Member Introductions

[Craig Grella]

Hi, my name is Craig Grella, member #22. I live in Pittsburgh, PA and I’m the Fleet Society’s web admin.

When I first became a Fleet Society member, I knew nothing about sunken ships, recovered treasure, or numismatics. I didn’t even know what the word “numismatics” meant.

After designing the first Fleet Society Website back in 2015 I started learning more about the 1715 Fleet and its history, and through the years have read many books and articles about the Fleet. Now, I consider myself a Fleet enthusiast, and enjoy reading and editing many of the articles and pages on this site!

My day job is creating marketing strategy for SaaS companies, and on the site I created a community and course teaching first time candidates how to run successful campaigns for local elected office. Most times, you can find me here on the Fleet Society website or at CampaignPlanner.org.

• This reply was modified 9 months, 3 weeks ago by  Craig Grella.

[Lenore Wetzel]

Hello! I’m Lenore Wetzel and I’ve worked with the 1715 Fleet Society for a couple of years now. I’m the person to contact if you have any questions, need assistance with anything (really, anything!), or are experiencing technical issues.

[Speg Tacular]

Hello,

I am SpegTacular and/or Jesse. Currently awaiting an assigned member #

I am from New Port Richey, FL and utilize the name Spegtacular on social media to help share my hobbies of coin collecting and precious metals stacking.

I’m fascinating by shipwreck history and hope to learn more each and every day.

[Sal Guttuso]

• Sal Guttuso, member #226
• Madison, Mississippi
• Operations Director for 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC
• First started metal detecting at the age of 10 in the French Quarter of New Orleans

[Matt Lewis]

Hello everyone,

– I’m Lewis (I haven’t received my member number yet).

– Currently living in Misawa, Japan. But I plan on moving back to the Space Coast area in a few years.

– Currently enlisted in the US Air Force.

– I’m designing my first tow-behind sonar system to explore a lake at a WW2 aerial attack/battle site.

[Lenore Wetzel]

Welcome to the Society Matt! Your membership number is #229. ????

[Matt Lewis]

Thank you!

[Dennis Ball]

Hello, I’m Dennis Ball member no. 235. I reside in Kingston, Tn., I grew up in Melbourne,Florida 1954-1969 and as a kid I found small round black/green rocks and skipped them back in the ocean not knowing at the time they were probably silver coins near the site of the McCarty site today. My professional career was of forty seven years service at the Y-12 Nuclear Complex in Oak Ridge, Tn. in various manufacturing/quality and in Human Resources as a Compensation Specialist. I enjoy reading about the history of the 1715 fleet and the discovery of artifacts and visiting the 1715 fleet wreck sites. Looking forward to my membership in The 1715 Fleet Society.

[James D Tingen]

Hello Everyone,

I’m Jim Tingen, joined today so I don’t have a member number yet.

I’m a historian, librarian, and researcher, professionally for 45 years. I retired to Palm Bay, Florida in 2018 and heard that this area was called the “Treasure Coast.” I decided to research and find out why. During that research I read an article that stated that most information about the 1715 Silver Fleet was from amateurs and treasure hunters and that a more scholarly publication was needed. Accordingly, I decided to tackle that history, which I am currently writing. I’ve started with Isabella I and Ferdinand II and the Reconquista of Spain, Columbus appearing before the Catholic Monarchs seeking funds for his planned voyage to find Cipangu (Japan), Hangchow, Quinay (China), and India, the Spanish conquest of the “New World” and the treasure brought from there, the development of the Spanish Treasure Fleets, the lost ships of the Spanish Treasure Fleet, the 1715 Silver Fleet – voyage to Vera Cruz and Cartagena and on to Havana and the Casa de Contratación, the smuggling of treasure, then the fateful journey which ended during a hurricane on Colonial Florida’s east coast, the salvage operations, the pirates, and lastly the treasure hunters and underwater archeology. I have bit off a substantial chew and having fun researching and writing. Currently up to around 400 pages, expect the project to peak out at around 600 pages.

I’d also like to share some of what I’ve discovered through a presentation to the Society. I’m looking forward to being a member of the 1715 Fleet Society.

[DAVID SCHEERES]

Hi,

I’m David Scheeres and live in Pembroke Wales three miles from where Henry VII the first Tudor king was born. I am an inventor; I develop and manufacture machines for recycling plastic waste. This commitment began 50 years ago while diving in the Adriatic Sea. I was appalled to discover a six-foot ‘mountain’ of discarded plastic cups from a tourist ship – a powerful image that ignited my lifelong dedication to responsibly addressing post-consumer plastic waste instead of simply demonising it.

My historical interests run deep. A lifelong numismatist and a 50-year member of the UK Orders and Medals Research Society, I collect ancient coins, British hammered and milled pieces, and some medieval Dutch coins reflecting my ancestry. Although now burnt out on the subject, I’ve also extensively researched Admiral Nelson, drawn to the unique circumstances of his life and times including my own personal circumstances. I could write a dissertation on Nelson and the opening sentence might start “I share the same birthdate as Emma Hamilton and met my wife in Nelson Square….”

My fascination with maritime history, particularly shipwrecks, was shaped by annual travels to the USA. Diving around Key Largo for many years and regular visits to the Mel Fisher Museum solidified this interest. While my own dives in colder waters have yielded no gold only ordnance and some unpleasant finds, the coins at the Mel Fisher Museum interested me. What didn’t interest me was jewellery mounted coins or copies and I’m ashamed to admit in those days I thought “seen one cob, seen them all!”

Decades ago, I was captivated by Fernand Braudel’s seminal work, Civilization and Capitalism, 15th-18th Century. Braudel’s exploration of global economics and long-term historical structures led me down numerous research avenues, especially concerning the HEIC and VOC. This served as a primer for where my interests lie today. The decisive moment came three years ago at the FUN convention when I stumbled across and acquired Peter Jones’ book, Treasure. Since then, relating published papers on marine archaeology and the specific finds of the 1715 Fleet to global economics has fired my interest. I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Society’s website and learning more.

I decided to apply for membership today, an auspicious date, feeling confident that I am following in the footsteps of many esteemed members some of whom I hope to have the pleasure of meeting in the future.