Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-09-20
From the Camden Herald).
Ancient Coins Discovered in APP
DletOn,-A $4,000 Nest.

Spending few days in Appleton recently,
learned the following facts: Some time in Aug.
last, an aged man named John Humphrey died
here, aged about SO years. He was universally
known as a very misery man, and it was sup
posed that he had more or less hard money
creted about the premises of his homestead. This
supposition was founded on the fact that some IS
years ago Cyrus Simmons, late of Rockland, a
carpenter, while building house for Mr.. Hum
phrey, found about $500 in hard money, secreted
among some lumber stored ia Mr.. Humphreys
barn, preparatory to building his house. This
money was claimed by and no doubt belonged to
Mr.. II. This fact being generally known, the
supposition that more money was somewhere Sc
GREETED was very reasonable. Mr.. Humphrey was
formerly halter, and in all probability accumu-
lated quite a property, to which he afterwards
make considerable additions by the gradual gains
OF products sold from his farm.
Some eight years since he contracted with Sam
uel Ripley. ESQ.,, to take his farm and provide
support for himself and wife during their lives.
Mr.. Ripley feeling satisfied that there must be
money somewhere secreted, Immediately after
the death of the old gentleman commenced Wig
orous search for the supposed treasures, and was
literally rewarded Tor his search, by finding Sc
GREETED in an old desk two sacks filed with double
eagles of gold $50 each) to the amount Of $500
in each sack. There was also found in an old
sink, laid away in an old unoccupied closet, other
parcels, filled with silver coins, many of them Of
ancient date and mostly foreign coin; among
them many five franc pieces ian old French coin)
aud also Mexican dollars and Spanish coin.
Mrs Humphrey, widow of the late John Hum
phrey, still survives him, but is so infrm and i'm
beetle as to be unable to care for herself and so
unconscious and idiotc as to know nothing Of the
past. AS there are no children or other heirs of
course no one questions the right of Mr.. Ripley
| to large possession of this new found treasure.
The whole amount thus far discovered is some
where between $4,000 and $4,000. i saw some of
this coin at the house of Andrew Wentworth,
Esq, whose guest was awhile, and it is really a
curiosity and financial treat to look at and han
die it. / learned from good authority that Mr..
Humphrey denied himself and wife Of even the
comforts of life, in order to crafty his misery
disposition to horde up his earnings or savings.
| also learned, as quoted from Mr.. Humphrey, that
he first saw his wife in store trying to drive a
very sharp trade with the merchant, and discover
| ing such a sharp, shrewd business tact that he
said to himself: THAT is the girl for mel" and
Immediately commenced cultvating an intimacy
with her, that resulted in a marriage union Of
their efforts to get and horde their earnings and,
no doubt, In her days Of consciousness she knew
where these treasures were secrcted. 1t is said
that in their marriage contract many sipulations
were made and agreed to, on both sides Part
was "Never to boil any meat that could be fried"
Thus this singular couple have lived, and thus has
passed away enc of them, leaving the other be-
hind to follow soon. j. X. BOWLER.