The Largest Knights of the Golden Circle Treasure Ever Found!
The year was 1934, in the bustling port city of Baltimore, Maryland. Amidst the backdrop of the Great Depression, an extraordinary discovery was about to unfold, one that would ignite imaginations and stir up long-forgotten whispers of secret societies and buried fortunes. Two local boys, Henry Grob and Theodore Jones, stumbled upon something truly remarkable while exploring the basement of their dilapidated tenement house: a buried cache containing approximately 5,000 gold coins. The find, an astonishingly large sum for the time, sparked a legal battle over ownership, eventually granting the young discoverers the proceeds held in trust until their twenty-first birthdays. For decades, the origin of this treasure remained shrouded in mystery, attributed simply to a reclusive miser who had passed away without revealing the location of their hidden wealth. However, recent investigations and historical analyses have unearthed compelling evidence suggesting a far more intriguing and politically charged source: the Knights of the Golden Circle.
The Knights of the Golden Circle (K.G.C.) was a clandestine organization that flourished in the antebellum United States. It advocated for the expansion of slavery and Southern influence throughout the Americas. This group was one of several "Southern Rights Clubs" that vehemently opposed abolitionist movements and any perceived interference from the North with the Southern way of life. The K.G.C.’s vision extended beyond the borders of the United States, envisioning a "golden circle" of slaveholding territories encompassing the Southern states, the Caribbean, and parts of Central America. To achieve this ambitious goal, the Knights engaged in various activities, including political agitation, fundraising, and even clandestine operations.
One particularly revealing aspect of the K.G.C.’s activities was its involvement in "filibustering" expeditions. These were privately funded military ventures aimed at seizing control of territories in Latin America, with the intention of establishing new slave states. While many of these expeditions were ultimately unsuccessful, they underscore the K.G.C.’s commitment to expanding its sphere of influence and preserving the institution of slavery. The organization collected dues and initiation fees from its members, often in gold coinage, to finance these and other endeavors. The treasure discovered in Baltimore may have been a portion of these funds, set aside for a Latin American expedition that never materialized.
The political landscape of the 1850s and 1860s was increasingly volatile. The rise of Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party, with their anti-slavery platform, presented a direct threat to the K.G.C.’s agenda. The Knights viewed Lincoln as an enemy and even considered drastic measures to prevent him from assuming the presidency. According to some accounts, the K.G.C. plotted to assassinate Lincoln during his journey to Washington, D.C., for his inauguration in 1861. When this plan failed, the organization threw its full support behind Southern secession and the formation of the Confederate States of America.
The story of The Largest Knights of the Golden Circle Treasure Ever Found! is intertwined with the lives of several prominent Baltimore residents who were deeply involved in the Confederate cause. One such individual was Captain John J. Mattison, who owned the property on South Eden Street where the gold coins were eventually discovered. Mattison was a ship owner with a dark secret: he was involved in the illegal African slave trade. His ship, the Eliza Davidson, was seized off the coast of Sierra Leone for engaging in this illicit activity.
Another key figure in this narrative is John Wilkes Booth, the actor who would later assassinate President Lincoln. Booth was a passionate supporter of the Confederacy and a member of the K.G.C. He lived on Exeter Street in Baltimore and was initiated into the Knights at a ceremony held in a house "in his neighborhood." The parlor of this house was said to be decorated with busts and paintings of Southern politicians and heroes.
Adding another layer to this complex web of connections is Andrew Saulsbury, a candle and soap company executive who lived on South Central Avenue, not far from Booth’s residence. Saulsbury was an ardent Southern sympathizer, and his home was also adorned with portraits of Confederate figures. Interestingly, Saulsbury’s daughter testified at the 1935 trial regarding the ownership of the 5,000 gold coins, further linking him to the treasure and the K.G.C.
After the Civil War, Saulsbury purchased the Eden Street property from Captain Mattison, solidifying the connection between the treasure and individuals deeply entrenched in the Confederate cause. Saulsbury worked for James Armstrong & Associates, a company that produced soaps and candles. The company’s factory was located near the Inner Harbor, where Mattison’s ships docked, and where slaves were reportedly held before being "sold South."
The Armstrong company expanded in the 1840s through a merger with Charles Webb and Sons. Charles Webb Jr. and James Webb, the sons of the late Charles Webb Sr., took charge. James Armstrong later broadened his empire by launching a downtown insurance company specializing in insuring ships’ cargo in the 1850s. The board of directors of that insurance company included Armstrong himself, Charles Webb Jr., James Webb, and retired ship captain John J. Mattison. Armstrong eventually handed over the soap and candle business’s management to his trusted young executives Charles Webb Jr., James Webb, Andrew Saulsbury, and his nephew Thomas Armstrong.
Charles Webb and his brother James were high-ranking Freemasons, with Charles becoming Maryland’s youngest-ever Grand Master of Freemasonry in 1853. His sponsor and "Companion" Mason was Albert Pike from Arkansas, who would later become the supreme commander of all Southern Freemasons and a suspected national leader of the Knights of the Golden Circle. This connection to Freemasonry adds another layer of intrigue to the story, as the organization has often been associated with secret societies and hidden agendas.
