NEW Oak Island Discovery Tied to Samuel Ball Could Rewrite History!

Fingers crossed on this one. Oh yeah, look at the size of that. Wow, that’s crazy.
>> Either at the depths that have been predetermined, i.e. based on earlier searcher activity. Just now, Rick Lagginina and his team have struck gold by selling treasures found beneath Oak Island. Fueled by legends and equipped with the latest technology, they have not only sought wealth, but have also joined forces with experts to preserve the island’s rich history. Despite stringent regulations overseeing their search, their success raises the bar for future explorations.
What more secrets could be buried waiting to be discovered? Tune in. Let us dive deeper into the mysteries that linger in the darkness. The strange dangers of Oak Island’s last quest. The main purpose of this license is to encourage people to put their time, money, and skills [music] into searching for treasure. The chance to keep most of what they find motivates Rick, [music] Marty, and their team to invest in high-tech tools, hire experts, and push through many challenges. The possibility of a big reward makes all this effort and spending worthwhile. But there’s more to Oak Island than just treasure.
There could be unknown dangers or secrets still waiting to be uncovered.
Let’s dig deeper into the lesserknown history of Oak Island. Beneath Oak Island lies a secret chamber [music] rumored to hold not just treasure but a mystery that could rewrite history.
>> If there is a tunnel and we can’t access it, I’d be the first one in the tunnel.
Uh I can tell you that >> the treasure hunters work closely with archaeologists and historians to protect the environment and the historical value of their search areas. By following the rules, they show they are acting responsibly. The treasure trove license helps keep them accountable and could serve as a good example for similar searches in other places. Oak Island’s approach shows how treasure hunting can benefit both the hunters and the community. And the popularity of the TV show about the island has helped more people learn about the complex issues involved like the legal, financial, and ethical sides of treasure hunting.
Ongoing research with the potential for profit also ensures that the needs of the local people are respected and protected. This way of licensing provides a fair and structured way of searching for treasure, making sure both the treasure hunters and the local community benefit. Oak Island in this sense sets [music] a great example of how to manage treasure hunting in a responsible way. Born in 1952 in Kingsford, Michigan, Rick grew up like most kids, attending Kingsford High School with his younger brother, Marty.
After finishing school, he took a steady job with the United States Postal [music] Service. His work took him to different states including Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota, where he carried out his daily duties serving the public. But his curiosity about Oak Island began much earlier back in January 1965 when he was a young boy and came across a captivating article in Reader Digest about the island’s hidden treasures and the mysterious money pit.
This sparked a lifelong fascination.
>> You find a tunnel, then it confirms this. We might get lucky and actually put a coin in your hand this year, Marty.
>> Okay, good.
>> Fast forward to the early 2010s. Rick’s life took a big turn. After retiring, he and Marty were approached by Prometheus Entertainment with a proposal to create a TV series about their treasure hunts on Oak Island. Having already found success in other business ventures, the brothers saw this as a perfect chance to pursue their childhood dreams while sharing their adventures on television.
This led to the creation of the show The Curse of Oak Island, which aired on the History Channel. The series follows Lagginina and his team as they use the latest technology and their knowledge to uncover the island’s hidden secrets.
[music] Rick’s role as both a producer and a main character made him a recognizable face on TV, and soon the curse of Oak Island became popular worldwide. But this wasn’t the most surprising part.
What really caught the viewers attention was the depth and complexity of the treasure hunt itself. Rick’s genuine love for adventure and his sincere passion for finding hidden treasures quickly resonated with audiences.
[music] His move into television didn’t just make him famous. It also changed how people viewed the excitement of searching for lost riches. Together with Marty, their show gained such popularity that it led to several spin-offs firmly establishing Rick’s place in the entertainment world. Rick’s story is more than just fame. It’s a deeper journey into the past. The true story of Oak Island. Even with the fame and the financial rewards that came from the show, his passion for history never faded. He enjoys crafting detailed wooden objects and diving into books about history, showing his curiosity and love for traditional skills. These hobbies, along with his ongoing business projects, keep him busy when he’s not in front of the camera. But this is just one side of Rick’s story. His determination to uncover the secrets of Oak Island continues to inspire viewers, showing that some passions truly last a lifetime. Rick’s journey from working at the post office to becoming a television star is a story about following your passion, no matter the obstacles. His involvement in The Curse of Oak Island highlights the importance of curiosity and always being eager to learn. As the show continues to capture the attention of viewers, [music] his path reminds us that it’s never too late to chase your dreams and find new opportunities. With each episode, we learn more about the island’s fascinating past and what might come next. Marty studied mechanical engineering at Michigan Technological University, where he learned how to solve complex problems, a skill that has been essential in their explorations.
