Savannah morning news., 1886-05-08
JOHN srUA1p's BURIED GOLD.
The Lucky Find By the Tenant OF an
old Maryland Msnsions

From tts Neso Torh World.
HAvRE DE GRACE. Nd, May 1.-W hen
old John Stump died in the early part OF
the present century at his home at Stafford,
ten miles north of this place, bis heirs
were surprised that they did not find piles
of glittering gold slowed away in the lit
tie iron safe in which it was thought
that he had been heaping thousands for
| years. Instead they found bundles OF
I mortgages. deeds, promissory notes and
! other papers which certified his fortune
to be 100000. Satisfied with this snug
inheritance they soon forgot their disap-
| pointment IN not discovering the bags OF
| gold. When twenty-five years ago the
/ house came into the possession of Mr..
Stump's granddaughter, Mrs. Snithson,
| OF Cecil county, the story Of the buried
treasure existed in the neighbornood
merely as tradition.
A few years ago Mr.. Smithson handed
the old homestead over To the care of a
tenant named Wilson. He was told by
his neighbors Of the tradition about the
buried gold. He was too practical to give
credence 10 the stories, hut they had a
different effect upon Mr.. Wilson's brother,
Alexander, who spent his time perusing
the old books and papers which he found
stored away in the garret. Two or three
N'Ghb dGOs WullS HlEs w WlAbOu Was lUOkiuS
through pOnderous old book he found a
slip OF paper which indicated the location
of the hidden treasure.
Two days later big hole was seen by
nelghbOr in The garden OF the old stump
farm. AT the bottom of the excavation
was cavity from which box about
eighteen inches square was removed.
There were no bits of wood in the hole,
and from this fact IL is believed that the
hO !, E,C H.
mer Wilson's wife, TO whom the discOv-
cry of the gold bad been related, had be-
come 80 over-burdened with the secret
that che had to get another woman to help
her keep it.. And the lucky discovery
which the Wilson family intended should
be kept secret has now become public
property. They feared that heirs of Mr..
Stump would claim the money ana that
they might be deprived OF their suddenly
acquired wealth. Mrs. Wilson said that
the amount aug mp was $150,000 In gold,
but it is generally believed by those who
have made estimates G. the contents of
the box that aoOut $50,0O0 was found and
certainly not more that $4,000. At any
rate, the Wilson family is comfortably
fixed and the object CT their neighbors'
envy.
The slip OF paper is also said to explain
why Mr. Stump buried his money. In
LOAS u DIhllSu HHGb GubbTEu LQH GuBHd-
peake bay, and after burning the capitol
buildings at Washington, sailed for Baltl-
more. While Gen. Ross prepared to at
tack that city he sent detachments north
ward along the western shore Of the Ches-
apeake to burn the towns and private
residences. A portion of this town was
reduced to ashes, and several dwellings
on the outskirts were sacked and burned.
Among these was the house of Admiral
Rodgers, of the United States navy.
His silver was taken, but before
captured q British ship, on which be
found his stolen silver. Gov. Trazen
led the militia against the invaders. Old
John stump, who was then much Gu
feebled by age, learned that stories of his
fabulous wealth had reached the ears OF
the British at this place, and that they
contemp plated an attack upon his house
to rob MIN of his gold. To save his money
he buried 1t. The intended attack was
never made, and it is supposed that Mr..
Stump was satisfied to have his treasure
remain where be had concealed it, and
that he died before he concluded to
resurrect 1t. 1t is also thought that be
feared a sudden death, and TO leave some
knowledge behind him of the buried
money he placed the slip Of paper in the
book.
ulTs DbuuD Hdu6 MS tllUuey tFOLn Lu6
-four mills which he built along Deer
creek, narrow but swift stream which
emptied into the Susquehanna. The farm
ers of Hertord and Cecil counties, this
State. and of the southern counties OF
Pennsylvania brought their grain to the
Stump mills to be ground. He was also
STAKEHOLDER and farmer on an extensive
scale. During the war of the Revolution
and OF 1912 his flour sold as high as 800 a
barrel. He was the wealthlest man of the
section, and he dispensed hospitality with
an open hand. His home was the resort
of the old revolutionary heroes, who ga
thered around his sumptuous board and
related their experiences, and told how,
half equipped and poorly clad, they had
cleared out the red-coats in many engage
ments.
Some of Mr.. Stump's descendants have
occupied the most prominent positions in
| the State. His grandson, Henry W.
Archer, of Bel Air, is one Of Its best
elected Governor had he wished to relin-
quish his lucrative law practice. Another
grandson is Stevenson Archer, ex-mem-
ber Of Congress and now State Treasurer
Another descendant Is the late A. H.
stump, President of Baltimore bank,
while Two others have sat ON the judicial
formerly Hartford county belle. is the
wife of Admiral lie Roy, of New York,
and another member OF the family is the
wife of Mr.. Murray, of the same city.
Mr. Stump's surviving heirs will make
no effort to recover the money which Alex
ander Wilson luckily found.