The Damned Story: If there’s a kid (or Kidd) out there who hasn’t dreamed of finding buried treasure, we have yet to meet them.
One of the most distinctive features of the Connecticut shoreline is 14-acre Charles Island (a.k.a. Thrice Cursed Island), just off the coast of Milford at Silver Sands State Park. It is connected to the mainland by a sandbar, which during low tide emerges from the briny muck of the Sound to provide a shining causeway that allows visitors to reach the island.
According to local history, notorious pirate Captain William Kidd visited Milford during his final voyage in 1699, a stop along the way to Boston (where he would be subsequently arrested and imprisoned before being returned to England for trial and execution). Although he actually buried treasure at Gardiners Island just off of Long Island, it’s always been believed that he also hid a portion of his fortune on Charles Island, possibly beneath a giant boulder known as Hog Rock. And of course, being a good pirate, he cursed anyone who would go looking for his treasure.
As it turns out, Capt. Kidd isn’t the only one who cursed the tiny island — the Paugussett tribe believed the island was a sacred home to the spirits, and after they lost it to European settlers, cursed any structure that was erected on the island and anyone who tried to live there. Another story says the island is thrice cursed as a group of 18th-century sailors also tried to bury their ill-gotten booty on the island, meeting a bad end and damning anyone coming after them.
Not surprisingly, all the cursing has not deterred treasure-seekers over the centuries from trying to find the lost pirate gold. No one has yet to uncover a single doubloon or piece of eight, but it hasn’t been from a lack of effort. And, as with any unusual parcel of land surrounded with pirate and Native American myths, there are those who believe that Charles Island also may be haunted — some have alleged to have seen glowing ghosts and phantom figures among the trees. Others have heard disembodied voices and other unexplained noises.
In the centuries after the Native Americans and pirates, the island has been used for a resort, a home to fish fertilizer manufacturing and a religious retreat. Today, the island is part of Silver Sands State Park and open to the public. It has, however, been deemed a nature preserve and a large part of it is off limits so as not to disturb the nesting and mating of various endangered species of bird.
Our Damned Experience: Growing up in Milford, I spent many a summer day at Silver Sands, and made the walk out to Charles Island on multiple occasions. I never came across any treasure or ghosts in all my visits; really the most interesting experience I had there involved my cousin Jim and two girls from Watertown we met . . . ahem.
If You Go: As it is part of Silver Sands State Park, anyone can visit Charles Island, but leave the pick axe at home and bring your camera. If you’re looking for treasure, you’ll most likely find it in the form of natural beauty — herons, egrets and piping plover are among the avian gems you may spot, and Charles Island itself is none too shabby. Or you can bring your fishing pole, as bluefish and snapper are often caught from the sandbar during the summer months. (I’ve snagged a blue or two myself here.)
As far as supernatural treasures — nothing definitive has been unearthed to the best of my knowledge.
One final note: They call it a “sandbar” but it’s a really “rockbar” — smart explorers wear foot protection, and also keep an eye on the time so as to avoid not being stranded when the high tide comes back in, as well as the dangerous riptides. No need to add to the legend with a lost visitor or two.
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26 comments
Upon investigation into this one this history of it is much more interesting. The spirits or things that are believed to haunt the island are more based off a historical settlement. Again as stated before it was because of an indian chief who was laid to rest on the island, along with many lives taken in defense of it. It used to be one of those hallowed grounds, and supposedly a house was attempted to be built on the land, and thats where things get weird. Apparently when a settler first tried to build on the land in the 1700’s, he tried to break ground. He struggled in doing so because of the foundation of the island itself, but also cause of the so called curse.
Housing has failed miserably to be build on the land, and those said to dig on the land will not live a pleasant life short after.. The “white man” who first tried to build on the land was bruttaly murdered, and butchered. I would not suggest disturbing any part of the island at all.
I had the pleasure of spending a decent amount of time on Charles Island, and truth be told, yeah it really isnt that bad. But when the sun goes down it gets a little more eerie, and understandable why it might be haunted. Tides are key, but I had taken a Jet Ski out to the island with a bunch of friends from. So we were able to leave at our will. But we didnt stay too late just because the dock was a bit away from us. We scaped the land out and theres some weird rock formations but other than that nothing to special, your mind tends to play tricks on you but regardless it was a eerie expierence, I intend on going back.