Charles Webb was a prominent political figure in Baltimore, supporting Southern Democrats who opposed Lincoln and advocated for the continuation of slavery. In 1859-60, he backed George Brown for Mayor and George P. Kane, a fiery slave-owning Lincoln-hater, for police marshal. Andrew Saulsbury, who acquired the Eden Street treasure home from Captain Mattison, had a grandson named Charles Webb Saulsbury. Another candle executive, Thomas Armstrong, the company founder’s nephew, resided at the Fountain Hotel, known as a "rebel" hangout frequented by John Wilkes Booth. Plots were hatched at The Fountain, including one to infect the North with yellow fever. A box containing 2,000 gold coins was discovered hidden on the premises years after the war when the hotel was torn down. Andrew Saulsbury also had a grandson named Thomas Armstrong Saulsbury. The close relationships and shared ideologies between Armstrong, Saulsbury, and the Webbs suggest a unified commitment to the Confederate cause. Could all of this be merely a coincidence in the story of The Largest Knights of the Golden Circle Treasure Ever Found!?
The discovery of the gold coins in Baltimore, combined with the historical evidence linking key figures to the Knights of the Golden Circle and the Confederate cause, presents a compelling case for the treasure’s origin. The coins may have been part of a larger fund intended to finance Confederate activities, such as filibustering expeditions or even the assassination of President Lincoln. The individuals connected to the treasure, including Mattison, Booth, Saulsbury, and the Webbs, were all deeply involved in the political and social movements of their time. Their actions and affiliations suggest a shared commitment to preserving the institution of slavery and promoting Southern interests.
The story of The Largest Knights of the Golden Circle Treasure Ever Found! serves as a reminder of the complex and often hidden history of the United States. It sheds light on the clandestine activities of secret societies like the K.G.C. and the individuals who were willing to go to great lengths to defend their beliefs. The discovery of the gold coins in Baltimore is not just a tale of buried treasure; it is a window into a turbulent period in American history, one that continues to shape the nation’s identity and values.
Abraham Lincoln’s train journey from Springfield, Illinois, to Washington, D.C., in 1861 was fraught with peril. Rumors of a plot to assassinate him in Baltimore reached a New York railroad CEO, who dispatched undercover detectives to investigate. Simultaneously, Lincoln’s advisors received similar warnings and hired Allan Pinkerton and his detective agency to spy on Baltimore conspirators. Both investigative teams concluded that Lincoln would likely be murdered if he passed through Baltimore. Pinkerton’s report implicated Marshal Kane in the plot, suggesting he would offer Lincoln little protection due to his Confederate loyalties. Pinkerton persuaded Lincoln to secretly pass through Baltimore at night, ensuring his safe arrival in Washington.
The Civil War erupted despite these precautions. Northern troops traveling through Baltimore were attacked on the Pratt Street Bridge, near the offices of James Armstrong & Associates. Marshal Kane, a close associate of Charles Webb, telegraphed the Maryland militia, urging them to defend against the "fresh hordes" of Union soldiers. Kane and a group of rebels, including John Wilkes Booth, burned bridges and tore up tracks leading from the North. Lincoln rerouted his troops, but the delay left Washington, D.C., vulnerable. Union troops were eventually dispatched to occupy Baltimore for the duration of the war. Mayor Brown and Marshal Kane were arrested and imprisoned without trial. Booth, upon hearing of Kane’s arrest, expressed outrage and a desire for revenge.
Kane joined the Confederate Secret Service in Montreal after his release from prison. From there, he orchestrated attacks against the Union, including fire bombings, train derailments, and bank robberies. He was suspected of masterminding a plot to free Confederate prisoners from a Union military prison. As the Confederacy’s situation worsened in 1864, Booth traveled to Montreal to propose a plan to kidnap President Lincoln and hold him for ransom. Kane and the Confederate Secret Service approved the idea and provided Booth with seed money.
In March 1865, Booth and his conspirators attempted to seize Lincoln, but their plans were thwarted. As Union forces surrounded Richmond, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet fled to Danville, taking the Confederate treasury and gold from Virginia banks. Kane rendezvoused with Davis’s train in Danville, while 39 barrels of Mexican silver coins, proceeds from Confederate cotton sales, remained behind. Kane remained in Danville for nearly four years, and the whereabouts of the silver remain unknown. Back in Baltimore, Kane was appointed to the Jones Falls Commission, likely with Charles Webb’s support. By 1873, Kane became Sheriff of Baltimore, and Andrew J. Saulsbury replaced him on the Jones Falls Commission. In 1877, Kane became Mayor of Baltimore and appointed Charles Webb as tax collector.
Kane died in office soon after, and Booth was long dead. Saulsbury died suddenly at his Eden Street home, with his wife unaware of the hidden gold coins. Captain Mattison passed away soon after. The wealthy conspirators grew old and died, leaving the coins undisturbed, hidden with the faint hope that "the South would rise again." At Charles Webb’s Freemason memorial service, his Masonic brothers recited a poem written by Albert Pike, the powerful Freemason and suspected leader of the Knights of the Golden Circle.
The The Largest Knights of the Golden Circle Treasure Ever Found! remained a secret for decades. Thomas Armstrong, likely responsible for the coins found at The Fountain Hotel, died in the early 1900s. The banking panic of 1907, the sinking of the Titanic, World War I, Prohibition, and the Roaring Twenties all came and went. Babe Ruth revolutionized baseball. The Crash of ’29 ushered in the Great Depression. President Franklin D. Roosevelt unveiled his New Deal.
In a declining inner-city Baltimore neighborhood, two adolescent boys explored the basement of a crumbling tenement house and uncovered one of the greatest found treasures in American history. Their amazing story is intertwined with the Knights of the Golden Circle and the Confederate cause.