Did a Sawpit start the Legend?

[Armchair detective]

"Just one more thing...."
Where did the sawdust go?
Was there a market for that in say 1760-1780?
How long does it take for sawdust to decompose to where it's unrecognizable as such?

OK - three things.

 

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[Armchair detective]

OK 3 more things.
The investors of the Onslow company Crow mentioned:
Col Richard Archibald
David Archibald
Sheriff Thomas Harris

THEY do not have ties to the land sales
of OI. Sorry about that miscommunication

So ...

3 investor types, their ears prick up by the OI story. Must have made a trip to OI, looked in the pit and SAW SOMETHING, something that made them think "there might be a treasure there".

Investor types don't make money by stupid investments.

What is known about these three,(besides not owning any lots on OI)?

 

[Crow]

"Just one more thing...."
Where did the sawdust go?
Was there a market for that in say 1760-1780?
How long does it take for sawdust to decompose to where it's unrecognizable as such?

OK - three things.

Armchair

Good questions. First saw dust has many uses. Personally to do not think there was great market for saw dust in that period. Yet hardy settlers would found uses for it.

As fire starter, bedding for animals in barns during the harsh winters. Second while we never how many trees was cut down previously on oak island there probably would not of been huge industrialized amounts of saw dust to deal with. Much of dust decomposed at site. if given the claim that new trees had almost full grown gives you an indication of time.

Interest enough there was claims of layers putty like substance perhaps it was decomposing fine wood dust.

Crow

 

[releventchair]

"Just one more thing...."
Where did the sawdust go?
Was there a market for that in say 1760-1780?
How long does it take for sawdust to decompose to where it's unrecognizable as such?

OK - three things.

Ice houses (early colonists in areas dug pits as temporary winter quarters , why wouldn't they for ice too?) used sawdust as insulation.

Frederic Tudor in his eventual success would use it aboard ships bound for far distant places.

 

[Crow]

OK 3 more things.
The investors of the Onslow company Crow mentioned:
Col Richard Archibald
David Archibald
Sheriff Thomas Harris

THEY do not have ties to the land sales
of OI. Sorry about that miscommunication

So ...

3 investor types, their ears prick up by the OI story. Must have made a trip to OI, looked in the pit and SAW SOMETHING, something that made them think "there might be a treasure there".

Investor types don't make money by stupid investments.

What is known about these three,(besides not owning any lots on OI)?

HAHAHAHA.

Trust me investors make crappy investments all the time. I blew 1.5 million as investor on a undersea mining project in Papua guinea. That was going to mine rare minerals from SMS deposits deep in sea floor. Company was Called nautilus minerals. Environmental groups funded by China bankrupted them in courts tying up cash flow.

That is just one of multitude of investment that went belly up over hundreds of years company's are still coming and going being taken over and liquidated. No different to mines and technology stocks all have shelf life in the changing needs in society and dynamic in a evolving economy. People invest in projects for all the right or wrong reasons.

Smart investor diversify there investment and speculations that is why we have a stock market.There is any old saying never place all your own eggs in one basket. I have diverse investments from mining shares I come from a mining back ground. Also other share banking. real estate and investment in gold and silver.

In regard to these three. I apologize I should of confirmed them for this Onslow company. It appeared the names given as members was inaccurate in regards to Col Richard Archibald, David Archibald, Sheriff Thomas Harris. Firstly it only appears col Davis had a rank

When Col. David Archibald was born on 4 November 1772, in Truro, Colchester, Nova Scotia, Canada, his father, Samuel Archibald, was 29 and his mother, Rachel Todd Duncan, was 29. He married Olivia Dickson on 5 February 1801, in Onslow, Colchester, Nova Scotia, Canada. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 2 daughters. He died on 23 November 1814, in Onslow, Colchester, Nova Scotia, Canada, at the age of 42, and was buried in Onslow Cemetery, Upper Onslow, Colchester, Nova Scotia, Canada.

you can see his grave below.

When Richard Archibald was born on 9 September 1823, in Truro, Colchester, Nova Scotia, Canada, his father, Honourable Samuel George William Archibald KC, LLD, was 46 and his mother, Elizabeth Dickson, was 37. He died in June 1824, in his hometown, at the age of 0, and was buried in Truro, Colchester, Nova Scotia, Canada.

So Richard was never an investor. He was not even born at the time of the Onslow company. Some how his name was heaped on as one of backers are incorrect.

Thomas Harris. I have not found any thing on him so far?One thing stands out Daniel may been a investor but after 1805 at least he showed no interest. That says a lot

As far as I can make now one ever really made money from the venture expect the workers employed to dig. When the money ran out they all went back to their normal professions.

Crow

 

[Crow]

This is an example on how much is out there posted as fact is not fact for example below. My notes below highlighted.

