Stone Found in Bucks Co. Reveals Legend of Doan Gang

Since then, Flack and Lamitina have become friends and amateur archaeologist partners, digging in the cave on weekends. Earlier this year, it was the subject of a segment on Discovery Channel’s “Expedition Unknown,” when host Josh Gates donned a lighted caving helmet to explore the cave with Flack.

The pair found plenty of engraved initials for the cameras, but not the elusive “1775 M.” After the TV crew finished and left, Flack and Lamitina continued digging and eventually found the stone.

Flack also combed through the archives of the Bucks County Historical Society and other institutions and discovered loyalist criminal gangs similar to the Doans in neighboring counties and states. These criminal gangs were held in caves, further supporting the likelihood that Buckingham’s cave was used as a hideout.

“We have determined that the property was owned by an enemy of the Doans during the colonial era, and that they stole a horse from the property in 1783,” Flack said. “So the Doans are certainly familiar with the property and have set foot on it.”

Hiding in caves helped the Doans become the subject of childhood adventure stories. The caves were said to contain buried treasure.

In 1781, the Doan Gang plundered the Bucks County Treasury in Newtown, robbing it of 1,300 pounds sterling, equivalent to about $350,000 today. The money was never recovered. According to legend, the gang buried the loot in a cave.

“There are caves that are supposedly guarded by a devilish, demonic, black dog from hell that is guarding Doan’s treasure,” Flack said.

This discovery brings those stories closer to the truth. Flack said it’s possible the Doans used caves to spy on patriot militias as early as 1775.

“I actually dismissed it for a long time of my life, saying that caves were probably just part of the folklore and the mysticism of the Doans,” he said. “But now that we’re digging deeper and physically digging into the cave and through our archives, we’re starting to change our minds and say it’s possible.”