After finishing his degree, he went into the energy business, gaining [music] a strong reputation for his technical know-how. He also studied law, becoming licensed in 1982, which helped him navigate the tough business regulations he [music] would encounter. His background in both engineering and law prepared him for the varied challenges of their treasure hunt.
>> I do enjoy wood turning. I like making things on a lathe and I guess reading about history and things like that. But the most surprising part of his story is how his career took an unexpected turn.
He and Rick decided to follow their childhood interest in Oak Island.
Inspired by stories of hidden treasures, their passion was reignited when Prometheus Entertainment suggested [music] turning their treasure hunt into a TV show. With them leading the way, The Curse of Oak Island became a popular series, sparking a wider interest in treasure hunting and history. His move from engineering and law to television shows how adaptable he is. His mix of skills helps him handle the complicated nature of treasure hunting, proving that the right mix of expertise and passion can lead to exciting new opportunities.
But that’s not the most interesting part. Marty’s story also shows that professionals can use their skills in new, rewarding ways. Since it first aired, The Curse of Oak Island has kept audiences hooked with its blend of history and adventure, digging into the mystery of the treasure that many believe is hidden on Oak Island. The mysterious appeal of The Treasure and the Island’s rich history keep [music] viewers coming back for more, boosting the show’s ratings on the History Channel and drawing in a wide range of [music] people. And the rewards haven’t just been in storytelling. The show’s success has been financially rewarding for both Marty and Rick. Their partnership with Andy Networks has led to profitable deals that fund their ongoing search and increase their wealth. This financial support allows them to use advanced technology and methods for a thorough exploration of the island. The popularity of the original series has even led to spin-offs like Beyond Oak Island and The Curse of Civil War Gold, which explore similar themes of historical treasures.
These spin-offs have helped grow the Oak Island brand into a successful [music] franchise, bringing in new sources of income. The adventure gets deeper as Rick and Marty’s passion drives them onward, more than just a treasure hunt.
However, there’s more to this story. The show has also boosted tourism to Oak Island and Nova Scotia, attracting fans eager to see the famous treasure hunt location for themselves. This increase in visitors has been good for the local economy and has also highlighted Oak Island’s historical significance. The series has tapped into a deep cultural interest in discovery and adventure, capturing the universal thrill of uncovering secrets. Human curiosity has always pushed us to explore the unknown.
This natural drive to discover new things has sparked interest in different forms of entertainment like books, movies, and TV shows that focus on ancient quests and adventures. One great example of this is The Curse of Oak Island. What started as a reality TV show has now become much more, capturing the attention of people around the world. The mix of exciting stories, educational content, and commercial success has made it a key player in the world of historical mysteries drawing in audiences everywhere. Rick and Marty Lagginina’s adventures on Oak Island have not only grabbed the attention of viewers, but they’ve also made their mark on modern TV history. Beyond just being known as treasure hunters, the brothers are also successful entrepreneurs. They have smartly invested in a wide range of businesses, including energy companies, which help fund their expensive treasure hunting activities. Before they were treasure hunters on TV, Marty had already made a name for himself in the energy business.
With a background in mechanical engineering and law, he had the skills to thrive in the energy industry. He started and led several companies that did more than just make money. They were leaders in using eco-friendly practices and focusing on renewable energy. Rick, on the other hand, followed a more traditional career in the postal service. But when he retired, he joined his brother in these business ventures.
Together, they invested in real estate and other projects, using their growing wealth to branch out into new areas.
These successful investments gave them a strong financial base, allowing them to fund their unpredictable treasure hunts.
>> It’s unusual, almost like bamboo. I know it isn’t, but you can see that that’s been cut with an axe.
