piratediver
Sr. Member
29 May 2009
Ormskirk man could make millions after discovering historic shipwreck
An Ormskirk marine explorer stands to make millions of pounds after discovering the site of one of the most significant shipwrecks in British history.
Joe McCormack, 68, and his team of divers believe they have found what is left of a French vessel loaded with 426 tonnes of gold intended to help Bonnie Prince Charlie’s rebellion in 1746.
Their path to the discovery began 29 years ago when Joe was teaching his twin teenage sons to dive off the Anglesey coast.
His son Kevin found what they thought was a dress button but was later proved to be a priceless artefact, the ring seal of Mary Queen of Scots.
“It was an accidental find,” he said.
“We were just swimming and looking at different wreck sites. I was teaching my sons to dive and Kevin found the ring seal by a fluke.
“For six years it was left in a drawer because we just thought it was a dress button from a uniform.”
Eventually Joe had the disc examined by experts, who soon revealed its value.
“Mary Queen of Scots was Bonnie Prince Charlie's great-great-grandmother and our theory is that the seal was a 'token of authenticity' carried by an emissary on the relief vessel to demonstrate his credentials on meeting the Prince,” said Joe.
“It would have given the bearer an irrefutable badge of authority and proof to Charles that the ship's crew were genuine and not agents of the English Government.”
Joe and his son Kevin have now embarked on a five year project to bring the priceless haul to the surface.
“If this is right we are talking about billions of pounds,” he said.
“It was the largest shipment of gold ever recorded and the only person who could have put that together was the most powerful man on earth, Louis XV of France, and his friend was the Pope and we are talking about a Catholic war.
“The money was to pay wages, buy food, arms and shelter, not for a couple of weeks but for two years.
“We are not talking in terms of millions of pounds or billions, we are talking about tonnes. 426 tonnes of gold.
“Every member of this diving team will be a millionaire.”
He intends to donate Mary Queen of Scots’ ring seal to the Culloden museum, at the site of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s downfall.
“In historical terms it is priceless, it could be worth £1 million or £2 million but we are going to give it to the museum because it belongs to the Scottish people, it is their history
Pirate Diver
Ormskirk man could make millions after discovering historic shipwreck
An Ormskirk marine explorer stands to make millions of pounds after discovering the site of one of the most significant shipwrecks in British history.
Joe McCormack, 68, and his team of divers believe they have found what is left of a French vessel loaded with 426 tonnes of gold intended to help Bonnie Prince Charlie’s rebellion in 1746.
Their path to the discovery began 29 years ago when Joe was teaching his twin teenage sons to dive off the Anglesey coast.
His son Kevin found what they thought was a dress button but was later proved to be a priceless artefact, the ring seal of Mary Queen of Scots.
“It was an accidental find,” he said.
“We were just swimming and looking at different wreck sites. I was teaching my sons to dive and Kevin found the ring seal by a fluke.
“For six years it was left in a drawer because we just thought it was a dress button from a uniform.”
Eventually Joe had the disc examined by experts, who soon revealed its value.
“Mary Queen of Scots was Bonnie Prince Charlie's great-great-grandmother and our theory is that the seal was a 'token of authenticity' carried by an emissary on the relief vessel to demonstrate his credentials on meeting the Prince,” said Joe.
“It would have given the bearer an irrefutable badge of authority and proof to Charles that the ship's crew were genuine and not agents of the English Government.”
Joe and his son Kevin have now embarked on a five year project to bring the priceless haul to the surface.
“If this is right we are talking about billions of pounds,” he said.
“It was the largest shipment of gold ever recorded and the only person who could have put that together was the most powerful man on earth, Louis XV of France, and his friend was the Pope and we are talking about a Catholic war.
“The money was to pay wages, buy food, arms and shelter, not for a couple of weeks but for two years.
“We are not talking in terms of millions of pounds or billions, we are talking about tonnes. 426 tonnes of gold.
“Every member of this diving team will be a millionaire.”
He intends to donate Mary Queen of Scots’ ring seal to the Culloden museum, at the site of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s downfall.
“In historical terms it is priceless, it could be worth £1 million or £2 million but we are going to give it to the museum because it belongs to the Scottish people, it is their history
Pirate Diver
