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The Thomas Beale Mystery Trivia Quiz

A whole group of men disappeared during the 1800's leaving nothing but a strongbox filled with cryptograms. Take the quiz and see if you can someday figure out the Beale mystery.

A multiple-choice quiz by Teej417. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Teej417

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
110,810

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
1130

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Yes/No: Is it a fact that Thomas Beale did exist in the 1800's?

Yes

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Question 2 of 10

2. True/False: There is supposedly 2,921 pounds of gold, 5,100 pounds of silver, and some jewels that the Beale party exchanged gold for in St. Louis buried somewhere in Virginia.

True

False

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Question 3 of 10

3. What were Beale and his party originally travelling west for? Hint

They were a supply wagon train heading west to help out a town that needed food

Treasure seeking

A hunting trip

Settling west

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who did Beale and his men entrust a certain strongbox with? Hint

The town mayor

William Johnson

A local deputy

Robert Morriss

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Question 5 of 10

5. After many failed attempts to decode the messages, who was the mystery then turned over to? Hint

James B. Ward

Beale's only surviving relative

Robert Morriss

A relative of one of Beale's party members

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Question 6 of 10

6. After many years, a man named Ward managed to solve the 2nd cypher. What did he match the numbers in the cypher with to decode it and what did the cipher say? Hint

He used the Constitution and it gave a location of the treasure.

He used the Articles of Confederation and it listed everything piece of treasure they had recovered.

He used the Bible and it gave names of all the relatives of the party.

He used words from the Declaration of Independence and it gave a description of the treasure.

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Question 7 of 10

7. Yes/No: Did Ward ever decipher the other two coded messages?

Yes

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. What is the first message supposed to be comprised of? Hint

None of these.

A description of the treasure.

The location of the treasure.

A list of relatives of the Beale party.

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. What is the third message believed to be comprised of? Hint

None of these.

A list of relatives of the Beale party.

A location of the treasure.

A description of the treasure.

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. How many men were in Beale's party? Hint

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Yes/No: Is it a fact that Thomas Beale did exist in the 1800's?

Answer: No

There is no solid evidence that Beale ever existed during that time period in Virginia.

2. True/False: There is supposedly 2,921 pounds of gold, 5,100 pounds of silver, and some jewels that the Beale party exchanged gold for in St. Louis buried somewhere in Virginia.

Answer: True

In 1982 it was estimated to be worth 30 million dollars. They exchanged the gold for jewels in St. Louis so their treasure would be easier to travel with.

3. What were Beale and his party originally travelling west for?

Answer: A hunting trip

They were hunting and stumbled upon the hidden stash of gold and silver. When they went back to Virginia, they told a man there that they were going back for more but were never heard from again.

4. Who did Beale and his men entrust a certain strongbox with?

Answer: Robert Morriss

Willaim Johnson was a made up name and had no part in this mystery at all.

Beale instructed Morriss to open the box in 10 years. Morriss was true to his word and ended up opening it 23 years later. The contents were some instructions and a series of cryptograms. Beale never returned to decode them or give Morriss the key to decoding them.

5. After many failed attempts to decode the messages, who was the mystery then turned over to?

Answer: James B. Ward

Ward spent his entire life trying to solve these three cyphers.

6. After many years, a man named Ward managed to solve the 2nd cypher. What did he match the numbers in the cypher with to decode it and what did the cipher say?

Answer: He used words from the Declaration of Independence and it gave a description of the treasure.

The treasure was said to be buried 6 feet under ground in iron pots. It also listed all of the treasure they had uncovered.

7. Yes/No: Did Ward ever decipher the other two coded messages?

Answer: No

He wasted his entire life tring to decode them. He gave a warning to all other treasure hunters to not let the mystery take control of your life. The original copies of the letters were burned in a house fire but copies had been made.

8. What is the first message supposed to be comprised of?

Answer: The location of the treasure.

It is said to give exact directions to a location in Virginia where the treasure is now located.

9. What is the third message believed to be comprised of?

Answer: A list of relatives of the Beale party.

If this could be decoded we may be able to figure out if Beale did exist or not by finding some of his living relatives.

10. How many men were in Beale's party?

Answer: 30

Every single one of them disappeared when they went back out for more treasure. Some people believe that they were attacked by Native Americans. Others say they were stranded and either killed by animals or by the weather. Perhaps we will never know.

Source: Author Teej417

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor spanishliz before going online.
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