![]() Blockhouse Investigations Nova Scotia Every good treasure mystery starts out with a legend. In the case of Oak Island it's the tale of the 1795 discovery of the "Money Pit' by a trio of colonials named McGinnis, Smith and Vaughan. And as legends tend to do, this story has evolved and changed through the re-telling and addition of embellishments, to a point where it's increasingly hard to separate the fact from fiction. In fact, today it is very difficult for researchers and enthusiasts to tell how much of what I call, "The Discovery Legend" is true because so many people have told the story differently over the past 220 years. The Discovery Legend in it's most basic and elemental form, generally includes these main motifs:
Today we're going to talk about the real Daniel McGinnis, historically and biographically. But in order to do that we must first address one very important aspect of the Discovery Legend that effects the entire story as we know it today in its most popular form; the "three boys" motif. The most common versions of the Oak island tale most always mention specifically that the trio were, boys, lads, or teenagers at the time of discovery. But historical and genealogical records tell us that this is just not true. Even today's hit TV show, The Curse of Oak Island, produced by The History Channel, continues to proliferate this popular romanticized version of the story. But, in fact, both Smith and McGinnis were grown men in 1795 and Vaughan was likely in his later teens. And, interestingly enough, they actually lived and worked on the island. So now that we've addressed that issue let's talk about "McGinnis". The surname itself is one of many spelling variations of the Scots, MacInnes. And the given name, Daniel, seems to be an Anglicization of the Scots Gaelic name, Domhnall ; which is also Anglicized as, Donald. "Daniel McGinnis" was actually a man named Donald MacInnes and from historical documents and family records we have learned that he was born in 1758/59 on the Isle of Skye. We also know that in 1773 he emigrated to North Carolina with his parents when he was around 14 years of age. That would make him 37 years old in 1795, at the time of discovery. extract from a 1785 document attesting to Donald's service in the North Carolina Loyalist Forces during the American Revolution and revealing information about his age and place of origin From primary source documents, such as the one pictured above, and family records we are able to piece together the story of a young man who picked a side during the American war for independence and in doing so, lost everything he had.
When the American's won their freedom, Donald arrived in Nova Scotia among the thousands of Loyalist refugees that came to make a new home here. And that's where I'll sign off for today readers. I'll bring you more on Donald MacInnes in two more installments. So drop by the Blockhouse tomorrow for Part 2 when we'll discuss Donald's arrival in Nova Scotia and, his life up to the time of the 1795 beginning of The Legend of Oak Island. So until then friends, good afternoon from the Blockhouse!
35 Comments
Gina Torresso
1/27/2016 10:37:14 am
Great Information Kel, thank you for sharing this information. Most, of us did not know this information.
Reply
KelHancock
1/27/2016 11:27:15 am
Thank you Gina and Karen. We appreciate your kind words and your interest in the history of the Oak Island Mystery.
Reply
Karen Kant
1/27/2016 10:51:26 am
Very much enjoying all your posts. Thank you for your honesty and quest to clarify much that has become so muddled through the years, and more so in recent years. Great job Blockhouse team, very thorough and articulate. The entire presentation is civil and informative. If you choose not to post this comment, please extend my gratitude to the team for the apparent dedication and loyalty to present all the facts in such a refreshing manner. Looking forward to future posts, thanks again....Karen
Reply
Randal Taylor
1/27/2016 11:11:07 am
Damn your interesting investigations and research done properly, with things called 'truth' and 'reality'
Reply
Jerry Vano
1/27/2016 07:46:40 pm
The knowing of truth will make us free. The riming of the past history goes way back to Enki Enlil and Marduk. Searching for gold. The names are the key The depression in the ground collision of Tiamat?
Reply
KelHancock
1/27/2016 08:32:37 pm
Hi Jerry! Thanks for checking out our site.
Reply
Clinton McInnes
1/29/2016 12:58:03 am
"Daniel McGinnis" was actually a man named Donald MacInnes and from historical documents and family records we have learned that he was born in 1758/59 on the Isle of Skye. We also know that in 1773 he emigrated to North Carolina with his parents when he was around 14 years of age. That would make him 37 years old in 1795, at the time of discovery.
Reply
Clinton McInnes
7/25/2017 12:10:58 am
Daniel McGinnis was not Captain Donald McInnes from Isle of Skye but rather a Private Donald McGinnis listed in Charleston registers at the end of the War of Independence who shipped out for Nova Scotia. Captain Donald McInnes went south and with a son Miles (not Lieutenant Miles) started a plantation on Cat Island in the Bahamas. There are records of his marriage etc etc...so please look into Private Donald McGinnis and don't promote Captain Donald McInnes as the Oak Island chap along with his Memorial etc...
Reply
KelHancock
1/29/2016 09:41:20 am
Clinton,
Reply
KelHancock
1/29/2016 10:25:05 am
Clinton.
Reply
Clinton McInnes (New Zealand)
1/29/2016 10:06:21 pm
Kel.. I hope the following helps.
Chris Racine
4/27/2017 07:10:17 am
Hey Kel is that the same "Sam Ball" who allegedly became suddenly wealthy? 12/11/2018 10:56:38 pm
I'm happy to hear my ancestor found this place, on oak island and I would like to see them find the treasure!!! Good luck 🍀.....
Kel Hancock
1/29/2016 10:34:58 pm
Clinton
Reply
Cappy
1/31/2016 11:03:03 am
Thank you so much for publishing these stories Kel. I have been interested in Oak Island over 45 years and will now, and forever on, refer to Daniel McGinnis as Donald MacInnes and correct anyone along the way.
