The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 2, January 14, 2007, Article 26

NUMIS-WORTHY EXCERPT: GEORGE KELWAY'S TREASURE FOUND AND LOST

Author Eric Leighton has agreed to share with E-Sylum readers some
excerpts from his new book "NUmiS WORTHY: Old Numismatic News 1752
to 1800', a compilation of contemporary newspaper reports published
in Nova Scotia.  This piece from the Nova-Scotia Gazette & Weekly
Chronicle, Aug. 29, 1786, copying a report from London, June 7:

"On Wednesday morning as George Kelway a labourer was filling an
old saw pit which had been dug amidst the ruins of a house at Lyme
Regis, in Dorsetshire, he discovered three small oak chests, containing
an immense quantity of gold and silver coin, to the amount, as it is
said, of 2000l. and upwards chiefly of the coinage of Charles I. and II.
and is supposed to have been buried there at the time of the Duke of
Monmouth?s invasion, who landed at or near Lyme in the year 1786*.
[*obviously an original misprint ? EL]

The poor fellow, upon discovering the treasure, immediately loaded
himself home with a part, and informing his landlord of the event,
they both went and took another loading, but unfortunately having taken
too much one of their pockets burst on the way, and the secret being
thereby discovered, all the neighbourhood flew to the spot, and such
a scene of disorder and confusion arose, that it may be litterally said,
to have rolled in money; hats, caps, and every vehicle that could be
procured, overflowed with the golden harvest, and scarce a person was
present who did not reap to the amount of sixty or seventy pounds in
value; even the gleanings were considerable.

Kelway and his partner had secured about 240 pounds weight, but the
next day Kelway, having entrusted the major part of this treasure
(secured in a strong chest) to the care of his landlord, whilst he
went to a neighbouring town to purchase cloath, &c. an artful tinker
found means to defraud the landlord of the whole; and poor Kelway, on his
return home, found himself again reduced to poverty.

The tinker, whose name is Roe, was taken into custody the same day,
and is now confined to Lyme Regis goal, whence he is to be removed to
Dorchester, to take his trial at the next assizes. A great part of the
money has been regained and secured."

 BOOK REVIEW: NUMIS WORTHY - OLD NUMISMATIC NEWS 1752 TO 1800
 esylum_v09n53a03.html

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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