I lived in the area for many years. (50) plus. have spent many hours as a youth playing on parkers tomb,never knowing the real storys behind it. now I live many states west, and find this story facinating! I have been researching lost treasures for awhile now and will give my input. The written lore says the silver is 2 1/2 miles NE of crosby pa on potato river. 1st there is no potato river, it is potato creek. 2nd to travel to the crosby area at that time,you would have went to johnsons crossing, about 2 miles from port allegany, or canoe place as it was known back then. and up combs creek,ov
er the crosry hill, and down the white hollow area into crosby. at the time the were no roads through the scafold lick region. there is no way col. parker traveled this route. if he had,he would have just put in the allegany river and contiuned to canada. I believe he hid the silver as told. Now picture this. if you travel out of gardue, NE 2 1/2 miles on PORTAGE creek, witch connects gardue to port allegany, you will find parker tomb! Go to google earth, type gardue and click on ruler. map 2 1/2 miles NW and see. Then viset the area. you will find the tomb mentioned. col parker was a unique person. He loved the attention the silver brought then, and still brings. Most thought he may have it buryed with him. Lots of grave robbers over the years have proved that wrong. I personaly have been inside his vault on many occations, as someone had ripped open the door. The family finally had it sealed, not to protect the treasure, just to let Col parker rest in peace. I believe the silver, if any is left, is under the floor, or close nearby. This was the Cols. nature, knowing that someday it would be found, and he would have the final laugh, as it was right there all the time. If you want a good starting place, find a way to look right under his nose! just my thoughts. this is my first time here and hope to come back as this is a great site. I may come back and share a story I know is true ,about a hermit who lived in the same area, and his buryed hard earned money, over many years, that has also never been found