near the remains, believed to have belonged to Bellamy, further fuels speculation that one of the six skeletons could be that of the famed pirate captain.
The team continues to analyze the concretions carefully, as additional artifacts and possibly more remains still lie deep in the Atlantic.
From Slave Ship to Pirate Prize
Before its capture by Bellamy’s crew, the Whydah operated as a slave ship. On its maiden voyage, it had delivered enslaved Africans to Jamaica and was returning to England laden with the proceeds of that grim trade when the pirates seized it.
By the time the storm claimed the vessel, the Whydah carried not only that gold but also treasures plundered from roughly 50 other ships. To date, more than 15,000 coins and numerous artifacts have been recovered from the site.
Among the finds are shackles once used to bind enslaved people — powerful reminders of the ship’s original purpose. Museum officials describe these objects as “living links” to the tragic history of the transatlantic slave trade.
A Different Kind of Democracy at Sea
Clifford and historians note that the Whydah’s story illuminates a complex chapter in maritime history. Roughly one-third of Bellamy’s crew was of African origin. Despite their criminal exploits, many pirate crews of the era practiced a form of egalitarianism uncommon in the rigid societies they left behind.
“Black Sam” Bellamy earned a reputation for treating his men equally regardless of background and for allowing democratic votes on major decisions. “This shipwreck is very sacred ground,” Clifford said. “We know a third of the crew was of African origin and the fact they had robbed the ‘Whydah,’ which was a slave ship, presents them in a whole new light.”
Bellamy’s egalitarian approach, however, was short-lived. His career as a pirate lasted only about a year before the fateful storm ended it in 1717.
Ongoing Treasures from the Deep
As analysis of the newly recovered skeletons continues, the Whydah Pirate Museum and its team remain committed to uncovering more secrets from the wreck. Each artifact and bone fragment adds depth to our understanding of pirate life, the slave trade, and the turbulent world of the high seas in the early 18th century.
For now, the six pirates rest in the museum, their stories emerging after 300 years of silence. Whether advanced science ultimately confirms the identity of Black Sam Bellamy or reveals the personal histories of his crewmates, one thing is certain: the ocean is slowly yielding its long-held secrets, one concretion at a time.