HMS Hussar
Frigate · United Kingdom · Lost 1780 · New York Harbor
A Royal Navy frigate struck Pot Rock in the treacherous currents of Hell Gate and sank, fueling two centuries of gold-payroll legend.
The Vessel and Her Loss
HMS Hussar was a British frigate that, during the American Revolutionary War, attempted to pass through the dangerous Hell Gate channel of the East River in November 1780 to avoid American and French forces. She struck Pot Rock and sank quickly, though her captain and crew reportedly escaped to shore. Rumors that she carried a British military payroll in gold have persisted ever since, but no confirmed treasure recovery has ever been documented, and her precise resting place remains unconfirmed.
Vessel
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- Wood
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- Sail
- Royal Navy
Loss
- November 24, 1780
- Grounding
- East River at Hell Gate, near Pot Rock
- East River
- New York, New York → Gardiners Bay, Long Island, New York
- Not established
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- Captain and crew reportedly reached shore safely; exact casualty figures are not established in the sources reviewed.
- Charles Pole
The Wreck Today
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Position
- Not established
- Position not established
- Hell Gate, East River, New York City
The wreck's precise resting place in the Hell Gate channel has never been confirmed despite persistent local legend and past searches.
Evidence
Overall confidence: Sparsely documented (45/100)
The wreck's exact location, cargo contents, and casualty figures are not established in the sources reviewed, and long-standing gold-treasure claims are unverified.
Narrative of the loss, date, location, and treasure legend.
