Northwest Florida Panhandle Treasure – Bula Croker, Hugh Ridenour & The $80 Million Pirate Legend!

[PanhandlePirate]

Hey y’all – I’m researching a fascinating but little-known treasure legend involving two eccentric figures and a rumored pirate hoard buried somewhere in Northwest Florida. I’d love to share what I’ve found and see if anyone here has more info, documents, family ties, or leads. Here’s what I know so far:

Bula Edmondson Croker (1884–1957)

• Born in the Cherokee Nation (Indian Territory), educated at the Cherokee Female Seminary.
• Suffragist, teacher, and later socialite after marrying Richard Croker, boss of New York’s Tammany Hall.
• Widowed in 1922, she inherited and later lost the Wigwam estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
• Made headlines for claiming to possess 1936 pirate maps that marked two buried hoards off the coast of Pensacola, FL — one worth $4 million, another supposedly $76 million.
• Between 1945 and 1955, she held treasure-hunting leases from the State of Florida across five counties: Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton.
• No treasure was ever recovered, but she repeatedly extended her leases and made public appeals about her discoveries.

Hugh H. Ridenour (a.k.a. Hughes Ridenour)

• Partnered with Bula Croker in 1952 to launch a more organized treasure expedition.
• Officially listed as a co-applicant on a “precious metals lease” filed with Florida’s Internal Improvement Fund.
• The expedition began in May 1952, but was unsuccessful.
• No additional biographical information has surfaced — no land ownership, obituaries, business records, etc.

The Alleged Treasure

Croker claimed the treasure was buried in a five-point cross pattern (“like the five on dice”).

• The largest chest supposedly contained:
  • A silver pitcher sealed with uncut diamonds and emeralds
  • Two solid gold candlesticks
  • A holy water bowl “looted from Catholic churches in Mexico or South America”
• The smaller $4M cache was supposedly to be used to fund excavation of the larger $76M hoard.
• The treasure was dated to around 1781, suggesting possible ties to Spanish or pirate activity during the late colonial period.

Known Records

• Lease Numbers: 778, 778-A, 778-B — active between 1945 and 1955.
• Mentioned in:
  • Florida Internal Improvement Fund minutes
  • Tallahassee Democrat article from 1952 (not yet recovered)
  • Legal cases surrounding Richard Croker’s estate
  • Blogs, local folklore, and Florida treasure forums

What I’m Hoping to Learn

• Can anyone locate the 1952 Tallahassee Democrat article that mentions Bula Croker and her treasure claims? I found an article from 1952 that said she “owned the land” but there is no records of her or Hugh owning any land in the area
• Does anyone know more about Hugh Ridenour’s identity? Where was he from? Did he have any other ventures?
• Has any local folklore, family story, or land record ever hinted at treasure caches near Pensacola or surrounding counties matching this description?
• Are there archaeological surveys or maps from the 1940s–50s showing sites excavated under those treasure leases?
• I read an article stating that she got the map from someone that was from Madrid? Do we know anymore information about him?

Any info — even small details — could help. I’d be happy to collaborate on digging deeper. Thanks in advance!

 

[PanhandlePirate]

I think I may have found some family history on a Hughes Henry Ridenour that could possibly be the same with ties to Florida in that timeline.

 

[Gulf Coast Pirate]

Never heard of it, but very interesting! Good luck with your search!

 

[Crow]

I think I may have found some family history on a Hughes Henry Ridenour that could possibly be the same with ties to Florida in that timeline.

Hello Panhandlepete.

Interesting story I do not know what to think at present. Both was interesting characters

Obituary for Hughes H Ridenour died 16 February 1987 his obituary 18 Feb 1987 • Columbia, South Carolina below,

He arrived in palm beach in 1936.

Hughes Henry RIDENOUR lived in Pahokee, Florida, in 1950. 1950 • Pahokee, Palm Beach, Florida, USA.

When Hughes Henry RIDENOUR was born on January 28, 1893, in Shelbyville, Kentucky, his father, Noah, was 45 and his mother, Blanche, was 30. He married Lillian Maude RINES on December 31, 1923, in Palm Beach, Florida. He died on February 16, 1987, in Milledgeville, Georgia, at the age of 94, and was buried in his hometown.

Bula Croker, birth name Beulah Benton Edmondson, (February 17, 1884 – March 16, 1957) was a Native American teacher and women's suffrage activist. She rode a horse while dressed in Native attire in the 1913 suffrage parades in Washington, D. C. and along New York City's Fifth Avenue. While entertaining socialites with tales of her Cherokee ancestry, she met Richard Croker, a former Tammany Hall political boss and the two quickly became engaged. They married in 1914, despite a forty-year age difference, causing three of Richard's children from his first marriage to begin a series of lawsuits that would last for over fifteen years.

The children claimed that Croker was not of Cherokee ancestry and accused her of fraud, but evidence proved that she was registered on the rolls of the Cherokee Nation. They also attempted to prove, unsuccessfully, that their father was incompetent. When Richard died in 1922, he disinherited all but one of his children and left his multi-million dollar estate to Croker. The three children attempted to break the will by claiming that Croker was a bigamist. They then tried to use a Florida statute to bar her from disposing of their Palm Beach properties because the sale would violate her right to dower and their right to inherit.

