Posted 5 years ago
TreasureTex
(222 items)
Charles Cronea was my 4th great grandfather. My grandfather had this old pulley that he always told me he thought it was passed down the family from his famous multi-great grandfather that worked on a famous ship named Hotspur with Jean Lafitte and a Capt. James Campbell near Beaumont & Galveston Texas. The ship sank in 1820.
I would like to know if this old pulley is actually old enough to have been on that ship in 1820. I included a snip of my family tree where he is located. I have also included a snip of the Historic Marker that tells his story.
This pulley was in better condition without a big crack until our home was flooded from a hurricane and it was under water for two weeks. I am so glad that my grandfather did not see this damage as he was so proud of this old family heirloom.
The memoirs of Cronea, the cabin boy, tell much more about that last voyage. He noted:
"Sometimes a Spaniard would show fight, and our gunners would put a round shot into her. Then you should have heard the Spanish yell and holler at us. They always surrendered quickly after that. Many people think we used to cut throats and make those we captured walk the plank, but that is a d----- lie! I never seed (sic) a single man murdered while I was with Campbell....."
Brass is too soft for pulleys & I see no rust. Metal looks like it may be plated & if so, a lead toward dating. The hook doesn't appear to be hand wrought as I would expect prior to 1850. In short: Me not know, mon !