1641
- October 31
- Spanish galleon Mestra Señora de la pura y Limpia Concepción strikes a coral reef off the Bahamas, breaking up, dumping its huge load of treasure. (Some of this treasure may have been buried on Oak Island.) [5.15,163] [450.24]
1650
-
- (sometime in 1600s) An old man dying says he was a crew member of Captain William Kidd, had assisted in burying an enormous treasure on a secluded island east of Boston. This legend is widely spread, with searches conducted over 100 years. [4.2]
1665
- July
- Sir Robert Moray of England gives a lecture on the use of charcoal-fired furnace with 28-30 foot high chimney to draw fresh air down a mining shaft. (Charcoal is later found 30 feet down in the Money Pit, possibly used in a furnace to draw down fresh air to workers, making this the likely earliest date of building the Money Pit.) [5.29,148]
1683
- September 5
- William Phips of Boston sails from England in the Rose of Algeree, having won the King's approval and funds to seek the wreck of the Concepción, or any other treasure of any wreck among the Bahama Islands. [5.163]
1685
-
- William Phips returns to England with little treasure, amounting to 470 pounds sterling. [5.164]
1686
- September 12
- William Phips commands two more ships, James and Mary, and sloop Henry London, under private backers, again searching for the wreck of Concepción. [5.164]
1687
- January 20
- Ships under the command of William Phips locate the wreck of the Concepción, off the Bahama Islands. [5.164]
- February
- (to April) Ships of William Phips bring up a fortune in treasure from the Concepción, mainly in silver. [5.167]
- June 6
- William Phips arrives anchored off England, with treasure valued at 205,536 pounds, from a voyage that cost 3200 pounds. [5.167]
- June 28
- William Phips is knighted by King James II of England for his service to the crown in locating the wreck of Spanish galleon Concepción. He is appointed provost-marshal of New England, but his request for the return of the charter of the colonies is denied. (This may have turned Phips' loyalty against the King in his treatment of future treasure finds.) [5.15,168]
- September 3
- A flotilla of English ships (James, Mary, Henry London, Foresight, Princess, Good Luck, and Boy Huzzar) under William Phips set out for more treasure from the wreck of the Concepción. [5.169]
1688
- May 8
- William Phips hauls up anchor from the Concepción wreck site, to head to Boston to take up his position as provost-marshal of New England. Charles Mordaunt and his ships also leave the wreck site, perhaps to escort Phips and his valuable cargo. [5.171,179]
- July 16
- William Phips leaves Boston for England. [5.184]
- August 2
- The returning expedition from the wreck of Concepción reports finding little treasure. (But treasure may possibly have been recovered, buried on Oak Island for recovery after revolution in England.) [5.15,171]
- August
- (to January 1689) Sir William Phips and crew of Good Luck possibly construct the "Money Pit" on Oak Island to store treasure recovered from the Spanish galleon Concepción. [5.16]
- August 17
- William Phips arrives at Downs, England. (The month-long voyage may have included a stop at Oak Island to drop off a shipload of treasure and crew to construct the Money Pit.) [5.184]
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- November 5
- William, Prince of Orange, invades England, forcing King James II to flee. [5.15,172]
1689
- February 14
- (to April 29) Charles Mordaunt is greatly rewarded by the new King of England, being appointed privy councillor in London, first lord of the treasury, Earl of Monmouth, and lord lieutenant of Northamptonshire. (His rewards may be for his connection to recovery of treasure from the Concepción, undeclared and hidden on Oak Island.) [5.177]
- May 29
- William Phips returns to Boston, and sets out on frigate Six Friends to patrol the New England coast, possibly to recover the Oak Island treasure for England's new King. [5.173,184]
