Legends Of Hidden Treasure Haunt This Historic Mississippi Plantation
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published February 24, 2017
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for more than 30 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as the Mississippi-based Parents & Kids Magazine. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
Serving as keys to the past, the historic homes that fill Mississippi are by far one of the state’s best assets. Most often, these houses from yesteryear have an interesting backstory or, in some cases, a supernatural one; the Cole Plantation in Lizelia just so happens to have both. From tales of buried treasure to a peg leg ghost that’s known to haunt the property, the plantation is one of the most intriguing in the state. Take a look:
The Cole Plantation is located in the old community of Lizelia. Formerly known as Daleville, Lizelia is situated about 12 miles north of Meridian on Highway 39.
The impressive "double-tiered, double-galleried Carolina-style" mansion was built in 1840 for William Cole and his wife Harriet Cornelia Ellerbe. The Coles moved to Lizelia from South Carolina sometime between 1834 and 1838.
Initially, the mansion garnered attention because of its stunning architecture; however, as time went on, that began to change. According to local legend, the property is home to a buried treasure and a peg leg ghost that’s been spotted numerous times throughout the years.
There are two different theories behind the source of the treasure. Some claim it was buried by an outlaw named Tommy Wilson. He and a female companion moved into the Cole home sometime in the late 1800s. Prior to their arrival, Wilson had committed a robbery and been shot in the leg. By the time he got to the plantation, his health was seriously deteriorating. A doctor from Meridian was called; however, due to inclement weather, it took an entire day for him to arrive, giving Wilson enough time to bury his stolen loot.
Not long after the doctor arrived, Wilson’s leg was amputated and he was fitted with a wooden one, which meant he could retrieve his buried treasure; however, there was only one problem – he couldn’t find it. Wilson’s fate really took a turn for the worse when his old gang turned up at the plantation, searching for their portion of the stolen loot. When he was unable to retrieve it, they killed him. Wilson’s body was discovered by neighbors, who later claimed there was a "powerful aura of evil" both inside and outside of the house. His body was buried on the property by gravediggers who were in such a hurry to leave the property, they left Wilson’s wooden leg in the upstairs bedroom.
Soon after Wilson’s death, locals began reporting an apparition at the Cole Plantation. Many believed it was the criminal, returning from the grave to guard his fortune. Word soon spread and people for miles around knew to avoid the home along with any hope of searching for the treasure. Coined the "Peg Leg Ghost," the spirit it said to be exceptionally active at dark and can be heard walking around the upstairs portion of the home. Some have even spotted the ghost, describing him as a "stooped old man, lantern in one hand and a makeshift crutch under the other arm, hobbling on a peg leg."
Others believe the buried treasure belonged to William Cole and was buried during the Civil War. According to legend, as the Union Army advanced into Mississippi, all of Cole’s slaves left…well, all but one. As the story goes, Cole locked the remaining slave in a small building on the property so he could bury his fortune in private. It’s said that the slave couldn’t see Cole burying the treasure but could hear him moving about the property, digging deep into the earth.
Believed to still be buried somewhere in the backyard, the treasure was never retrieved because Cole was afraid it would be taken from him by the government. In recent years, it’s been discovered through historical documentation that William Cole had a wooden leg, leading many to believe he is the Peg Leg Ghost.
No matter the source, the legend behind the Peg Leg Ghost is a spine-tingling one, to say the least. Did you know about the Cole Plantation and the Peg Leg Ghost? Know of another buried treasure in the state? Share your thoughts/stories in the comments section!
