Could buried treasure be found in Christiana?

In addition to being a stop on the Underground Railroad, many historians consider Christiana to be the site of the first battle of the Civil War. It was here that the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 was tested for the first time. Southern slaveholders believed that the federal law protected their right to apprehend fugitives. Northern abolitionists denounced the law and denied that the federal government had the authority to enact a bill that ran contrary to human rights and the laws of God. A confrontation between these opposing philosophies was inevitable, and Christiana became the flashpoint.

Edward Gorsuch, a wealthy landowner from Baltimore County, Maryland, discovered that grain and other items from his farm were missing, along with four of his slaves. With the law on his side, Gorsuch set out to reclaim his “property.” Accompanied by a group of men, Gorsuch made his way to Christiana, where an informant had told him he would find his runaways.

The four escaped slaves had indeed made their way to the home of William Parker, a former slave and fierce defender of fugitive slaves, who had established a residence on the farm of Quaker Levi Pownall. Parker was known for assisting those traveling along the Underground Railroad and defending the rights of fugitives seeking freedom.

On the morning of September 11, 1851, Gorsuch and his group, led by a U.S. Marshal, made their way through cornfields to Parker’s tenant house on the Pownall farm. The marshal announced their intention to apprehend Gorsuch’s “property,” demanding the return of the runaway slaves.

The inhabitants of the house, however, denied that any property belonging to Gorsuch was on the premises. Tempers flared, and shots were fired. Eliza Parker, William Parker’s wife, sounded a horn to summon help. Soon, between 75 and 100 local residents, both black and white, came to the assistance of those inside the little homestead.

By the end of the encounter, Edward Gorsuch lay dead, and his son was seriously wounded. The incident sent shockwaves throughout the nation. In its aftermath, federal troops were called in to conduct an investigation. Forty-five United States Marines, along with a posse of fifty civilians, descended upon Christiana, terrorizing the local community. Both black and white residents were subjected to searches and questioning, as the authorities sought to quell the perceived rebellion.

As a result, 37 men were arrested and charged with treason for their defiance of a federal law. Heading the defense was abolitionist Thaddeus Stevens, who successfully argued that the men had acted within their rights to defend themselves and others. After three months of testimony, the jury returned a verdict of “not guilty” in just fifteen minutes. The case sent a resounding message to the South—that the Fugitive Slave Law would not be enforced in the North—further fanning the flames of distrust that were rapidly spreading across the country.

But Christiana’s secrets don’t end with its history. They might also extend to hidden treasure buried long ago.

Legend has it that Christiana, with its reputation as a sanctuary for escaped slaves, might also be the final resting place of hidden valuables. According to treasure hunting expert Michael Paul Henson, author of A Guide to Treasure in Pennsylvania, stories have circulated for generations that escaped slaves, in their desperate bid for freedom, may have hidden money and other valuables in and around Christiana. Henson speculated that several farms in the area, which served as safe houses on the Underground Railroad, became temporary homes for freedom seekers waiting to be transported to Canada.

But with danger never far behind, particularly in the form of slave catchers and bounty hunters, it is believed that some of these fugitives concealed their valuables—coins, jewelry, and other precious items—in the fields and forests near these safe houses. The logic was simple: if they were caught and dragged back into bondage, their captors wouldn’t also rob them of their meager savings or precious possessions. And so, in the rush to evade capture, these buried caches were forgotten or left behind.

Stories of bounty hunters tracking runaways to the Christiana area are numerous, with tales of tense stand-offs, recaptures, and narrow escapes. Local folklore suggests that some of these valuables are still hidden on the old farms and in the woods surrounding Christiana. The treasure may lie buried beneath decades of earth, waiting to be discovered by a lucky treasure hunter.

These tantalizing tales of hidden treasure have inspired searches over the years, as history enthusiasts and treasure hunters alike scour the landscape, hoping to uncover a piece of this forgotten past. Whether or not any treasure has ever been found remains a mystery, but the allure of lost fortunes tied to such a pivotal moment in history continues to intrigue those with a sense of adventure and an appreciation for the history of Christiana.

If you want to search for buried riches, check out Uncharted Lancaster’s 2025 treasure hunt, Buzzard’s Booty: Quest for the Lost JBT Treasure.

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Purchase a beautiful reproduction map from 1875 of Sadsbury Township, home of Christiana, PA.

Resources

• Guide to Treasure in Pennsylvania
• The Underground Railroad Explorer’s Map & Guide