- (month unknown)
- A group from England returns to Oak Island to recover the treasure, but is unable to. [5.16]
1752
- July 2
- British government sends a company of Cornish miners from the Army from Falmouth, Cornwall to Annapolis Royal (government of Nova Scotia) to work for pay on an unspecified project. Among them is a famous British military tunnelling engineer. (The purpose may be to construct the Flood Tunnel. Two of the officers recommence their military careers in 1754.) [5.16]
- (month unknown)
- (fall to 1754 summer) Engineers from England likely build the Flood Tunnel from the ocean to the Money Pit, to keep others from recovering the lost treasure. [5.16,145]
1759
- October 18
- The Shoreham Grant of 11.5 x 15.5 miles (100,000 acres) west of Halifax, including Oak Island, is a land transfer signed by Charles Lawrence, Esquire, Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief of Nova Scotia. The grant is made to about 65-76 immigrants from New England colonies. Seven handwritten pages, including a phrase excluding "Mines of Gold and Silver, Precious Stones and Lapis Lazuli in and upon the said Shares or Rights.". (The unusual inclusion of jewels not generally native to the area indicates a reference to excluding treasure and that the government may have known of it, and had been unsuccessful in recovering it.) [4.7] [5.11] [7.3] [12.5]
1762
-
- Charles Morris, surveyor-general of Nova Scotia, makes first survey of Oak Island, and divides the 128 acres into 32 rectangular lots of 4 acres each. [3.20] [12.6]
- August 12
- The Spanish garrison at Havana surrenders to British ships. Many clues and pieces of evidence suggest some two million British pounds worth of gold and silver were transported to and buried on Oak Island, for later transport to England, after King George III gained greater power. [4.204]
1768
- March 8
- Edward Smith acquires Lot 19, next to the lot containing the Money Pit. (though likely not known at this time). [4.7] (Smith sells Lot 19 to Timothy Lynch [12.6])
1775
- August 20
- Birth of John Smith in Boston, Massachusetts; one of original three diggers of Money Pit, bought Lot 18 containing the Money Pit, lived there until death in 1857. [12.6]
1776
-
- British cartographer draws sea chart of the area, calling the island Glouster Isle in Mecklenburgh Bay. [12.3]
1790
-
- Daniel Vaughan sells Oak Island lots 13 and 14 to Nathaniel Melvin. [7.7]
1795
- June
- Daniel McInnis, age 13, discovers on Oak Island (off Nova Scotia, Canada) a clearing in the forest, with many old oak stumps surrounding a huge single oak tree with sawed-off limb and tackle block hung from it, about 16 feet off the ground. Below limb is noticeable bowl-shaped depression 13 feet in diameter suggesting something was buried long ago and the ground settled. (This account is based on newspaper letters and articles from 1861-64.) [1.190] [4.2] [5.19] [7.8] [12.2]
- (next day after discovery) Daniel McInnis returns to the site with friends John Smith (age 19) and Anthony Vaughan (age 16). They find remains of a road from the oak tree to the western end of the island. The three teenagers begin digging in the ground in the depression. At two feet down, a layer of flagstones is encountered. Digging below, they notice the sides of the 13-foot diameter shaft are hard clay, showing pick marks. (The flagstones are not natural to Oak Island, later found to be from Gold River, 2 miles up the coast of the mainland.)) [1.190] [4.3] [5.21] [7.8] [12.2]
- June 26
- John Smith buys Lot 18, the site of the pit, from Casper Wollenhaupt of Lunenburg for 7 pounds 10 shillings. (He later builds a house, and buys lots 15, 16, 17, 19, and 20. He lives on the island until his death in 1857.) [1.190] [3.20] [4.5] [7.7,8]
- (month unknown)