My family comes from Milford. The Augurs had a little house which is today still there but overshadowed by the Highway. We used to go there every year on what they called Decoration Day and put flowers on the gravesites. My grandparents Don and Catherine Augur are buried there side by side. My Aunt Marcia was married to Al Mallett (sorry if I spelled that wrong) who was in the yacht club. I have seen the jetty but have never been on the island.
If I were to go onto the island, and I hope to do so before I die, I would like to perform some ceremony to honor the spirits of the natives and any other spirits that happened to be there. It would also be a nice place to have your ashes scattered after your death.
My aunt and uncle have lived down the street from Silver Sands for over 10 years now (the private beach adjacent to Silver Sands is Fort Trumbull). I’ve walked out to the island a few times, and of course I’ve heard the stories of Captain Kidd. The woods and underbrush are kind of thick and filled with insects in the summer, so I’ve never ventured too far in. If you walk around to the back of the island, you can still see the remains of foundations and a chapel from a monks retreat that was once there. I’ve never experienced anything creepy, but it’s always interesting.
Random story- the first time I walked out there, we found a leatherback turtle that had washed up. The carapace had to be between 5-6 feet. I’m not sure if they often come into the Sound, but it was a cool sight (would have been ever better if it were alive but oh well..maybe the curse got it).
I grew up about a mile from charles island and spent a lot of time there. having walked every inch of the island I can tell you, the treasure is there- somewhere.
you can feel it. I also did some research and believe it is not impossible but..
And of all the places I’ve camped out at night, Charles Island was by far the weirdest/creepiest. lots of huge rats out there at night. good for target practice.
Thank you for the fond memories! We used to trek out onto the island to enjoy the peacefulness, look for signs of treasure, or to see if it was haunted. That was over 20 years ago, and this article brought it all back to me. Now my kids are in college and I tell them the stories. Is the stone archway still standing? I found that to be eerily cool.
i lost my wallet at charles island…… i curse those whom search for it!!
I found the treasure a LONG time ago. You might as well stop wasting your time looking.
The “sandbar” is actually called a tombolo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombolo
A more complete history of Charles Island may be found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Island
Too many people get caught in the incoming tide when going to Charles Island, and some get washed away and drown. Pay attention to the tides. If you start to walk out there about 90 minutes before LOW tide, that gives you a three hour window to walk out there, explore the island, and get back safely before the water covers the tombolo. Use this website to calculate the tides for the area: http://www.noreast.com/tides/indexb.cfm
has anyone ever tried using a metal detector on the island?
My friend and I camped on the island when we were 19 years old at the time im now in my 30’s ..But I can tell you The day we went out it was very stormy ..we had a raft just incase of a riptide or for a safety mattar..we brought a tent and food with two coolers.We set up camp near the old fire place that still remains in the mid part of the island goin towards the back from..We were both soak in wet so we cut rope from the raft hung up sum of the wet clothes we had and made a small fire ,because of the foggy weather and rain nobody seen the smoke we wer lucky at that point cause you dont wanna pay the fine for being there.Anyway as it got ark and I mean dark we had flash lights and a lantern as well and out of nowhere we had a deer come so close to us that it scared the crap out of us so we fed him sum crakers we had then he took off.At about midnight the fire was dieing down so we just had the lantern we heard lots of weird noeses from the birds that are there nesting but lots of movement of small footsteps around in the woods could have been rats.cause of reports of giant rats on the island.The next mourn we woke up we had to think quick cause another storm rolled in and we had to walk the sandbar back to the beach in knee high water but the funny thing was there were no storms reported the day before in the forcast so I had to call my girlfriend to pick us up at the time…
the creepy thing about charles island is that nobody has been able to inhabit it even with the many attempts, and the stories of the deaths that happened on the island or right near it. just a year or two ago ,when my family had a beach house right near charles island, on the fourth of july a man drowned walking to the island.
I am an avid runner and due to my work schedule would train late at night 10pm. Running at silver sands at that time always gave me a very unease feeling. I could be running in central park or the south Bronx at the same time and feel more relaxed. Reading about the island it makes more sense since at the time I had no clue of the history.
