Explore North Carolina Treasure Tales

Welcome to North Carolina, the nation's largest furniture, tobacco, brick, and textile producer. 

In ancient times, the eastern half of the state was underwater, and giant megalodon sharks roamed the waters. On land, there were woolly mammoths and mastodons. It is believed that the first Native Americans inhabited the New World 10,000 to 12,000 years ago.  At one time, approximately 30 Native American tribes were scattered across the Carolina "Back Country," but now it is currently home to only eight recognized Native American tribal nations.  Virginia Dare, the first English child to be born in North America, was born in North Carolina, and Dare County is named after her.  On November 21, 1789, North Carolina ratified the Constitution to become the twelfth state in the Union.  This is one of the main reasons the U.S. Bill of Rights exists -- the state refused to ratify the constitution until some sort of declaration of the peoples rights was added.  

Blackbeard and his North Carolina Caches

Buried Treasure of Flat Rock

DeSoto's Expedition: Gold and Pearls

Lost Confederate Gold

Reed Gold Mine

The Sugar Ship

Treasure Hole of Captain Synnott  Pioneer Englishman Captain Michael Synnott was known as a mean and miserly bachelor and dry goods merchant who was initially granted 400 acres of North Carolina backcountry by Earl Granville north of Durham around the Eno River where he began setting up mills in the late 1740's and ran a tavern and inn out of his home on the Old St. Mary's Road (known as "The Trading Path").  He was also involved in shady real estate dealings, stole a horse from a friendly Catawba Indian named Captain Snow, and frequently ended up in court.  Legend goes that one day two travelers who had stayed at his inn began whispering across the dinner table. Captain Synnott was a short distance away clearing off tables and strained his ears to hear what they were saying.  They talked of the whereabouts of hidden Spanish gold on a beach in Florida, and Captain Synnott paid attention to every detail.  The next day he arranged for someone else to watch the inn while he saddled up his horses, packed the wagon, and headed south.  Four miles into his trip, he crossed the Eno River right about where Sennett Hole is today, then followed the Old Buffalo Trail the rest of the way to Florida which took several months.  When he finally arrived, he searched the beach where the men had indicated and found a big old trunk full of gold coins and silver.  It was too heavy to lift so he gradually emptied the trunk into his wagon, and then refilled and concealed the trunk before he left for home.  The return trip took longer than the trip south because of the greatly increased weight, but eventually he arrived back safely with the treasure.  Shortly after he returned, he was granted 100 more acres in 1752 that included the oldest mill on the edge of the Eno River.  Synnott secreted away his newly-acquired fortune there in large pots, and continued to add to his fortune over the years, only accepting gold and silver for payments rather than allowing customers to trade, as was common practice at the time.  Although the region had always been known for flooding, one evening in 1780 after the Spring thaw and heavy rains, there was an overwhelming massive flash flood that collapsed the old mill suddenly and unexpectedly, sweeping it away and swallowing it up along with Captain Synnott and his treasure right down into the murky river, disappearing out of sight forever.  This is where Sennett Hole is today -- a deep swimming hole with strong currents.  Many have tried to dive for the treasure, and although much of Eno River is shallow and swift-moving, no one has been able to reach the bottom in this location.  It is possible and more likely that over time what wasn't buried has been disturbed and washed to a location downstream which is where a treasure hunter might be more inclined to search.  Arrowheads left behind by the Eno Indian tribe can also still be found in the area today.  (See Trail Map to Sennett Hole)