Ship's Bell (A#4579)
The October 1985 discovery of the ship’s bell conclusively authenticated Barry Clifford’s discovery of the Whydah.
The ship’s bell can be considered “the heart and soul” of a ship insofar as its central role in regulating life aboard ship is concerned.It called sailors to work, to rest, to meals, and to battle stations. As a symbol of authority aboard merchant and naval ships, it summoned the crew aft to hear the captain's orders.
The Whydah bell, however, was found in that portion of the wreck site that corresponding to the bow area of the vessel—traditionally considered the “territory” of the crew. This may have been a sign that the pirates considered authority to rest in the hands of the crew.
Aboard the Whydah, the bell therefore may have summoned men forward to the common council where each man had an equal voice “in affairs of moment.”
Study reveals that the bell may have been manufactured at the foundry of Evan Evans at Chepstow in Monmouthshire. It appears to have been hung stationary from a bracket frame. A lanyard was probably attached to a ring on the end of an iron bar behind the clapper ball. By pulling the lanyard, the clapper would then strike the inside of the bell itself. Rope found concreted to the wooden cross-piece may be part of this lanyard.
The date “1716” indicates that Captain Prince may have commissioned it to commemorate the Whydah’s successful maiden voyage the previous year.
Archeologist at work at the Sea Lab
