Wow. So many questions!..
1) Kidd took several prizes, but captured only o̲n̲e̲ 'Treasure ship". Yes, I believe the Quedagh Merchant is the primary source of Kidd's treasure.
2) The concept of treasure charts has been around for centuries. Treasure Island was released in 1883. And "treasure hunting" has Always been fashionable!
3) That reference is from: "Kidd, the Search for His Treasure" by George Edmunds, page 11.
Note: I never thought or insinuated that Kidd had or hid any treasure before his privateering mission in 1696.
4) Kidd's pirate hunt was over and he headed for home on the Quedagh (or Adventure Prize) in October of 1698.
5) (17th Century) Which is harder to believe?, that Palmer found four treasure charts, from objects obtained from four different sources, ..Or that four mischievous hoaxters drew (and then secretly hid) charts with the same island outline and details on vintage parchment with period ink to help sell a second hand desk and some wooden chests?
5A) As far as I know (re: your pics), only the picture frame and the chest shown with Palmer are attributed to Kidd.
I think that the skulls and dates were probably carved by later owners.
6) Bellomont's agents were looking for treasure. While they do have some value, consumer goods are not treasure.
7) Number CLA/035 is just a London prison policy prefix. Kidd spent 22 months in jail before being executed. Please clarify your question and I will answer it.
Hola amigo
Wow. So many questions!..
Sorry amigo! Many questions get better understanding of answers.
1) Kidd took several prizes, but captured only o̲n̲e̲ 'Treasure ship". Yes, I believe the Quedagh Merchant is the primary source of Kidd's treasure.
( Okay So Captain Kidds rebellious crew that most of them deserted and left him bury treasure by himself then without them having a cut? Then he made four maps and place them in furniture that may or may not been on the captured Quedagh Merchant?) You see the cargo manifest below written BY Captain Kidd himself.
Close-up of Kidd’s testimony to Bellomont and the details of the ship and its cargo. (Courtesy: The National Archives(UK)fol. 1977) below.
2) The concept of treasure charts has been around for centuries. Treasure Island was released in 1883. And "treasure hunting" has Always been fashionable!
( Treasure island was the example all academic use as first concept of a treasure but sadly in their cognitive bias they for get other treasure maps surface long before then. ) But by the late 19th early 20th century there was explosion of old salts wanting to flog treasure maps.
3) That reference is from: "Kidd, the Search for His Treasure" by George Edmunds, page 11.
(Okay that explains a lot. thank you! )
Note: I never thought or insinuated that Kidd had or hid any treasure before his privateer mission in 1696.
( Then why has some charts have 1669 WK on them? )
4) Kidd's pirate hunt was over and he headed for home on the Quedagh (or Adventure Prize) in October of 1698.
( So as he sailed home he concocted a plan to hide maps when he had a date with hangman?)
5) (17th Century) Which is harder to believe?, that Palmer found four treasure charts, from objects obtained from four different sources, ..Or that four mischievous hoaxters drew (and then secretly hid) charts with the same island outline and details on vintage parchment with period ink to help sell a second hand desk and some wooden chests?
( Its not the antiques was never the issue. it was context they have been presented by the four people you refer too. Mrs Elizabeth Dick, Palmer, Wilkins, Furneaux. Who all had their own agenda and reasons why they wanted to promote kidds maps. ) Both authors wanted to flog their books and captain Kidd was well known popular subject. And discovery of chart would get more sales of their books. Palmer was indeed a solicitor but most of his wealth came from his father Frederick Palmer a wealthy land owner. See 1891 senses below
Palmer a retired solicitor means nothing when it comes to honesty. Some of the most corrupt people I know are solicitors. But yes I can confirm he was solicitors from Two sources
He retired he acquired these item and passed them off as belonging to Captain Kidd. His reasons Well rightly or wrongly it was his 15 seconds of fame in life. He is forever known as the discoverer of Kidd's charts. Regard less if they are fake or not.
Wilkins believed in the story hook line and sinker. it was his big story Furthermore, contrary to what is widely claimed, Wilkins was on very good terms with Palmer during the period 1932-1942. The war, and Palmer's growing senility, caused them to draw apart. And perhaps the realization he had been hoodwinked by Palmer? But it was too late for Wilkins as credibility was on the line.
For Rupert Furneaux his research was centered on Oak island and at least he made some dubious efforts to get to the truth. He did not have a good impression of Wilkins. Saying Wilkins was deluded.
Palmer's nurse/housekeeper, Mrs. Elizabeth Dick. It should be borne in mind that Palmer was suffering from dementia in the period Mrs. Dick knew him. She inherited Palmers estate faced with 20 percent death duties being a non relative she was forced to sell his pirate collection and his items fake or real ? It was in her own best interest to get as much for them as possible.
Here is Palmer's probate.
When she sold the items she changed the house into three flats giving her and income. The house is still there today converted into three flats at 22 Granvillve road Eastbourne.
Here you can see inside some of Palmer's residence now three 3 bedroom flats on three levels.
5: As far as I know (re: your pics), only the picture frame and the chest shown with Palmer are attributed to Kidd.
I think that the skulls and dates were probably carved by later owners.
( It is possible but it still a speculation? Perhaps Palmer himself was trying pass off another found item.?The attributed writing is suspiciously look like Palmer's)
6) Bellomont's agents were looking for treasure. While they do have some value, consumer goods are not treasure.
(Silks was highly prized and worth a lot of money. the Quedagh Merchant was carrying trade goods. it was not on a pilgrimage carrying large amounts of gold. It was trade vessel. It had some gold and some money but no where near the amount Kidd claimed. In April 1696, a group of Armenian merchants hired the 350-ton Quedagh Merchant, owned by an Indian man named Coirgi. Operating out of Surat in north-western India, the Armenians were assisted by Augun Peree Callendar, a local English East India Company representative who freelanced to help supplement his income.
In one year alone three ships based out of Surat, the major trading port of the powerful Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and also the largest trading post of the English, had been looted by the British “privateers” and the nobleman Muklis Khan’s complaint to the Emperor could have cost the British their trading post (and ended the British Raj before it even began!). Also, Capt. Kidd, a Scot was, to the English, expendable.
( I suggest you look in the correspondance of Britsh east india archives.)
7) Number CLA/035 is just a London prison policy prefix. Kidd spent 22 months in jail before being executed. Please clarify your question and I will answer it.
( Okay have you looked in the archive of the London museum for records of Captain kidd's effects from Newgate prison? )
Another key point the most telling of all When those maps came up for sale in the 1950's the British Museum that allegedly verified them never put a bid in for them? In 2012 those items alleged to have been captain kidd's artifacts never bought by the British Museum either? That says a lot amigo on what they thought of them?
As many know here nothing is simple with these treasure legends as they have been constantly polluted with truths half turths and outright lies to fit proples pet agendas.
If you really want to seriously find treasure amigo? Pick up all the 20th century treasure hunting books and tip them in the bin. They are for good for entertainment and campfire yarns but not to be relied on.
I am sorry, to base an hypothesis on any alleged charts connected to Kidd is just recipe for failure.
Crow
