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The Characters of Oak Island: Samuel Ball — Respected Cabbage Farmer or Something More?
Did a Former Slave Find the Mysterious Treasure That Has Intrigued Treasure Hunters for Over 200 Years?
Over the many years that searchers have hunted for the fabled Oak island treasure, the quest has thrown up innumerable tales of sacrifice, endeavour and fortitude. It is a tale steeped in history and lore and one that is coloured by unique characters and personalities, creating a rich tapestry of humanity. However, perhaps none of these characters has a tale as remarkable as that of Samuel Ball.
A slave, cabbage farmer and eventually one of the richest men in Nova Scotia, the mystery of Samuel Ball may be as intriguing as anything else in the history of the Oak Island legend.
Born into slavery in South Carolina in 1764 or 1765, Samuel Ball escaped life on the plantation by joining the British forces during the American Revolution.
In November of 1775, the Governor of Virginia John Murray declared that any enslaved person who joined the British forces and stood against the rebel insurgency would be given his freedom. Given this promise of land and his release, the teenage Ball fought with the British troops during the revolution, joining his native…
