When you think of pirates, you might imagine them burying treasure on a deserted island, marking the spot with an “X” on a map. But how true is this image? In reality, pirates didn’t often bury their treasure. When pirates captured a ship, they would divide the loot among the crew. Pirates preferred to spend their share quickly on fun and exciting things or invest in businesses. They believed in enjoying life in the present rather than saving for the future.
Treasure wasn’t just about gold and jewels. It also included items like food, spices, sugar, and cloth. These things would spoil if buried in the ground. Pirate captains might have received a larger share of the loot, but even they didn’t usually bury their treasure. There’s no real evidence that pirates commonly hid their treasure with maps leading to it.
Some people think pirates buried treasure as a backup plan if they were caught. There are stories of pirates trying to avoid execution by offering to lead their captors to hidden treasure, but these tales were rarely believed. One famous pirate, Captain William Kidd, is said to have buried his treasure. Kidd was initially a privateer, but the government declared him a pirate in 1699. Before his trial in New York, Kidd buried some treasure on Gardiner’s Island with permission from the island’s owner, John Gardner. He hoped to use it as a bargaining tool for his freedom. However, Kidd was found guilty and hanged in England in 1701. His body was displayed as a warning to others.
After John Gardner informed the authorities, Kidd’s treasure was dug up by soldiers from Boston and given to the English crown. The treasure included gold, silver, precious stones, and other valuable items.
So, where did the idea of pirates burying treasure come from? The myth became popular thanks to Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 book “Treasure Island.” Other stories, like “Wolfert Webber” by Washington Irving and “The Gold-Bug” by Edgar Allan Poe, also helped spread this idea. Movies and video games have continued to fuel the myth, but it’s mostly just a fun story.
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Imagine you are a pirate who has just captured a ship full of treasure. Create a map of an imaginary island where you might hide your treasure. Use symbols and a legend to make your map easy to understand. Remember, pirates didn’t really bury their treasure, so think about what you would do with your loot instead!
Gather in small groups and role-play a meeting of a pirate crew deciding how to divide the loot from a recent capture. Discuss what each pirate might want to do with their share. Consider the different types of “treasure” mentioned in the article, like food and spices, and how they might be used or traded.
Choose a famous pirate, such as Captain William Kidd, and research their life and adventures. Create a short presentation or poster to share with the class. Include information about any myths or legends associated with them, and discuss how these stories compare to the reality of pirate life.
Write a diary entry from the perspective of a pirate who has just returned from a successful voyage. Describe the loot you captured and how you plan to spend or use it. Reflect on the idea of enjoying life in the present, as mentioned in the article, and how it influences your decisions.
Participate in a class debate about the myths and realities of pirate life. One side will argue that the romanticized image of pirates is beneficial for storytelling and entertainment, while the other side will argue for the importance of historical accuracy. Use evidence from the article to support your arguments.
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Did pirates really bury their treasure? In movies, we often see pirates burying their treasure, but how common was this in real life? When pirates plundered a ship, the loot was typically shared among the crew. It was unlikely that the crew would trust one another to put their money into a common stash. Once they left the ship, pirates would rather spend their share on immediate pleasures or invest in businesses. Their philosophy was to live for today rather than tomorrow.
Treasure was not just jewels and coins; it also included food, spices, sugar, and cloth, which would have perished quickly if buried in the sand. Pirate captains are especially associated with this image because their share would have been larger, but even then, there is no evidence that it was common for pirates to bury their treasure and have a map with an “X” marking the spot.
Another idea is that buried treasure served as insurance in case a pirate was captured. There are accounts of pirates trying to spare themselves from execution by promising to lead their captors to hidden loot, but they were rarely taken seriously. One such captain said to have buried his treasure was Captain William Kidd. Initially a privateer, his actions led the government to label him a pirate in 1699. Before sailing to New York for his trial, Kidd buried some of his treasure with the permission of the island’s owner, John Gardner, somewhere on Gardiner’s Island, as a bargaining tool for his release. Kidd was ultimately found guilty and hanged in England in 1701. His body was tarred and displayed in a cage as a warning to others.
After John Gardner notified the authorities, Kidd’s treasure was excavated by soldiers from Boston and became property of the English crown. The treasure included a chest of gold, boxes of silver, bars of silver, gold dust, Spanish dollars, rubies, diamonds, candlesticks, and oranges.
So, where does the image of pirates frequently burying treasure come from? Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 book “Treasure Island” helped popularize the myth of pirates burying their treasure and using maps to locate it. Other works of fiction, such as “Wolfert Webber” by Washington Irving and “The Gold-Bug” by Edgar Allan Poe, have also contributed to this idea, as have the many movies and video games that followed. However, it remains just a myth.
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Pirates – People who engage in acts of robbery and violence at sea. – Pirates were feared by sailors during the Golden Age of Piracy in the 17th century.
Treasure – A collection of valuable items such as gold, jewels, or other precious objects. – Many stories tell of pirates hiding their treasure on remote islands.
Buried – Placed underground, often to hide or protect something. – Legends often speak of buried treasure waiting to be discovered by adventurers.
Gold – A precious yellow metal that has been highly valued throughout history. – During the California Gold Rush, thousands of people traveled west in search of gold.
Stories – Narratives or accounts of events, real or fictional, that are shared to entertain or inform. – Ancient stories often include mythical creatures and heroic deeds.
Myth – A traditional story, often involving supernatural beings or events, that explains a natural or social phenomenon. – The myth of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table has been told for centuries.
Adventure – An exciting or unusual experience, often involving exploration or risk. – The novel “Treasure Island” is a classic tale of adventure on the high seas.
Captain – The person in command of a ship or vessel. – Captain Ahab is a famous character from the novel “Moby-Dick,” who is obsessed with hunting a giant whale.
Island – A piece of land surrounded by water. – The mysterious island in “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare is the setting for much of the play’s action.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Learning about history helps us understand how past events have shaped the world today.