I lived in Stratford and Milford for the first 40 years of my life and being the adventurous type I have explored the island many times.
I found an old copper coin that says “the uplifters club” on it. Maybe from the religious retreat in the early 1900’s?
Also, do you remember the flagpole that was near the edge of the island on the west side?
Well- I have the pulley from the top if it. I found it buried about 15 feet from the pole. It is dented from being shot down by someone. Solid brass.
Don’t go in the summer now. It’s a protected bird area with big Snowy Egrets and
Black Crowned Night Herons up on the trees nesting.
Also, how much do you love poison ivy?
Charles Island was a landmark for all of us who spent summers of our childhood in Milford. To make the trek over the sandbar to explore was a sign that you were a “big kid”. Being allowed to row out there in our little inflatable boats was even more huge! Too bad mosquitoes were the most vividly memorable thing we found there. I’ve heard it was a monastery or some kind of religious retreat…never heard the treasure story but love it!
Charles island
I grew up a few miles from silver beach and spent many, many days and nights out on the island in the 70s and 80s. As a youth I did a substantial amount of research on the island and found some very interesting articles on the island at the old Milford historical society. I still believe the island has treasure on it most likely under the huge rocks which are now underwater on the northwest side of the island. I spent countless nights camping there with friends. It’s a great place to watch 4th of July fireworks from. Back then a .22 was your best protection from the hordes of rats and there ruins that were there in the early seventies held special fascination. As far as fencing it off as a” bird sanctuary” I personally believe that is a bunch of crap. Now any young kids that want to explore will have to break the law in order to enter the interior of the island. So many fun memories that new generations will never have the opportunity to experience. What a shame.
the only treasure there is
the only treasure there is the rash of poison ivy. That place is loaded. DEEP fences it off because IT IS a bird sanctuary. Herons and other bird species specifically choose that location to roost because it does afford them some protection away from the developed mainland. If you do a little research on the life history of those bird species, you’ll understand exactly why officials sanction it off. We have hoarded enough land, let the birds have that little poison ivy shelter.
Can public still walk to and around Charles Island?
About 2 – 3 yrs ago (another) not smart (male) was washed away to death on the tombollo to/from the Charles Island and state forbid public to walk to the island. Is this ban still in force? When we call state park (via phone number on the official state webite) there is always a recording and no live person to answer the above question. Thanks for current status info.
to answer your question
hi! to answer your question, no the state is not still banning people from walking. I own a boat, well my father does, and he go there every summer, and lots of people walk there and back each day. Just be careful of the tides (although I’m pretty sure you can swim lol) hope this helps!!
Does state still allow public access to Charles Island?
About 2 – 3 yrs ago (another unwise) men got washed away by a tide on tombollo to Charles Island and state put a ban on public access to the island. Is this ban still in force? We walked with kids to and around the edge of the island about 6 yrs ago, enjoying seeing many birds on rocks there. :Like in Gallapagos. Returned safely before high tidal wave. Thanks for update on public access.
I was recently emailed back
I was recently emailed back,by a Milford official,who,in answering my question,told me AFTER the 31st of August,I am free to HIKE the Island,but using my metal detector,and digging is against the law.
Yes, one can hike to and around the Charles Island
Actually we went there with my (12 yr old) son about 2 weeks ago.
The low tide (-0.5 ft!. very low) was at 9:20 am. We took off the park toward the island via very wide (30 feet) tombolo. It took about 10 minutes of leasure walk to get to the island. There we turned west (right hand) and started to walk around the island counterclockwise.
The weather was perfect, clear blue skies, still very pleasant morning temperatures. Walking over stons and pebble patches.
In comparison to our first visit about 8 years ago, which was I guess in June, this time there were (much) fewer birds on those large stones next to the ocean due to the fact that mid August was almost the very end of May – August protective season and birds got their young ones out long time ago and thus also away from the island.
But we still made nice picture of them even while there were not in crowds (“Gallapagos like”) like the last time.
It is a nice, leasure 30 minutes walk around the island, with stops to enjoy scenery and make some photos.
The view back to the land is also nice and vegetation is wild, experiencing the elements.