Reply
John
5/27/2016 11:55:06 am
Hi Kel, your Clinton (my Dad) and my brother came to a conclusion like this at some time after you last spoke to him. Interesting to follow this over the past 20 or 30 years of looking and discussing. One more generation in the line with the name Donald/Daniel?
Reply
John Wonnacott
2/2/2016 06:16:13 am
I have been involved in Oak Island research for the past 16 or 17 years, including some original research on Oak Island and supporting scientific testing of artifacts etc. I am interested in joining some of the discussions, and I would like to know who the people are, who write this blog and who reply - so I may know who I am corresponding with.
Reply
Kel Hancock
2/2/2016 10:45:55 pm
Hello John
Reply
James T. Fendley
1/31/2018 04:09:17 pm
Kel, I'm trying hard to complete many time lines. I need to know what you have found on Daniel McGinnis as of 2018
Margaret Rafuse
2/15/2016 06:21:27 pm
Hello Mr Hancock. Daniel McGinnis was my 5x gr. grandfather and needless to say I eagerly follow any and all information concerning him, his descendants and Oak Island. Thank you for posting all the wonderful information . There is of course , so much I don't know ! One thing that has myself and family members stumped is that my gr.grandmother seems to be native or at least of native descent. Her mother was Mary McInnis/McGinnis. We have no paper trail , so we really do not know how that came to be. Do you know oif any of his descendants were of Native blood ? I would appreciate any information if possible. Thank you, regards, Marg Rafuse.
Reply
Clinton McInnes
2/15/2016 07:13:08 pm
Based on what you say if your gr gr grandmother was a Mary McInnis would it not suggest that your gr grandfather was the line with the native bloodline, if there was one?. It could of course have also been Mary's mother, but suspect not father...Kel probably has more on the family trees of Donald (Daniel) McInnis (es)...
Reply
Kel
2/16/2016 05:45:01 am
Margaret
Reply
Krin Patrie
9/8/2016 09:15:46 am
Hi Margaret, Daniel McGinnis was my great+6 grandfather and my great-great grandmother was Bessie Rafuse. My email is kpatrie@balancewalking.com if you would like to connect.
Reply
Krin Patrie
9/8/2016 09:16:24 am
Hi Margaret, Daniel McGinnis was my great+6 grandfather and my great-great grandmother was Bessie Rafuse. My email is kpatrie@balancewalking.com if you would like to connect.
Reply
Krin Patrie
9/8/2016 09:16:50 am
Hi Margaret, Daniel McGinnis was my great+6 grandfather and my great-great grandmother was Bessie Rafuse. My email is kpatrie@balancewalking.com if you would like to connect.
Reply
Margaret Rafuse
2/16/2016 06:44:36 am
I certainly. Will do that ! I will need tomdig out my files so that I will get my facts correct. Thank you, Marg.
Reply
Margaret Rafuse
2/16/2016 12:02:28 pm
Hello Kel. For some odd reason I do not see a box at the top of the page saying "contact us" . Would it be because I am on a tablet?
Reply
Margaret Rafuse
2/16/2016 02:28:14 pm
Please disregard above post as I worked it out on my regular computer !
Allen Goodwin-Hancock
4/25/2017 02:41:37 pm
Nicely done Kel! It's nice to hear the real facts.
Reply
George McInnis
5/21/2018 06:32:12 pm
I enjoy reading about the Genealogy of the McInnis family's Thanks Cousin Kel
Reply
Tammie Smith
8/18/2018 05:19:30 pm
Donald 'Daniel' McInnis is my 5x Great Grandfather. I have been recently contact with Kel Hancock, Marg Rafuse, and Allen Goodwin-Hancock, all the research has been wonderful this far and definitely closing some gaps in my research for my maternal family.
Reply
Elizabeth Dennis
11/30/2018 08:32:34 pm
Daniel MacInnis was my 4xGreat Grandpa. I don't know if it's the same Daniel MacInnis, but I'd love to know anything more about the MacInnis family. On Ancestry I have found that Daniel's son was named James and his son was named James, then my great grandma's name was Artie. I know that My Grandfather came from the Isle of Skye and I'm pretty sure his father's name was Alexander and less sure that his father's name was Duncan. I Also have several land grants for NC in the 1800s. I haven't been able to find his emigration documentation.
Reply
Clinton McInnes
12/1/2018 12:42:00 pm
I am a 67 year old Isle of Skye McInnes descendant in New Zealand. My great, great grandmother (Catherine McInnes (b1806)) had two brothers who were named Alexander (Sandy) and who had a great uncle named Duncan. It is highly possible that one of her great uncles, (known to have been Angus, Black John, Donald or Duncan also had a son named Alexander. (My great, great, grandfather (Donald McInnes) was also the grandson of one of those great uncles, Donald married his 2nd cousin Catherine McInnes whose grandfather was Black John.
Reply
Samantha
1/19/2019 09:08:43 am
I love this story and hope to visit the Island myself someday.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
From The Blockhouse
is published by Blockhouse Investigations and oakislandcompendium.ca in Nova Scotia, Canada Editors and Chief Correspondents Kelly W. Hancock, CD Doug Crowell Writers Jonathan Guy Contributing Writers John Wonnacott, P. Eng. Les MacPhie,P.Eng. Researchers Linda Rafuse Tammy Sloan Trevor McFetridge Consultants Alessandra Nadudvari Shawna Goodall Webmaster Jonathan Guy All material and images published herein, unless otherwise credited, are copyright of Blockhouse Investigations and oakislandcompendium.ca and may be reproduced by permission only. Views expressed in these blog posts are our own. The views of those that comment are their own. Archives
November 2017
Categories |