In each claim, Croker eventually prevailed; however, the string of lawsuits, costs associated with her defense, and delays on being able to sell the properties, led her to file bankruptcy in 1937.

Your certainly have an interesting story brewing.

Crow

 

[Crow]

This might be of help below.

You might want to check out Walter N Brown he might of been the source of the treasure story?

Name Walter N Brown
Issue Date 5 Dec 1916
Place Santa Rosa, Florida, USA
Meridian Tallahassee
Township 002s
Range 029W
Aliquots Lot/Trct 2
Section 36
Accession Number 557061
Document Number 06990


Crow

 

[Crow]

I am not quite sure it was all connected to dodgy land deals.

Crow

 

[Crow]

Here is a 1952 newspaper story.

Crow

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Value varies a bit in the reports. But what is it actually based on? And today's value would be $$$.

 

[PanhandlePirate]

Thanks Crow! I have now found a living relative for Hughes. Haven’t had a conversation yet but I’m hopeful to get some insight

 

[PanhandlePirate]

The living relative confirmed that the Hughes Ridenour identified on this page is the same from the treasure story. It’s possible he had family in the Pensacola area as well. Was this the land where the treasure is thought to be? His sister wrote a book. “I don’t know what to feed alligators” that’s possibly in the local library at Pahokee library. Is there information or clues in the book?

 

[PanhandlePirate]

My goal would be to identify all characters more one at a time hopefully bringing out more clues from them all.

 

[PanhandlePirate]

More info on book and family in Pahokee

 

[releventchair]

Were maps dated ; locations that had place names existing at the time could be located or cross referenced and prior hurricane hydraulic damage from prior to today estimated for effect/potential new location of chests.

40 miles: Fort Walton Beach, FL

40 miles: Holt, FL

40 miles: Bluff Springs, FL

40 miles: Cobbtown, FL

39 miles: Bon Secour, AL

39 miles: Holley, FL

39 miles: Oyster Bay, AL

37 miles: Mary Esther, FL

37 miles: Rosinton, AL

35 miles: Floridale, FL

35 miles: Magnolia Springs, AL

34 miles: Gulf Shores, AL

32 miles: Harold, FL

32 miles: Allentown, FL

30 miles: Foley, AL

40 miles from Pensacola

Find cities within a 40 miles radius of me in Pensacola and look for places to visit within a 40 miles drive.

withinhours.com

 

[PanhandlePirate]

Most of what I’ve read it says the treasure is located 40 miles south of Pensacola which would be the Gulf. Some places I’ve read said somewhere in the “Bay” anywhere between Pensacola and Panama City. I’ve also read that she was fortunate enough to own the land where the treasure was. Neither Bula or Hughes have any records of owning land in Pensacola but Hughes possibly had family living in the area. Was it on their land? Is this treasure in the Gulf? I think we’d need a map to be sure

 

[Crow]

Most of what I’ve read it says the treasure is located 40 miles south of Pensacola which would be the Gulf. Some places I’ve read said somewhere in the “Bay” anywhere between Pensacola and Panama City. I’ve also read that she was fortunate enough to own the land where the treasure was. Neither Bula or Hughes have any records of owning land in Pensacola but Hughes possibly had family living in the area. Was it on their land? Is this treasure in the Gulf? I think we’d need a map to be sure

Maybe you need to investigate Walter N Brown as his grand father had the treasure maps as stated below. As per 1948 newspaper story.

interesting enough Walter N Brown dis own land in Pensacola and near gulf breeze. here is the records.

Here a map to where these lands was that was owned by Walter N Brown. He only acquired them in 1916. .

We might have to consider the possibility The brown family might of been scamming Mrs Croker believing she had money to buy their property at a time in 1936 during the great depression. when no one else had money. The story of treasure was sweetner in selling the land to her?

As you can see the newspapers claimed she was a rich widow constantly in court and beginning to have money toubles.

What many did not realize she lost most of her money fighting in court of the will of the dead husbands children contesting the will. But in desperation of the 1930s she could of been conned into buying land on pretense to search for this buried treasure on it? After 1936 Mr Croker was bankrupt after winning the court case and desperate believing that there was treasure on this land.Thus why later in life she desperately sought partners to search for this supposed treasure?

Please note this hypothesis is just one of possibilities that may or may not turn out to be the case. White it does not fit distance 40 miles. Who tell would newspaper the exact location any way. How one part of property was sort of south Pensacola. The question is did Bula Croker buy land off Mr Walter n Browns Widow?


Spouse Belle Brown
Father Jacob Brown
Mother Julia Anserez "Annie" Faust
Children Olivia
Birth 21 Dec 1880 Santa Rosa, Walton, Florida, USA
Death 20 Mar 1936 Pinellas, Florida, USA
Residence 1920 Pensacola, Escambia, Florida, USA

Anyway some thing to consider.