We made it back to the beach by about 10:15, i.e. about 1:15 after taking off.
The tide was to rise a bit again but it was not noticeable, still those 25 – 30 feet wide tombollo even in the narrowest place.
Nice. Just check the low tide table, take of about 1/2 before it and you have 1 hr to walk around and even get into the island (outside of May Aug protected time) and get back safely.
January 2015 update
About two weeks into the 2015 New Year my wife Joyce and I walked to the island. The water level this month was higher than usual, giving us only about an hour between the times the tombolo was awash. Since last year the state sent in crews to clear the thick underbrush that had taken over the island and was keeping young trees from growing, the interior of the island was somewhat sparse and showed signs of heavy equipment rolling through. The winter is a good time to go there because it’s not bird nesting season and you won’t be breaking any laws. Many of the stone structures from the religious retreat are still there; the stone arch and the stone half-shell. There are newly planted trees in many areas that are enclosed in deer fences, which is a good thing because so few new trees have survived over the last 30 years that the island was in danger of losing all its trees. Back in the 1980s the forest canopy was so thick, you couldn’t see a bit of light looking across the island. Now, it’s almost totally deforested. I’m glad to see they’re taking steps to revert the island to its former lushness. I believe the island is off-limits between May and November, but I’d check to be sure. Some pics on my FB: https://www.facebook.com/connecticut.bob/posts/10155092275130725
Interesting.
Interesting.
fishing?
Can i go fishing in the shore of the island???
Drowning back in the 70’s
Does anyone remember a particular drowning in the 70’s or so? We were there the weekend the teen got caught in the undercurrent while diving for mussels and we were also there the following weekend when he washed up near the sand bar. I seem to remember being told by my father that the kid was a city officials son. My father was the one that pulled him up on the sand bar & the Foxy Lady radioed the Coast Guard for us.
Captin Kids Tresure
I been wanting to take a chance with a metal detector and go on a rear search there for sum booty due to the show the curse of oak island ..I would not want to give away its whereabouts lol but if you put two n two together on the show and the nights templer or priests that put a monastery on the island is a pretty rear issue .and it may just lead to something??and if we don’t seek we may never find it.I been trying to get an idea on how the show consisted of a swamp that may have the treasure that is located near gulf beach and I think as a pirate or whom ever would use an island as a decoy so if you drive on gulf street and look left just before crossing over the small bridge that meets gulf beach where people fish off of that is where I think the treasure is buried because who would want to put a lot of booty where someone could just find it without getting dirty and facing quick sand or muck as we call it and other obstetrical’s and swamps are easy to be man made .If Captain Kidd were to have his mates bury something ,,,wont be an easy find ..Back in the day there was a Man named Don Johnson whom did try n find this treasure as are little town Milford gave him the deed n rights to give it a go but no luck on his efforts to any finds but who would say if he did ??because i am sure they had state of the art equipment should of came up with sum-thing but maybe not?So as we think everyday as we stare over there and we see that the trees all were burned sum how and all the deer were killed and I thought since we are an animal friendly town who are against killing animals this town had fun shooting the deer over there and not to mention what they did in West haven when freezing the birds that made nest in the telephone poles and killed them off too and they were more rear then those Canada birds or whatever they were??but they are no longer there maybe they killed them too ??? sorry to get off the beat n path but people go for it who cares about stupid fines and so fourth this town is doing well with there tax money the roads are not good because time is money for union workers for roads and construction .But we should be able to go there at are own risk and have story’s to pass down to our children and just leave out the deer thing cause that is upsetting i am sure they were living OK grazing out there before the tree’s were put on fire ..I just hope someday that I can get a team of my own and take a look see on some plans with a group of good people that I could share why? I think these dots connect …But first watch the show the curse of oak island and with the coins that were found on that island were found there too and when money and gold are involved sum how the secret of the Templers exists and don’t be surprised that if you were to find anything??? worth value that is priceless you would be killed over it or have it taken or sum how the town will say it belongs to them lmao all I know it would all be melted down on my behalf and whom ever I was with splitting the value so there is no Bs over who owns it lol just hit me up through email at samason78@yahoo.com next summer or the start of fall through November is a good time to just metal detect and do a blueprint and have a plan for adventure best regards ty
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