Contributor: Paul Troutman posted the following below.

Oak Island Company Name: The Onslow Company
Also Known As: The Onslow Syndicate
Company Formation date and location: 1802 by Dr. Simeon Lynds, a young physician from Onslow, N.S. ( I could not find a physician by that name?)
Initial Company Shares per Price: Unknown – 25 to 30 financial backers from Onslow and Truro N.S.

Oak Island Leased by: John Smith ( Smith bought lot 18?)
Years Active on Oak Island From 1802 to 1805
Deaths as a result on Oak Island: 0

Names of Company Members:

John Smith of Chester, N.S.
Anthony Vaughan of Chester, N.S.
Daniel McInnis of Chester, N.S.
Dr. Simeon Lynds of Onslow, N.S. ( this is not accurate as he did not appear to be a doctor?)
Colonel Robert Archibald, director of operations ( Another version gives Richard that is clearly not true as he was not even born at the time of the Onslow company.) * Note (When Col Robert Archibald was born on 22 January 1745, in Derry, County Londonderry, Ireland, his father, David Archibald Esquire, was 27 and his mother, Elizabeth Elliott, was 24. He married Hannah Blair on 2 April 1767, in Onslow, Colchester, Nova Scotia, Canada. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 6 daughters. He lived in Londonderry, Colchester, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1769 and Middle Musquodoboit, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1787. His occupation is listed as land surveyor in Colchester, Nova Scotia, Canada. He died in October 1812, in Musquodoboit, Halifax, Nova Scotia, British Colonial America, at the age of 67, and was buried in Iceland. )

Captain David Archibald of Pictou, N.S.( He was Colonel in records)
Sheriff Thomas Harris of Pictou, N.S. ( see newspaper below. )

Mr. Mosher of Newport, N.S., mechanic ( Could not clarify the indemnity of this person )

This goes show how many pit falls in research the people behind the story. Even the most well intentioned websites dedicated to Oak island are full of inaccuracies. Because of these inaccuracies it lead me into making the wrong assumptions. That is why it pays to get to the original records at least.


Crow

 

[Crow]

Once again we are faced with is this a real list of members of this alleged Onslow syndicate? Since we have not evidence of this company ever existed how can we be sure?

Crow

 

[Crow]

And that is one of the biggest problems of the Oak island story. There are so many websites providing unsubstantiated facts as facts but they have only copied off other websites with out verifying what is actually a fact.

The fact remain even if the above people are real. there is no prove that they was connected to this Onslow company if it existed?

This is where it all falls down you get a research take some thing as fact but does not verify it then it leads you into cognitive bias as your basing everything off an unproven fact. That amigos is wrought with danger.

Crow

 

[Crow]

And old treasure hunter trick.

The more facts you have and less assumptions you have the more closer you will get to the truth. These will always be a little assumption in research but it is fraught with danger to make too many.

Crow

 

[sdcfia]

. . . .
This is where it all falls down you get a research take some thing as fact but does not verify it then it leads you into cognitive bias as your basing everything off an unproven fact. That amigos is wrought with danger.

Crow

This is the underlying theme of seekers' failures for most of the well-known treasure legends, and also the imaginary ones. It's human nature and quite predictable. It applies to all aspects of life, not just treasure hunting.

 

[n2mini]

I'm pretty sure I remember reading where the Onslow Company was formed for the sole purpose of searching on OI.
Is it possible that Dr. Simeon Lynds of Onslow, N.S. wasn't a Doctor of Medicine but any number of other things you can get a Doctorate in?
but here again the flip side is just because you/we haven't read about the Onslow Company or the Doctor doesn't mean it's not real/true..

 

[Crow]

I'm pretty sure I remember reading where the Onslow Company was formed for the sole purpose of searching on OI.
Is it possible that Dr. Simeon Lynds of Onslow, N.S. wasn't a Doctor of Medicine but any number of other things you can get a Doctorate in?
but here again the flip side is just because you/we haven't read about the Onslow Company or the Doctor doesn't mean it's not real/true..

True but how do we know the Onslow story is real and not just absurd claims of some one having their 15 seconds of fame?

Clearly the names on the alleged people above listed was from either Onslow and Truro. The main backer it appears was from Onslow. So in that effect strongly suggests a company may of been formed.

The only Simeon Lynds I found died in 1857

There is no evidence to sport the claims he was wheelwright or doctor. Those occupation claims came from descendants and not archival documents.

Descendants are not aways accurate either.

In 1930's there was efforts to trace Simeon Lynds

The reply was below perhaps added to the confusion. Was this state correct of confused memory of people long since past?