>> But treasure hunting on Oak Island is not cheap. It takes advanced technology, expert teams, and careful planning to even have a chance at success. The money the brothers make from their other businesses is essential to keep these operations going. Without that outside income, the treasure search would be much harder to keep up. The real advantage of their financial independence is that it gives the brothers full control over the treasure hunt. They don’t have to worry about short-term profits and can focus on their long-term goals. This freedom is vital for a project like the Oak Island Treasure Hunt, which is full of surprises and takes a long time. As they keep digging for treasure, the story of Oak Island keeps evolving, mixing old tales with new discoveries and promising more exciting adventures to come. Rick and Marty’s success has had a big impact on the local communities where their businesses operate. By investing in these areas, they’ve created jobs and boosted the local economy. On top of that, their work in renewable energy puts them at the front of an important sector, helping meet the world’s growing energy needs. The brothers are not only skilled businessmen but also well-known TV personalities. Their sharp business skills combined with their friendly personalities have made them influential figures. They use this influence to promote both their show and their businesses, creating a cycle that fuels their success in multiple areas. As secrets unfold, the hunt on Oak Island gets even more intense. The legacy of the Lagginina brothers. In business, they show a lot of flexibility and smart planning. This doesn’t just help them grow financially. [music] It also allows them to keep exploring Oak Island, a personal passion of theirs. Their wide range of investments keeps [music] money flowing into their exploration, benefiting both the industries they’re involved with and the communities they touch. Their journey shows how business success can support personal dreams. What started as a local legend about Oak Island has now become a profitable business. The mystery of the island’s hidden treasure, combined with the Lagginina’s persistence, [music] has turned their TV show, The Curse of Oak Island into a well-known series with the promise of more exciting discoveries in the future. But finding treasure isn’t the only goal for the Leginas. [music] They’ve taken this adventure and turned it into something bigger, a global event. By mixing history with modern technology, they’ve brought new attention to Oak Island. It’s not just about finding gold. It’s also about making important contributions to history and archaeology. Their show emphasizes the value of preserving historic sites and working with experts, which adds an educational layer to their work. The search for treasure on Oak Island has also brought in major financial rewards. The success of their show led to big deals with networks like Andy, which significantly increased their wealth. Additionally, the show has led to spin-offs that explore other historical mysteries. This has turned Oak Island into a full-blown franchise, keeping viewers hooked and bringing in new audiences all the time. But this isn’t even the biggest surprise. The treasure hunt hasn’t just boosted TV [music] ratings, it’s made Nova Scotia a major tourist destination. People from all over come to see the famous island, which has given a big boost to local businesses. Tourism has brought new life to the community, showing how the Lagginina’s efforts reach far beyond just TV and business, creating real change where it matters most.
>> Right on the drill platform, it was crazy geologically. Kind of weird.
>> Visiting the famous treasure site has completely changed the area’s economy, bringing in more jobs and increasing profits for local businesses. The work of the Lagginina brothers has made Oak Island a well-known spot, putting it on the map for treasure hunters and curious fans. Oak Island continues to draw in attention and funding, and the future looks bright for the treasure hunt led by the Lagginina brothers. Unearthing hidden fortunes. In the early 18th century, the trail could have bustled with the movement of goods. As the sun stretched its morning rays across the earth, Gary and another enthusiast tread carefully, their metal detectors sweeping over the ground with meticulous care. The possibility that someone long ago might have let something slip from their pocket while on a treasure hunt tingled in their minds. Such quests were common as adventurers were often driven by the thrill of discovery and the hope of wealth. The tale of those who explored Oak Island serves as a testament to this pursuit as they eventually reaped financial rewards from their findings. The duo continued their exploration. Each beep of their detectors [music] fueling their excitement and curiosity about what secrets lay buried beneath their feet.
When you dive into the Oak Island story, it’s easy to see why it grabbed the attention of people worldwide. Many of us remember searching for hidden treasures as kids, which helps us relate to the Lagginina brothers and their team on the show The Curse of Oak Island.
We’ve watched them work hard to uncover the treasure said to be buried there.
While many have tried and failed to find it, [music] this team seems to have finally found the success they were looking for. Things really started to pick up when Prometheus Entertainment came to them in the early 2010s with an idea for a TV show about their journey.
