Who is Samuel Ball? 'The Curse of Oak Island' sheds light on Black Loyalist and one of richest men in province
NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA: While the Lagina brothers pursued the mythical treasure on the island, 'The Curse of Oak Island' introduced us to numerous historical characters, including Samuel Ball.
The name takes center stage in 'The Curse of Oak Island' Season 11, Episode 5, and his story seems to cast a significant shadow over the saga. It is believed that he may have uncovered the famously cursed riches of Oak Island.
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Certainly, the mystery of Oak Island has given rise to a multitude of theories. This seemingly endless list now encompasses not only the previously mentioned names but also includes the Knights Templar, Freemasons, and Rosicrucians.
And it's quite doubtful that all of them are correct. Nonetheless, Samuel Ball's relative obscurity among these makes his own narrative all the more intriguing.
Samuel Ball was one of the Black Loyalists during the American Revolution
Certain details are known with certainty. Samuel was born in South Carolina in 1764 or 1765 and spent his first 11 years of life in captivity and forced labor on a rice plantation.
This is hardly unexpected given that Samuel was born during a period when the slave trade was still legal and active in the 13 colonies, and would not be legally or practically banned in America for another century.
It is, therefore, not surprising—though certainly remarkable—that Samuel escaped captivity at the age of 11.
With the rebellions that eventually sparked the American Revolution, British military leaders pledged freedom to enslaved individuals in return for their support on the crown's side.
Samuel was among them.
After America's triumph in the war, he moved north, settling in Nova Scotia. This was a popular resort for Black Loyalists, former slaves who fought for the British during the American Revolution.
Because what is now Canada was still under British authority, it provided a safe refuge for Black Loyalists, with tens of thousands arriving on ships after the war.
Samuel Ball was the largest landowner on Oak Island
Samuel arrived at Oak Island around 1787, according to historian Michael East. Eight years later, the legendary Money Pit of Oak Island was uncovered, and according to some unverified sources, Ball was present at the time.
In any case, he knew the people who discovered it in 1795, and by 1810, he owned the piece of property that encompassed the Money Pit, as well as numerous additional plots. He was, in fact, the island's greatest landowner at the time.
It's unclear how Samuel was able to acquire so much property, but as East pointed out, land in the "New World" was still quite inexpensive at the time, and not wholly out of reach for individuals from poor backgrounds.
Nonetheless, as Rosemary Godin of the Nova Scotian news site Saltwire observed, Samuel died in 1846 as one of the richest individuals in the province.
The source of his income is unknown, and it is unlikely that his life as a cabbage farmer, as most documents indicated, was particularly lucrative.
Furthermore, as Michael mentioned, there has been conjecture that Samuel had a link to the enigmatic "90-foot slab" discovered in the Money Pit. The rune-like script is strikingly similar to that employed by loyalist captives during the Revolutionary War to send hidden messages to one another.
This implies that it might very well have been inscribed by him, albeit this is impossible to confirm given that the stone has long ago vanished into history.
When did Samuel Ball die?
Samuel died on December 14, 1845, at the age of 81, leaving behind at least his then-wife Catherine (no record of what happened to Mary) and a grandson Simeon, both of whom were listed in the testament.
Issac Butler, to whom Samuel donated his estate, including Hook Island, was also listed in the testament.
'The Curse of Oak Island' Season 11 airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on History.
