618 A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



" The Deposition of Mr. Joseph Ming of Cooper's Island, being 

 the south east point of the Island of Bermuda, who deposeth and 

 sayth:" "That there hath been ever since his time a great discourse 

 in these Islands, by the antient Inhabitants, that a great treasure 

 hath been hid in this said Coopers Island and likewise that the marks 

 and signe of it were three yallovv wood trees, that stood tryangular, 

 upon one of w'ch was a plate of brass nailed, and on the other were 

 severall names or letters cutt thereon, and that this depont with some 

 others to his assistance did about two years since endeavour to dis- 

 cover this treasure by digging in a peece of ground lying in the 

 center of this tryangle of trees, for five or six dayes, but mett with 

 noe success therein, soe grew soe tired and left off, not being able 

 nor willing to bestowe any longer time or paines, therein, although 

 the ground was very easye to digg, and that the place they digged 

 was foure or five yards square. And this depont further sayth that 

 by the report of old standers on this Island about fifty yeares since, 

 one Capt. Seymour did cutt down one of the three trees aforesaid, 

 on which was the plate and cross, which was designed by the said 

 Carjt'n Seymour to be sent home for England, to the proprietors of 

 these Islands, which tree was carryed to the water side and fastened 

 with a rope to a boate and towing it away the rope broke and the 

 tree sunke immediately and could not be recovered without too 

 much trouble and charge, and still remaines where it sunke, and hath 

 been often seen by severall persons (and this depont hath seen the 

 said tree within four or five j^ears). And this depont further sayth 

 that his grandfather had an extraordinary confidence of finding 

 great treasures here from the satisfacon of the tradition and markes 

 here found, upon which about sixty yeares since this deponts grand- 

 father* went for England and made his application to the proprie- 

 tors to purchase this said Coopers Island and carried with him a 

 considerable quantity of Ambergreece and presented the proprietors 

 with a good part thereof,f upon which the proprietors offered him 



* His grandfather was Christopher Carter. 



f Governor Butler, about 1624, gave an account of this transaction which is 

 quite different, as follows : 



"He [Carter] at his time by infinite importunitie, in recompenee thereof, 

 received of the Company in gift for three lives (who found that he began to 

 undertake some dangerous courses, by the counsell of some wiser than himselfe) 

 a small Hand called Coopers ; but with such cuninge conditions, one whereof 

 Avas to keepe continually a certaine number of resident men upon it, to be upon 

 all occasions at the service of Pembroke Fort, which stands ther (the forte with 

 the appurtenances being neverthelesse excepted from him) as let the world 

 knowe, bothe how well they could laye about for themselves, and with what a 

 foole they had then to deale withall." 