[music] After signing a big $20 million deal with Andy, the Lagginina brothers began making and directing the series, [music] even putting their own money into it to show how serious they were. This move helped them get their story out to the world and led to the show’s success, as well as a spin-off called Beyond Oak Island. Their decision paid off as the original show became popular, getting renewed for multiple seasons and producing almost 200 episodes over more than 10 years. fans were able to celebrate the victories and challenges faced by the Oak Island team. Rick Lagginina in particular gained a lot of respect and even took on more responsibilities as a director and producer for many episodes. His growing fame led to appearances on other shows like the late night show with Steven Colbert. But with success came some criticism, especially for Marty’s connection to the oil and gas industry.
He even talked about it with Randall Sullivan, the author of The Curse of Oak Island. But the money didn’t mean they were free from problems. Marty finds some comfort in knowing his son, Alex, is making his mark in reality TV. Alex became an important part of The Curse of Oak Island when he joined his father on the island. His involvement helped them discover artifacts that are hundreds of years old, showing just how dedicated the Lagginas are to uncovering the island’s mysteries. [music] Since the show began in January 2012, it has followed the Leginas and their team as they worked tirelessly to find Oak Island’s hidden treasure. For the past seven seasons, Alex [music] has played a key role in the crew, helping uncover pieces of the past and continuing the family tradition of exploration on this mysterious island. treasures from a 250-year encampment, all linked to Samuel Ball. When the Lagginina brothers decided to begin a historical search for Oak Island’s infamous treasure, they were not prepared, even in the slightest bit, for what they would find. They decided to start this quest only hoping that they would at least find something worthwhile. Little did they know that they were about to discover ancient artifacts beyond their supposed time frame and establish the activities of subdued historical figures. [music] Could the stories about the hidden Spanish treasures on the island be true?
Working with the Lagginina brothers, metal [music] detector expert Gary Drayton set out to a portion of the 140 acre Oak Island along with resident historian Charles Barkhouse [music] to find some evidence that would prove the treasure myth of the island. If they found anything significant, they were not just going to make history. They were going to shut down a treasure hunt dating [music] back two centuries. They just needed a clue or a hint of any historical activity. After a careful and thorough search through the portion for the day, Drayton and Barkhouse found several unexpected significant artifacts that would take the trajectory of their historical hunt to a whole new level.
They found a couple of coins along with a piece of metal seemingly from the end of a pistol that had an inscription on it. The inscription was quickly presumed to be the name of the owner of the pistol. However, what turned their search on its heel was the inscription of King George II on one of the coins.
The men could not contain their excitement because the [music] King George coin was used during the late 1700s. Many theories had spurned around significant findings on Oak Island. In his book, Oak Island Secrets, Mark Finnen noted that many Masonic markings were found on Oak Island, and the shaft or pit and its mysterious [music] contents seem to replicate aspects of a Masonic initiation right involving a hidden vault with a sacred treasure.
Some unproven stories also allege that the famous queen of France, Marie Antoanet’s jewels, which were missing [music] except for specimens in museum collections, may have been hidden on the island. This discovery made by the Lagginina [music] brothers and their team has a link to only one name, which is Samuel Ball. So, could this mean that they could be on to something with the curse of the Oak Island myth? What is Samuel Ball got to do with any of it? To solve this puzzle, let’s go back to the beginning. Who is Samuel Ball?
Samuel Ball, early life and mysterious wealth.
Born in South Carolina in 1765 to a very poor black family, Samuel was born into a life of misery. His family were in fact slaves for the rich landlords of the infamous southern plantations. So he was raised in horrible [music] conditions with limited food. From a very young age, Samuel began to see how much he was going to end up like his parents, being ordered around and treated like an animal. At the young age of 11, he was already [music] a working slave. It looked like a generational trajectory till the British American War. For the first time in history, some black people were given a way out of slavery. For Samuel Ball, it was the crulest thing that could happen to an 11-year-old. But it was a way out. It was a risk he was willing to take. As the American War of Independence began to reach its final stages, the British grew desperate for more men. The Americans were not backing out and the British kingdom was losing their soldiers. They could not back out of the war cowards as they had taken control of significant colonies across the world.