- (over several weeks of the three teenagers digging on their own) At ten feet down, a platform of rotting oak logs is encountered, with ends embedded in the clay walls. Below the platform is a gap of two feet from soil settling. Another platform is encountered at twenty feet, with loose fill in between each platform. At 25 feet after several weeks digging, they quit work, refill the hole, and seek outside help. [1.190] [4.3] [5.21] [7.8] [12.2]
1803
-
- The three original diggers interest Simeon Lynds of Truro, related to Vaughan's father. Lynds forms the Onslow Company, appointing Colonel Robert Archibald director of operations. Investors (about 30) include Sheriff Thomas Harris of Pictou and Captain David Archibald. [5.20] [7.12] (1802 [4.12] [5.20] [12.9]) (1804 [1.191] [7.12])
1804
-
- (Sprint to Summer) The Onslow Syndicate begins excavations on the Pit. They find oak platforms or notches in the sides every ten feet down. At 30 feet, charcoal is encountered, likely used in a ventilation furnace. At 40 feet, a lot of putty is encountered, likely used for sealing an air vent or to plug water leaks. At 50 feet, beach stones are encountered, likely used for backfilling the flood tunnel. At 60 feet, much coconut fibre is found, perhaps used for rope, or caulking with putty. [1.31,191] [5.32] [7.15] (1803 [4.13] [12.9])
- (Summer) At the 90 foot level, a large stone slab weighing 175-500 pounds measuring 24-36 inches by 12-16 inches is found, possibly with an encoded inscription facing down. Also at 90 feet, water is slowly seeping through the clay. At the 93 foot level, the ground is probed with an iron bar. At 98 feet, it strikes a another wood platform, the first not at 10 foot spacing. The extent of the wood is bounded by the sides of the pit. Digging is halted for the day. (A university professor later supposedly deciphers the rock message as "forty feet below two million pounds lie buried". The stone disappears in the 1930s.) [1.31,191] [5.32] [7.15] (1803 [4.13] [12.9.13])
- Returning a day or two later after digging to 93 feet, water has filled to a height of 60 feet (33 feet below surface). Bailing night and day is ineffective. Colonel Archibald temporarily halts work. [1.191] [5.36] [7.15] (1803 [4.16] [12.13])
- (Autumn) The Onslow Company pays Mr. Mosher 80 pounds to run a water pump. Water is pumped from the pit down to 90 feet, then the pump bursts. Work is stopped for the year. [4.16] [7.15] (1804 Spring [12.14])
1805
-
- (Summer) Onslow Company workers dig a new shaft 14 feet south-east of the main shaft, down to 110 feet, then start on a horizonal tunnel toward the main pit. After 12 feet, water floods in, raising water level to 65 feet in both pits. With funds exhausted, the company abandons the treasure hunt. [1.191] [5.37] (1805 Spring [7.15]) (1804 Spring [4.18] [12.14])
1810
-
- (year unknown) John Smith puts the 90-foot engraved stone in his house as part of the fireplace. [4.20]
1845
-
- A new company is formed, the Truro Company, including Anthony Vaughan, Dr. David Barnes Lynds, John Gammell, Adams Tupper, and Robert Creelman. Manager is Jotham McCully and foreman is James Pitblado. [5.39] [7.22] (formed in 1849 [4.25] [12.17])
- December 14
- Death of Samuel Ball, former of 36 acres of Oak Island, at age 81. The property passes to his servant Isaac Butler, who changes his name to Isaac Ball. [7.6]
1849
-
- Anthony Vaughan tells the facts of Oak Island as he knows them to Robert Creelman. [7.7]
- The Truro Company begins operations, clearing out the main pit. Over two weeks they get down to 86 feet. Next day water has filled about 60 feet; bailing is useless. [4.26] [5.39] [7.23] [12.17]]
- (Summer) The Truro Company establishes a platform 30-feet down the main shaft. Using a pod auger, five cores are drilled.
- 1st hole: lost only valve slugger.
- 2nd hole: strikes platform at 98 feet, 5 inch thick spruce, drops 12 inches, 4 inch oak, 5 inch metal pieces, bringing up 3 gold or copper links like watch chain, then 8 inches oak, 22 inch loose metal, 4 inch oak, 6 inch spruce, 7 feet clay.
- 3rd hole: platform at 98 feet, drop 18 inches, maybe strike side of cask, brink up oak splinters, fiber, then another platform at 104 feet.
