Navy Island Gold

"Navy Island Gold" is a traditional New Brunswick song about the site of a supposed buried treasure on Navy Island in Saint John Harbour. It is most likely based on accounts of privateers from the Royal Kennebecasis Adventurers Society who captured prizes from American merchant vessels during the War of 1812. It is believed that the song's lyrics would lead to the discovery of the treasure's location, however the full set of verses has never been found in its entirety. The song also establishes the folk story of the Navy Island Ghost, which is supposedly visible as a glowing light on the island's shore at dusk.

The tale of the Navy Island Gold has existed in popular culture since the nineteenth century, however a sheet of lyrics was discovered in the early 1950s during the construction of post-war housing in Saint John's North End. The lyrics were scribed on a severely aged parchment, dated 1823, however many lines of the song were missing or illegible. The visible lyrics have been transcribed below.

Lyrics

One foggy night,

In Saint John town;

The General Smyth, [A Privateer]

Set her anchor down;

And to the shore,

Came a raucous band;

Who pulled up their skiff,

On the Harbour sand.

Chorus:

And Since that Day,

We'll roam the Bay,

Until we find the Navy Island Gold!

A man named Bones,

Took a chest ashore;

The rest stood in fear

(remainder of verse missing)

Chorus

He killed his men,

And cursed their souls;

To roam as ghosts,

And protect the gold;

(remainder of verse illegible)

Chorus

Fort Howe struck its gun,

And they turned to run;

(remainder of verse missing)

Chorus