If they were going down at any time, they would do so fighting in a bid to play the numbers game and send more soldiers up front. They turned to the young black men toiling in the fields down south. They asked these young teenagers to [music] fight and promised them their freedom along with lands as their war payments. Samuel Ball was one of the black teenagers who agreed to fight alongside the British soldiers.
Adopting the name of his former master, Ball went to New York serving with General Henry Clint Ton and then spent some time in Jersey where he served until the end of the war on January 14th, 1784 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.
Despite the defeat of the colonist, Samuel survived and the British general was true to his word. He declared Ball a free man and gave him a piece of land as payment. Ball was extremely happy. He did not think that he would survive the war. And there he was, a proud owner of a land. With the land he was given, Ball started a cabbage farm in Shelburn, Nova Scotia, where he lived for 2 years.
However, nobody cared that he was a free man.
Many still viewed him as a black slave.
Then he left. Ball moved to Chester from Nova Scotia where he lived for 23 years and continued growing his cabbage farm.
In 1795, Samuel Ball had married a young woman, [music] Mary, from Halifax, who worked as a domestic for Treasurer Wallace.
They had three children together in Chester. Ball had also gotten a good plot of land on Mahon Bay. In a bid to expand his farming business, Ball purchased a small plot on Oak Island.
Then he was granted other plots where he continued extensive cabbage farming. It is noteworthy that Samuel Ball was an extremely wealthy man before he died.
But if you study the patterns of extensions critically, you start to wonder how a black man who was still reeling from the choke of racism would go from zero to 100 doing cabbage farming. Many people found it hard to believe. even the Lagana brothers.
[music] However, the truth is that something exciting probably happened along the line. Something that could either bring extreme wealth to Samuel Ball or [music] send him to his early grave. How rich was Samuel Ball. Fast forward [music] to his time of death.
Ball owned over 100 acres both on Oak Island and on a nearby aisle. His wealth has led many to believe that in addition to farming, Ball discovered riches on [music] Oak Island. You may be wondering what stimulated the belief that Samuel could not be extremely wealthy from cabbage [music] farming. Nonetheless, the environment he found himself in at that time was hostile to black people.
The only blacks in Canada, Great Britain, and the [music] United States were free slaves. With the majority of white people buy from him at a time when white supremacy [music] stank in 1846, Samuel had written a will as evidence that he had a huge sparse [music] of land. The willstated will of Samuel Ball, Oak Island, book 1, page 37. Dated 1st October 1841. Probated 5 January 1846. Witnesses: John Barkhouse Senior, James Brewer, [music] George Ketty, and John Swicker, Gold River. Executives revealed Joseph Demock, Anthony Vaughn, and wife Catherine. after funeral expenses [music] and so on. I give my wife Catherine the furniture wearing apparel and all real and personal estate during her life. First situated and lying between lands owned by John Berg House and [music] Daniel McInness containing about 100 acres. Also an island called Hook Island containing 3 acres all my farm at Oak Island containing 36 [music] acres more or less all cultivated land during her life and then to Mrs. best until her deceased grandson [music] Simeon to have half of the 100 acre lot between John Bark house and Daniel McKinnis the plowed land house and barn from John McKinnis’s line. I give all my real estate and personal estate the half of the 100 acre lot to my servant Isaac [music] Butler if he takes the name Ball. If he dies without mail issue, it is to go to friend Henry Judre’s son Alexander William. And if he dies without male issue to Isaac [music] Parson’s son, none shall possess the same unless they take the name Ball. Mrs. Elizabeth Best is to be comfortably maintained during her life. And if she [music] should survive his wife, she is to have control of the house and farm during her life.
If the grandson dies without male issue, the land results to Isaac Butler. After the decease of wife and Mrs. Best, the executives give [music] cattle for the amount of £15 to the Bible society. The question remains, how did Samuel Ball get the money to buy lands in a place as expensive as Oak Island at that time?
[music] He must have found something that could cause generational wealth.
Probably something he could not [music] finish. In the Curse of Oak Island myth, Samuel was not alone when the idea of the treasure was first conceived.
[music] In 1795, 18-year-old Daniel McInness saw lights coming from the island. When he decided to check out the light, he discovered that an area had been cleared on the southeastern end of the island. Within the clearing, [music] he noticed a part seemingly deeper than its surroundings, and nearby, a tackle block hung from a tree.
