Pirates & Shipwrecks · Kidd's buried loot, 1699
Gardiners Island
Long Island, New York
What happened
Gardiners Island lies between the two forks at the eastern end of Long Island, New York. In June 1699 Captain William Kidd stopped there while sailing to Boston to answer charges of piracy. According to Wikipedia, he buried a chest, a box of gold and two boxes of silver in a ravine between Bostwick's Point and the Manor House.
Why it matters
The island has been owned by the Gardiner family and their descendants since 1639, when Lion Gardiner settled there.
What came next
The island is privately owned and is not open to the public.
Did you know?
The island has New York State's largest colony of ospreys, and they build their nests on the ground, because the island has no natural predators for them.
Timeline
- 1639Lion Gardiner settles on the island.
- June 1699Captain Kidd stops at the island and buries treasure.
- TodayThe island is still privately owned by Gardiner's descendants.