The Glen Sutton Treasure

Credit: French-language podcast produced by the Town of Sutton

They loaded the booty into a canoe. They’d barely started paddling on Lake Champlain when they spotted the mouth of the Missisquoi River, which they followed upstream until they reached a shallow creek where the canoe ran aground. The spot was very quiet; the Abenaki village and the few dwellings they’d passed along the way were now far behind them. It was impossible to know exactly where the border was, but it didn’t really matter. The servant couldn’t take it anymore and manages to convince the others to hide the gold somewhere nearby. They find a cave that will make an ideal hiding spot. Getting there, they’d passed a flat stone, a pile of large rocks and a tall, brown ash tree. All these landmarks were carefully noted on a map. The gold was unloaded and the bars piled up at the back of the cave. Alas, as the servant placed the last gold bar atop the pile, it all fell over on him. He was in really bad shape; both his legs were broken and he had trouble breathing. With considerable effort his three companions manage to pull him out, but because of his condition they decide that it’s better not to move him. They can’t leave him there either, though, so they decide to go for help and promise to return with food and medical supplies. They set out once again in the canoe, bringing along some of their gold coins. They soon notice the house of a certain Mr. Miller, where they ask for food and lodging in exchange for a gold coin. Mr. Miller, one of the region’s pioneers, is suspicious of the strangers and of the gold they’ve offered him. He agrees to take them in, but during the night Mr. Miller goes downstairs to spy on the three men sleeping on his kitchen floor. The treasure map is lying near the officer’s bag and Mr. Miller recognizes Leavitt Creek. However, just as he is about to go back upstairs, he stumbles and knocks over a glass of water on the map. When the officer wakes up the next morning he finds that a large part of the map is illegible. Despite this the three companions set out in the direction of the cave. Once near the spot, they find the flat stone, the pile of big rocks and the tall, brown ash tree. But no matter how hard they look for him and shout out, there is no trace of the cave or their companion. They continued searching for quite some time, but their supplies run out so they decide to return to the United States to restock. In the years that follow they try over and over again to find their treasure, but always in vain. Sometimes they’d talk about their lost gold and even show people their map — people who then decide to set out on the adventure themselves. And when the residents of what is now Glen Sutton discover the reason for these many comings and goings, they, too, decide to try their luck.