Armed with his discovery, McInness decided to return home and bring reinforcement. With friends John Smith, who was Samuel Ball in early accounts, and Anthony Vaughn, McInness returned to the area and they began to dig through the depression.
A few feet beneath the surface, [music] they discovered a layer of flag stone and the pit walls had markings from a pick. They kept [music] digging.
Approximately every 10 ft, about 3 m, they dug, they found a layer of logs, and then they returned home. Here is where it gets more bizarre. The boys returned to dig through the depression consistently [music] till they got to 30 ft beneath the surface. Or when they could not find anything of significance, [music] McInness and his friends abandoned their project. However, this myth raises a lot of questions. Since there was no record of McInness or Vaughn ever purchasing any land in Oak Island, could it be that Samuel Ball returned alone and found something? Or did he believe that there was a treasure hidden beneath the surface and they were not just looking in the right places? Mind you, Ball bought a particular portion of land on Oak Island and he must have spent his savings to get the [music] land. Maybe there was something of value if he wanted that portion of land so badly.
Either way, we will find out. When the [snorts] myth of something buried deep in Oak Island was established, a quest to find the lost treasure was also established. And it started in the 19th century. The thousand-year-old treasure hunt coming to an end. Long before the Lagginina brothers, many treasure hunters had visited Oak Island where Samuel Ball once lived in a bid to establish the authenticity of the myth that there was some lost treasure he buried.
A curse on the treasure is said to have originated more than a century ago, [music] and it stated that seven men will die in the search for the treasure before it is found. Located approximately 200 ft from the [music] shore, the treecovered island rises to no more than 36 ft. about 11 m above sea level and covers an area of no more than 140 acres. In a [snorts] bid to uncover the supposed hidden treasure, some of these treasure hunters had lost their lives. However, no treasure had been found on the island before the Lagginina brothers. [music] In 1803, after reports of McInness and Friends Quest were published across Canada, the Onslow Company [music] sailed to the area to try to recover the supposed treasure that was assumed to lie hidden beneath the excavated pit. Based on the written accounts of the boys, the Enslow Company attempted an excavation, which they termed the Money Pit Project.
They dug up another 60 ft about 18 m taking the total excavation to 90 ft beneath the surface. However, like McInness and friends, the Onslow company also found logs every 10 ft. As they kept digging, they found some interesting things, far more interesting than the McInness quest. They found layers of charcoal, putty, and coconut fiber at 40, 50, and 60 ft. Somewhere around 80 to 90 ft, the excavators from the Enslow Company made a seemingly unexplainable discovery. [music] They found a large stone bearing inscriptions of symbols. Researchers and treasure hunters across the world tried to interpret the symbols.
Although they could not get an accurate interpretation, one researcher concluded that the inscription said 40 ft below 2 million lb lie buried. However, the conclusion seemed vague. Was the researcher only saying it to get in the spotlight?
Offering [snorts] a secondhand description of its discovery during the early 1800’s excavation, JB McCully wrote in a letter, “Some layers were charcoal, some putty, and one at 80 ft was a stone cut square ft long and about a foot thick with several characters cut on it. While they found it, believing that the inscription meant there was something buried, the Onslow company decided to keep digging.
Soon enough, the excavation was again abandoned when the pit flooded to the 33- ft level. About 45 years later, another excavation to find the assumed hidden treasure on Oak Island was established. The Turo Company, formed by investors, [music] returned to the site to try to uncover the treasure. By this time, sand had creeped into the hole made during the onslow excavation, and a significant part had been covered. The Turbo Company successfully re-exavated the pit down to 86 ft when it flooded again. Then they decided to try another method. They drilled into the ground to drain the water and subtly checked if they would find anything beyond 90 ft.
Yet all they got was the sound of the drill passing through different materials without hitting anything significant. They abandoned the project again. Oak Island lies on a glacial tumulus system and is under lane by a series of water-filled anhydride cavities which may be responsible for the repeated flooding of the pit.
This type of limestone easily dissolves when exposed to water, forming caves and natural voids. In 1861, a company called the Oak Island Association attempted another excavation.