Crow

 

[Crow]

Interesting not note by of the time Liverpool transcripts it is J B McCully that is telling the story the history of discovery as everyone allegedly connected to the story was dead.

see Liverpool Manuscript, October 16, 1862

On the last page we have the author J B McCully. It is his story his version of events that creates the Oak island legend. He is telling things and events from over 50 years ago. So how much of his recollection is actually true?.

Crow

 

[releventchair]

Interesting not note by of the time Liverpool transcripts it is J B McCully that is telling the story the history of discovery as everyone allegedly connected to the story was dead.

see Liverpool Manuscript, October 16, 1862

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On the last page we have the author J B McCully. It is his story his version of events that creates the Oak island legend. He is telling things and events from over 50 years ago. So how much of his recollection is actually accrete?.

Crow

Who would leave their block/tackle hanging above a cache?

And I've not heard any where else of an oak tree nail.
Oh , I've seen nails in oak trees.
Not going to inquire for one at the hardware store.( They regard me with enough suspicion already.)

 

[Crow]

A major reason for the perpetuation of folklore related to Oak Island is that every prior writer who has discussed the tale has, for the most part, blindly accepted the commonly told story as if it were documented, legitimate history.

If you review of the bibliographies included in most modern books on the subject reveals that few authors have examined the legend's historical context or researched any original sources; If they had they would of come to a vastly different conclusion.

Jotham Blanchard McCully born Jan 19 1819 and died Sep 9 1899. here is his obituary below and headstone.

In a deper examination of the available historical materials, often in the form of documents written by men such as J.B. McCully, Charles Archibald, and John Pitblado (who are now thought by some to be the primary architects of the original alleged hoax) There comments reveal many internal inconsistencies that call into question the story's legitimacy.

Statements made by some of these men in the 1890s contradict what is found in documents written in, for instance the 1860s. For example, the Sales Prospectus of the Oak Island Treasure Company, written by J.B. McCully in 1893, states "The funds of this company in the meantime having been exhausted nothing was practically done that we are aware of until 1863."

This contradicts a statement found in a newspaper article entitled "The Oak Island Folly" published in 1861: "men have been diligently at work, nearly every Summer, for the last ten or twelve years, on Oak Island, near Chester Basin, in search for treasure supposed to have been buried by Captain Kidd, a noted pirate, a century ago"

When story of the treasure belong into Captain Kidd did not seem credible anymore? The treasure turned into what ever you wanted it to be?

Oak island at best was and still is a piece of runaway folklore that now feeds on its own past, despite the claims of believers who willfully ignore or deride efforts to prove otherwise. That these believers choose to ignore such data suggests their own complicity in maintaining the illusion that a treasure lies buried beneath the island.

The Lagina brothers are continuing on the tradition of the same sideshow feeding and adding to the legend.

Crow

 

[Armchair detective]

When Col. David Archibald was born on 4 November 1772, in Truro, Colchester, Nova Scotia, Canada, his father, Samuel Archibald, was 29 and his mother, Rachel Todd Duncan, was 29. He married Olivia Dickson on 5 February 1801, in Onslow, Colchester, Nova Scotia, Canada. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 2 daughters.

So, 6 kids eh? Were any named Richard or David?

When Richard Archibald was born on 9 September 1823, in Truro, Colchester, Nova Scotia, Canada, his father, Honourable Samuel George William Archibald KC, LLD, was 46 and his mother, Elizabeth Dickson, was 37. He died in June 1824, in his hometown, at the age of 0, and was buried in Truro, Colchester, Nova Scotia, Canada.

So Richard was never an investor. He was not even born at the time of the Onslow company. Some how his name was heaped on as one of backers are incorrect.

Ya know, this could be a case of classic identity theft. A way to assume a new identity is go to a graveyard, find one who is dead already but would be as old as you are and assume that ID.

I have cognitive basis on the form of looking for that scam.

 

[Crow]

So, 6 kids eh? Were any named Richard or David?

Ya know, this could be a case of classic identity theft. A way to assume a new identity is go to a graveyard, find one who is dead already but would be as old as you are and assume that ID.

I have cognitive basis on the form of looking for that scam.

Hoax scam or just plain delusion or all of the above the results where pretty much the same.

Crow

 

[Armchair detective]

Are we all allowing that a sawpit is a possible originator cause for the OI legend?
There is still a problem.

WHY CONTINUE DIGGING?

Surely after 30 ft you would know that it was a hoax if it was a hoax.

 

[n2mini]

Depends on if the story is true about finding the wood platforms every 10' or if they only found 1 which could have been the floor of saw pit.

 

[Armchair detective]

Depends on if the story is true about finding the wood platforms every 10' or if they only found 1 which could have been the floor of saw pit.

There's more to it than that.
If the sawpit faked the original 3 out and there was only one platform AND there was nothing else to find, when Onslow dug they would have learned quickly that there was nothing and stopped.