Revolutionary War artifacts discovered at site of infamous colonial American heist

Archaeologists and college students recently made a fascinating discovery in Newtown, Pennsylvania, unearthing artifacts dating back to the American Revolution, including a notorious 18th-century robbery. The excavation, conducted by students from Bucks County Community College and employees from the Mercer Museum, took place on the site of colonial-era town buildings, such as the county prison and courthouse.

The dig, which occurred from March 23 to March 28, focused on the area where the treasury building once stood. Images from the excavation show archaeologists and volunteers working diligently around the open pit, uncovering various small 18th-century artifacts like coins.

The land where the excavation took place is rich in Revolutionary War history, with significant finds including three British gunflints from the Revolutionary War era, keys, a Dutch copper coin called a duit, and a New York penny from 1737. Additionally, excavators discovered a plethora of porcelain, pottery, and glass that had been buried under the soil for over 200 years.

A key find during the excavation was the foundation of the treasury building, where an infamous robbery by the Doan Gang, a group of Quaker Loyalists, took place in 1781. The gang stole 1,200 silver Spanish dollars, 400 silver French crowns, and other cash from the Bucks County treasury just days after the British surrendered at Yorktown.

The robbery began at the home of county treasurer John Hart, where the gang seized a bundle of cash and the keys to the treasury. Some of the outlaws held Hart hostage while the rest of the gang broke into the treasury. They had to pry open a locked desk with knives to access the stolen funds.

Despite the notoriety of the Doan Gang robbery, historian Clint Flack emphasized that it is just a small part of the property’s incredible history. The treasury building was initially used to store gunpowder during the early days of the American Revolution, with Continental Army soldiers camped throughout Bucks County. Some Hessian mercenaries captured at the Battle of Trenton were even imprisoned in the jail next to the treasury.

Overall, the excavation in Newtown, Pennsylvania, provided valuable insights into the region’s colonial past and the significant events that unfolded during the American Revolution. The artifacts uncovered shed light on the daily lives and activities of the people who lived in this historic area more than 200 years ago.