During their efforts, the bottom of the shaft collapsed. You would wonder if these companies were not allowed to spread their horizons. Why were they focused on only a tiny portion of the island they could check other parts? Who knows? The treasure might be hidden in plain sight. Still, there were no attempts to excavate other portions.
When the bottom of the shaft collapsed, it showed the intensity and the probable danger that loomed beneath the earth.
However, nobody knows why the shaft fell apart. Maybe it [snorts] was the universe trying to protect her [music] activities. or maybe whoever buried the treasure had set a trap to hurt anyone that came close to finding it. The Oak Island Association decided to continue with their excavation. And during one attempt, a boiler pump exploded, killing one of the hunters. After 3 years of frustrating excavation without finding anything significant, the Oak Island Association abandoned the project. They had run out of funds. Additional excavations were attempted in 1866, [music] 1893, 1909, 1931, 1935, 1936, and 1959 with no [music] success. In 1931, excavator William Chappelle had found an axe, an anchor fluke, and a pick.
However, he could not tell if these items could be linked to the treasure or if they were artifacts from previous excavation [music] attempts. Before then, Gilbert Heden, a steel fabricating operator, had heard [music] the fuss about Oak Island and was intrigued. He became invested in finding out the [music] secrets the island held and started researching.
After years of research, Gilbert believed that he had found a link between Oak Island and a map found in Harold T. Wilkins book, Captain Kid, and his skeleton island. He then decided to buy the southeastern end of the island and started his excavation quest in 1935. Even after Gilbert’s thorough research and excavation, he did not find anything worthwhile.
Fast forward to the 1960s, the Restall family began multiple excavations, but this time it led to the tragic death of four young men before it was abandoned.
This was the highest fatality since the treasure hunt began more than a century ago. In 1955, the owner of the island, Robert Dunfield, leased it using a 70 ton crane to dig the pit area to 134 ft, about 42 m deep and 100 ft wide. This was [snorts] the first time the excavators had chosen to widen their horizons. In 1967, the island was purchased by Triton Alliance Limited, and excavations made it to 235 ft, about 72 m deep.
Then they sent in cameras to check what was that far beneath the earth. Some archaeologists believe that the images retrieved included chests, human remains, wooden cripping, and tulle.
However, imaging was poor at that time.
Nobody could be too sure. Despite the disturbing fatality rate, the undiscovered Oak Island treasure has never been recovered, and nobody can accurately predict its content. However, it has been speculated that the treasure includes pirate treasure, naval treasure, Marie Antuinet’s jewels, Shakespeare and manuscripts, Knights Templar, or Freemasonry treasure. Some researchers have suggested that it may be the loot of a sunken Viking ship.
Even former United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, stirred by family stories originating from his sailing and trading grandfather, Warren Delano Jr., began following the mystery in late 1909 and early 1910.
He continued to follow it until he died in 1945.
It was also rumored that the president [music] secretly planned to visit Oak Island in 1939 while he was in Halifax, but an international responsibility prevented him from visiting. Since the last attempts to excavate more parts of the island to find the treasure proved feudal, the Lagginina brothers decided to try a multifaceted approach in a bid to divide and conquer. This was the last straw. If they did not find anything, the treasure hunting world would learn to accept that there was no hidden or buried treasure on Oak Island. The questionable emergence of Samuel Ball’s wealth remains a mystery, but what were they [music] missing? Was the treasure buried on the second island? The Lagginina brothers kept checking portions of the island till they picked something. Who knows? This may be the breakthrough.
A map of intricate findings.
Rick and Marty Lagginina partnered with Dan Blankenship [music] and David Tobias in an attempt to continue the historical quest for the treasure. However, instead of taking a group of men and excavation equipment like other treasure hunting groups, they decided to draw out a map.
They crossed [music] out portions that had already been excavated along with what had been found there. This time, Rick and Marty arranged a team of [music] experts in different fields of archaeology and research to help. They took turns checking out marked portions on the island, and they recorded every discovery through their search. The first place they checked out was the swamp. During a careful search by the Lagginina brothers and their team, they discovered a copper coin from 1652, suggesting that there was activity on Oak Island long before the 1795 discovery of the money pit. This coin was a 1652 Spanish maraved. They also discovered a rod iron spike dating from the late 1600s to the early 1700s.