- 4th hole: hit platform, no metal.
- 5th hole: hit platform, no metal. Foreman John Pitblado washes and examines something, puts in pocket, refuses to show others, tells shareholder John Gammell he would show it at next board meeting, then leaves the island.
[1.191] [4.26] [5.40] [7.23] [12.17]
- August 1
- John Pitblado and Charles Archibald apply to the Province of Nova Scotia for a license to dig for treasure on the island. (Several days later, they receive it, but only for "ungranted and unoccupied lands". They try to purchase the lot containing the Money Pit, without success.) [3.37] [4.29] [12.19]
1850
-
- (Summer) Truro Company workers dig another shaft (No. 3) 10 feet north-west of the main shaft down to 109 feet, encountering no water. Then they dig horizontally to the Money Pit. Water breaks through again, filling 45 feet in 20 minutes. Bailing done with two pumping gins powered by two horses, night and day for a week, only partially effective. Workers notice for the first time that the water is salty, and the level rises and falls with the tide. This indicates there is a channel from the sea to the pit. [1.92] [4.29] [5.43] [7.26] [12.19]
- While excavating the Smith's Cove beach area (520 feet each of main shaft), workers find that the entire 145 feet length of beach from low to high water mark was artificially created. They find several inches deep of coconut fiber, over 4-5 inches of decayed eel grass, over a 145 foot wide area from low to high water mark, covering 4-5 feet of beach rocks free of sand and gravel. [1.193] [4.31] [5.44] [7.29] [12.20]
- A cofferdam of rock and clay is built at Smith's Cove to hold back the seawater while excavating the beach area. During construction, they notice remains of an old dam. When the area is drained, they dig just inside the dam, finding that the clay was removed and replaced by beach stones. Under the rocks are five 8-inch wide drains of flat stones over pairs of parallel lines of stones converging to a single larger drain at the high tide line, leading inland. As the drains are excavated, they are found to slope down toward the shore. Halfway to the shore, a high tide overflows the dam and destroys it. [1.193] [4.31] [5.44] [7.29] [12.20]
- At 140 feet inland of the drain converging point, workers dig down to 75 feet (No. 4), but do not find the water channel. [1.194] [4.32] (50 feet from shore [5.45]) (100 feet from shore [12.22]) (140 feet from main pit [7.30])
- A new shaft (No. 5) is dug 12 feet south of the 75 foot shaft (No. 4), and salt water is hit at 35 feet under a large boulder. Timbers are driven down to try to block the channel. But pumping of the Money Pit is still useless. [1.194] [4.32] [5.45] [7.31] [12.22]
- (Fall) At 20 feet south of the Money Pit, workers dig another shaft (No. 5A) down to 112-118 feet, then dig horizontally to the Money Pit, making a tunnel 4 feet high and 3 feet wide. At 18 feet toward the Pit, the cribbing and tools in the main pit collapse, and water breaks through into the new tunnel. The sole worker underground in the new shaft grabs the end of a painted yellow keg (or wooden dish) among water and timbers from the Money Pit. [1.194] [4.32] [7.31] (west of Money Pit [5.49] [12.22])
1851
-
- The Truro Company tries to raise additional fund, but is unsuccessful, and the company closes down. [4.32] [7.31]
1853
-
- John Smith conveys his Oak Island property to sons Joseph and Thomas. [4.47]
1854
-
- The Truro Company folds. [7.33]
1857
-
- Joseph and Thomas convey the Oak Island property to Henry Stevens. [4.47]
- September 29
- John Smith, island resident, dies. He had lived on the island for 71 years. Henry Stevens conveys his property to Anthony Graves, now largest land owner of Oak Island. [4.7] [5.43] [7.7]
1859
-
- The Truro Syndicate re-groups, resumes excavating with steam-operated pumps. But the pumping fails, with too much water remaining in the main Pit. [5.50]
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