Cheers Crow

 

[Crow]

Here is picture of Walter N Brown whose grandfather had these alleged treasure maps.

He was born in gulf breeze. Walter Nathaniel Brown Birth 21 DEC 1880 • Big Bluff (Now Gulf Breeze), Santa Rosa, Florida, USA Death 20 MAR 1936 • Pinellas co., Florida, USA

Walters wife Bella brown not much is know about her. they was married in 1908. But you can see her in the 1920 census below.

It was Bella brown that went into partnership with Bula Croker in 1948.

Crow

 

[releventchair]

Maybe you need to investigate Walter N Brown as his grand father had the treasure maps as stated below. As per 1948 newspaper story.

View attachment 2220789

interesting enough Walter N Brown dis own land in Pensacola and near gulf breeze. here is the records.

View attachment 2220790

Here a map to where these lands was that was owned by Walter N Brown. He only acquired them in 1916. .

View attachment 2220791

We might have to consider the possibility The brown family might of been scamming Mrs Croker believing she had money to buy their property at a time in 1936 during the great depression. when no one else had money. The story of treasure was sweetner in selling the land to her?


View attachment 2220792

As you can see the newspapers claimed she was a rich widow constantly in court and beginning to have money toubles.

View attachment 2220793

What many did not realize she lost most of her money fighting in court of the will of the dead husbands children contesting the will. But in desperation of the 1930s she could of been conned into buying land on pretense to search for this buried treasure on it? After 1936 Mr Croker was bankrupt after winning the court case and desperate believing that there was treasure on this land.Thus why later in life she desperately sought partners to search for this supposed treasure?

Please note this hypothesis is just one of possibilities that may or may not turn out to be the case. White it does not fit distance 40 miles. Who tell would newspaper the exact location any way. How one part of property was sort of south Pensacola. The question is did Bula Croker buy land off Mr Walter n Browns Widow?


Spouse Belle Brown
Father Jacob Brown
Mother Julia Anserez "Annie" Faust
Children Olivia
Birth 21 Dec 1880 Santa Rosa, Walton, Florida, USA
Death 20 Mar 1936 Pinellas, Florida, USA
Residence 1920 Pensacola, Escambia, Florida, USA

Anyway some thing to consider.

Cheers Crow

Mrs. needed a treasure hunt just to get away from the courts and kids. (!)

 

[PanhandlePirate]

Maybe you need to investigate Walter N Brown as his grand father had the treasure maps as stated below. As per 1948 newspaper story.

View attachment 2220789

interesting enough Walter N Brown dis own land in Pensacola and near gulf breeze. here is the records.

View attachment 2220790

Here a map to where these lands was that was owned by Walter N Brown. He only acquired them in 1916. .

View attachment 2220791

We might have to consider the possibility The brown family might of been scamming Mrs Croker believing she had money to buy their property at a time in 1936 during the great depression. when no one else had money. The story of treasure was sweetner in selling the land to her?


View attachment 2220792

As you can see the newspapers claimed she was a rich widow constantly in court and beginning to have money toubles.

View attachment 2220793

What many did not realize she lost most of her money fighting in court of the will of the dead husbands children contesting the will. But in desperation of the 1930s she could of been conned into buying land on pretense to search for this buried treasure on it? After 1936 Mr Croker was bankrupt after winning the court case and desperate believing that there was treasure on this land.Thus why later in life she desperately sought partners to search for this supposed treasure?

Please note this hypothesis is just one of possibilities that may or may not turn out to be the case. White it does not fit distance 40 miles. Who tell would newspaper the exact location any way. How one part of property was sort of south Pensacola. The question is did Bula Croker buy land off Mr Walter n Browns Widow?


Spouse Belle Brown
Father Jacob Brown
Mother Julia Anserez "Annie" Faust
Children Olivia
Birth 21 Dec 1880 Santa Rosa, Walton, Florida, USA
Death 20 Mar 1936 Pinellas, Florida, USA
Residence 1920 Pensacola, Escambia, Florida, USA

Anyway some thing to consider.

Cheers Crow

To my knowledge she was not a land owner in the Panhandle area from my research so far but this is an interesting point. Also who is Dr Humphrey who has 1/2 of the map?

 

[PanhandlePirate]

Here is picture of Walter N Brown whose grandfather had these alleged treasure maps.

View attachment 2220796

He was born in gulf breeze. Walter Nathaniel Brown Birth 21 DEC 1880 • Big Bluff (Now Gulf Breeze), Santa Rosa, Florida, USA Death 20 MAR 1936 • Pinellas co., Florida, USA

Walters wife Bella brown not much is know about her. they was married in 1908. But you can see her in the 1920 census below.

View attachment 2220797

It was Bella brown that went into partnership with Bula Croker in 1948.

Crow

Maybe 2 adventure seeking widows?

 

[Crow]

Value varies a bit in the reports. But what is it actually based on? And today's value would be $$$.

Concept you make a very good point. I suspect newspapers have tendency to sex up stories like fisherman with his arm stretch out how big was the fish he caught. And of course knowing the exact origin of this treasure is essential in understanding this treasure legend.

Crow