A Possible Assemblage of Items
Belonging to an Aristocratic Female Passenger

     The Summer of 2001 saw a unique grouping of objects recovered by the crew of the M/V Gold Duster from the Corrigans site. This site is suspected to be the Capitana of the New Spain Fleet of 1715. If true, this vessel was known at the time of her sinking as the Santo Cristo de San Roman. This grouping of items when taken separately is not all that remarkable, however, when viewed (with the aid of our new mapping programs) in their relational context, a different picture emerges.

     The interpretation of these artifacts and their relationships was facilitated by the computer aided mapping technology developed and employed by the Mel Fisher Center in Sebastian, Florida. This technology allows a researcher to turn on and off "layers" of different materials (i.e. bone, glass, silver, ceramic etc.) It also allows for a close examination of small sections of a wreck site. This is extremely important in that the 1715 Fleet is a series of highly dispersed sites, some stretching over miles of ocean bottom.

     Initial clues as to the affiliation of this group or artifacts presented themselves (1) The same salvage vessel found all of the objects. (2) Two of the objects are unique in the known collection. (3) Their proximity to each other. (4) A uniform distance from the mean low water line indicative of a dispersal from one "package".

      The suspected grouping of six items found this year include:

• 49010 silver nail file shaped object
• 49003 silver dog collar
• 48457 silver ornate thimble
• 48462 silver spoon
• 47963 copper ring
• 47966 silver bowl piece

     We can now see, due to using our mapping program, that these objects were recovered a very uniform distance from the mean low water line and that they follow the general dispersal pattern of the known site. (see figure 50) The small dog collar # 49003, the possible hair ornament # 49010 and the ornate thimble all speak of a wealthy female passenger aboard this ill - fated ship. Small lap dogs were a popular item of the gentry of this period and the size of the collar would indicate such an animal. The fact that it is embossed with a family crest that links it to the family of a Marquis is a strong indicator that the person was one who enjoyed high social standing.

     The Silver mystery object #49010 has a "nail file" shape and is yet another compelling piece. As yet we have no firm idea of the function of this object, although the more one looks at it, the more it resembles objects that were once used in the extremely elaborate hair styles of the period. It may have also been a devise for securing or unfastening a corset or perhaps an elaborate cloak pin.

Figure: 50 - Chart showing proximity and uniform distance from shore of the objects possibly belonging to an aristocratic female passenger
















     In any case it is embossed on one side with a set of initials "DFL". No correlation with any of the documents extant has yet been made, I would hazard a guess that the "D" in the "DFL" stands for "Doña" the Spanish honorific for a lady.

     One of the objects that so obviously relates to gender is the ornate silver thimble. This small object conveys volumes of information about the activities of an aristocratic woman. Needlework was very much one of the pursuits of ladies of this time period. This is not to be confused with the more prosaic task of mending clothing or sewing. This is the same activity that ladies in medieval European courts would undertake to pass the hours in the day. One of the foremost surviving examples of this type of craft is the Bayeux tapestry which chronicles the invasion of England by Norman Forces in 1066. Certainly, a female passenger would keep this item close at hand to while away the hours on a long journey such as this fleet was undertaking.

     The silver spoon may be incidental to the rest of the collection, however, a silver candlestick base and silver religious medallion were found in the same area in earlier years. These may all constitute the collection of one individual.

     Using these new programs we may now be able to make attempts at a survey of activity areas aboard these vessels where women were a part of the shipboard life. Perhaps this can assist in studying the role of gender aboard these vessels, since aside from knowing that there were women on board these vessels, we know very little of how they spent their days.