St. Kitts and the Caribbean
Owen Lloyd arrived in the Caribbean on or about November 10, 1750. His first stop was at St. John now in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Days later he buried the majority of the Spanish treasure, which consisted of fifty chests of pieces of eight and two chests of worked silver. From there, Lloyd, his crew, and his treasure were scattered among the islands.
Norman Island. It was here in the British Virgin Islands that Lloyd and his crew buried the treasure stolen from the Spaniards at Ocracoke, North Carolina. Today, legends abound about treasure having been buried on this uninhabited island.
Tortola. Located six miles north of Norman Island in the British Virgin Islands. It was here that officials attempted to recover the treasure buried at Norman Island. Within days of Owen Lloyd’s departure, many of the inhabitants of Tortola had recovered most of the treasure. Later, in 1751, more treasure was discovered in the hands of the people of Tortola.
St. John. Located just west of Norman Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It was here that Lloyd stopped for supplies before he buried his treasure.
St. Thomas. Located in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, this island had the reputation for harboring thieves and pirates. At that time it was owned by Denmark, as was St. John and St. Croix. Governor Christian Suhm likewise gave Owen Lloyd asylum here until he met his untimely end.
St. Croix. Located south of St. Thomas and Norman Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Owen Lloyd stopped here on his way to St. Kitts after burying his treasure at Norman Island. It is highly likely that Lloyd secreted some of the stolen treasure on this island.
Anguilla. A small low lying island with beautiful beaches. Some of the treasure was taken here by William Blackstock, a one-eyed Scotsman who forced his way onto Lloyd’s sloop at Ocracoke, North Carolina. The treasure was seized by the governor, Benjamin Gumbs.
The Caines Plantation, St. Kitts. A prime target for investment in historical tourism.
St. Kitts. Also known as St. Christopher’s, this island is located 130 miles southeast of the British Virgin Islands. This beautiful island was considered the crown jewel of the Caribbean by the English and also called the Mother of the Antilles. St. Kitts was Owen Lloyd’s ultimate destination. It was here that his wife, Christian, was living with her brother, Charles Caines, on the family plantation at Dieppe Bay at the north end of the island. This island became the epicenter for the search for remaining treasure in the Caribbean and the apprehension of Owen Lloyd. It was here that Lt. General Gilbert Fleming, the acting governor of the Leeward Islands, and the attorney general, John Baker, lived. Fleming oversaw the effort to recover and return the treasure to the Spaniards. Basseterre, St. Kitts, is also the burial place for the great grandfather of Robert Louis Stevenson.
St. Eustatius. A Dutch island just north of St. Kitts which was a great trading center for Caribbean produce in the 18th century. Owen Lloyd and some of his crew fled here from St. Kitts to avoid capture, only to be discovered by Governor Johannes Heyliger and imprisoned on Fort Oranje. Lloyd made a daring escape and fled to St. Thomas.
Saba. A small Dutch island west of St. Eustatius. Several of Owen Lloyd’s crew were apprehended here along with their share of the treasure and taken to St. Eustatius. They also escaped with Owen Lloyd.
Antigua. This island was the seat of English government in the Leeward Islands and is located southeast of St. Kitt’s. Some of the treasure recoveries were coordinated at this island.
Montserrat. A volcanic island located south of St. Kitts. Because of rumors that Owen Lloyd had stopped here, English authorities investigated here for more of the stolen treasure.