This spike may have been used to nail down the decking boards of the Spanish gallion. While using a metal detector, the Lagginas and their team found a garnet pin that dated as far back as the 16th century. The brothers called it their first treasure pole, and they began to wonder if Ball found the treasure and buried them item by item across the island. In another careful search on lot 8 by metal detector experts Gary Drayton and Jack Bagley, the team found a copper artifact that had mysterious symbols on it. These symbols were composed of a high amount of copper with much smaller equal amounts of iron and zinc. However, it has not been [music] linked to any culture yet. In lot 16, Gary Drayton found two King Charles II Britannia coins from the 17th century.
They were created [music] more than a century before the money pit discovery in 1795.
Soon enough, the team had the first real piece of a common value in lot 21. The team got the first confirmed gold after they found a goldplated brooch [music] dated as far back as the 14th century, almost a millennium before the money pit discovery.
Could there be a chest of [music] vintage valuable artifacts that Ball hid across Oak Island? As the search continued, the Lagginina brothers got their first real proof [music] that freed slave Samuel Ball, who became one of Nova Scotia’s wealthiest land owners set foot on the island. They found a slave tag with the name Ball on it while searching through lot 26. [music] After getting the first portion of land on Oak Island, Ball went on to buy more expensive portions. The only explanation for this motivation was that he [music] found something of consistent value on the island and decided to find the land.
The Lagginina brothers could [music] not paint a theory of what went through Ball’s mind till they came across a stone well during their search. Located more than half a mile from the money pit on the western side of the island, they noticed that the stone well never freezes no matter the harsh winter [music] conditions in Canada.
Apart from the money pit excavation area, the stone well is the only place where water sample testing revealed high trace evidence of silver. Perhaps Ball knew about this well and decided to keep the land for himself. In a portion of the money pit metal detector expert Gary Drayton found a gold-plated military officer’s button. The second piece of common valuable material since the search began. [music] A bore hole in the money pit also revealed a parchment and a leather book binding about 160 ft underground, favoring the wild theory that Sir Francis Bacon once visited the island to bury William Shakespeare’s original manuscripts.
Despite the money pit being the star area of several excavation attempts dating back two centuries, it never ran out of mind-blowing discoveries.
During another search in the money pit, shards of pottery were discovered at an unbelievable 192 ft beneath the ground. The strange Chinese porcelain on these handpainted pearlware pottery fragments suggests that they originated from Staffordshire, England from 1700 to 1800. However, where these pottery fragments were found was very strange. No other man-made object had been found on Oak Island at that depth, even during the multiple excavations. Soon enough, the Lagginina brothers hit their jackpot. In 2022, geocscientist Dr. Ian Spooner and his colleagues, chemist Dr. Matt Lukeman and hydrogeeologist Dr. Fred Michelle, [music] conducted water testing in previously drilled bore holes all across the Money Pit area. In an amazing turn of events, they determined that an unnatural source of gold appeared to be buried between a depth of 80 and 120 ft underground and seemed to be concentrated in a 20x 20 ft area.
Perhaps Ball knew about this, too.
Although several items that can be considered treasures have been found across the island over the years, the Lagginina brothers can only feel like they are close to solving the Oak Island mystery with each finding. To say the least, they have established portions of the treasure myths revolving around wealthy black man Samuel Ball. With the slave tag discovery, [music] they established that he spent a significant time on Oak Island and he was not traveling through. All of the artifacts found across certain lots on the island also corroborate the time frame suggested in the treasure myth. The site [snorts] consists of digs [music] by numerous individuals and groups of people. All the excavators that have either bought a portion of the island or engaged in an excavation excursion on the island. One thing is sure, the Lagginina brothers would keep searching for clues along with their team [music] till they could prove something or nothing.
Do you believe that wealthy Samuel Ball buried a hidden treasure in Oak Island?
Can you suggest [music] any explanation as to how he got his wealth in a short period of time since cabbage farming was mostly not a probable source? Write your thoughts in the comment section as we will [music] be checking them out. Also, don’t forget to like, share with your friends, [music] and subscribe to the channel if you want us to drop more of these videos.