Oak Island Ownership History Map
275 years of lot ownership · 32 lots · 68 documented owners · 1751–2025 · Interactive timeline
1751
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Who Owned Oak Island?
In 1762, Charles Morris (Surveyor General of Nova Scotia) formally divided Oak Island into 32 four-acre lots as part of the Shoreham Grant. This interactive map traces lot ownership from 1751, when the island was still undivided Crown land, through to today's Oak Island Tours Inc. Earlier records are retroactively mapped onto the lot grid that Morris would later establish.
Lot ownership records used with kind permission from David Neisen & Chris Boze
☷ Table
☰ Legend
Complete Ownership History
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All documented Oak Island lot ownership changes across 32 lots, 1751 to 2025.
Lot 1
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1784 Cochran, John P. 1785 Pattillo, Alexander 1794 McGinnis, Donald 1818 Vaughan, David & Sara 1820 McGinnis, Donald 1828 McGinnis Family 1930 Young, Wallace & Margaret 1931 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1932 Dauphinee, Archibald C. & Young, Wallace & Margaret 1944 Beamish, Clarence James 1956 All Heirs 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1966 Unknown / Unverified 1974 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 2
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1766 Smith, Edward 1780 Crown Ownership 1781 Melvin, Robert Sr. 1788 Melvin Family 1799 McGinnis, Donald 1801 Melvin Family 1803 Vaughan, James - Sara & Family 1805 Vaughan Family 1811 McGinnis, Donald 1818 Vaughan, David & Sara 1819 Vaughan, Anthony Sr. 1820 Vaughan, David & Sara 1832 McKinnon, Daniel 1871 McGinnis Family 1930 Young, Wallace & Margaret 1931 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1932 Dauphinee, Archibald C. & Young, Wallace & Margaret 1944 Beamish, Clarence James 1956 All Heirs 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1966 Unknown / Unverified 1974 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 3
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1780 Melvin, Robert Sr. 1781 Crown Ownership 1801 Unknown / Unverified 1803 Vaughan, Anthony Sr. 1804 Vaughan, James - Sara & Family 1805 Vaughan Family 1819 Vaughan, Anthony Sr. 1820 Vaughan, David & Sara 1832 McKinnon, Daniel 1871 McGinnis Family 1930 Young, Wallace & Margaret 1931 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1932 Dauphinee, Archibald C. & Young, Wallace & Margaret 1944 Beamish, Clarence James 1956 All Heirs 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1966 Unknown / Unverified 1974 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 4
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1784 Kinghorn, John 1786 McNeil, Alexander 1788 Unknown / Unverified 1791 Martin, John 1793 Vaughan, Anthony Sr. 1799 Crown Ownership 1801 Vaughan, Anthony Sr. 1804 Embree, Thomas 1806 Bezanson, George 1807 Vaughan, Anthony Sr. 1819 Vaughan, David & Sara 1821 Vaughan, Anthony Sr. 1851 McGinnis Family 1930 Young, Wallace & Margaret 1931 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1932 Dauphinee, Archibald C. & Young, Wallace & Margaret 1944 Beamish, Clarence James 1956 All Heirs 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1966 Unknown / Unverified 1974 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 5
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1771 Unknown / Unverified 1780 Crown Ownership 1781 Unknown / Unverified 1799 Vaughan, Anthony Sr. 1801 Unknown / Unverified 1803 Vaughan, James - Sara & Family 1805 Vaughan Family 1819 Vaughan, David & Sara 1832 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1834 Foras, Edward 1835 Unknown / Unverified 1838 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1839 Zink, Frederick 1840 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1841 Strachan, John 1857 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1889 Sellers, Sellyn 1950 All Heirs 1961 Sellers, Sellyn 1962 All Heirs 1963 Nolan, Frederick G. 1996 Young, Robert S. 2022 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 6
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1766 Payzant, Phillip 1768 Melvin, Robert Sr. 1788 Melvin Family 1790 Shephard, Jacob 1821 Ball, Samuel 1847 Ball, Isaac "Butler" 1898 Ernst, Abraham & Sellers, Henry 1911 Ernst, Abraham 1912 Sellers, Henry 1913 All Heirs 1935 Conrad, Ingram Eli 1936 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1937 Hedden, Gilbert D. 1950 Lewis, John Whitney 1951 Acadia Trust Company 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1961 All Heirs 1962 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 7
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1766 Secombe, John Reverend 1767 Melvin, Robert Sr. 1788 Melvin Family 1790 Shephard, Jacob 1811 Melvin, Nathaniel 1819 Ball, Samuel 1847 Ball, Isaac "Butler" 1898 Ernst, Abraham & Sellers, Henry 1911 Ernst, Abraham 1912 Sellers, Henry 1913 All Heirs 1935 Conrad, Ingram Eli 1936 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1937 Hedden, Gilbert D. 1950 Lewis, John Whitney 1951 Acadia Trust Company 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1961 All Heirs 1962 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 8
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1758 Prescott, Jonathan Dr. 1760 Unknown / Unverified 1782 Prescott, Jonathan Dr. 1784 Melvin, Robert Sr. 1788 Melvin, Robert Jr. 1798 Ball, Samuel 1847 Ball, Isaac "Butler" 1898 Ernst, Abraham & Sellers, Henry 1911 Ernst, Abraham 1912 Sellers, Henry 1913 All Heirs 1935 Conrad, Ingram Eli 1936 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1937 Hedden, Gilbert D. 1950 Lewis, John Whitney 1951 Acadia Trust Company 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1961 All Heirs 1962 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 9
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1765 Unknown / Unverified 1781 Vaughan, Anthony Sr. 1788 Marshall, Martin 1793 McMullen, Neal 1827 McMullen Smith, Neil 1832 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1834 Foras, Edward 1835 Unknown 1838 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1839 Zink, Frederick 1840 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1841 Strachan, John 1857 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1889 Sellers, Sellyn 1950 All Heirs 1961 Sellers, Sellyn 1962 All Heirs 1963 Nolan, Frederick G. 2016 Nolan, Thomas J.
Lot 10
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1765 Unknown / Unverified 1781 Vaughan, Anthony Sr. 1788 Marshall, Martin 1793 McMullen, Neal 1827 McMullen Smith, Neil 1832 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1834 Foras, Edward 1835 Unknown 1838 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1839 Zink, Frederick 1840 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1841 Strachan, John 1857 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1889 Sellers, Sellyn 1950 All Heirs 1961 Sellers, Sellyn 1962 All Heirs 1963 Nolan, Frederick G. 2016 Nolan, Thomas J.
Lot 11
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1765 Unknown / Unverified 1780 Webber, James 1781 Vaughan, Daniel 1789 McMullen, Neal 1811 Melvin Family 1821 McMullen, Neal 1827 McMullen Smith, Neil 1832 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1834 Foras, Edward 1835 Unknown 1838 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1839 Zink, Frederick 1840 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1841 Strachan, John 1857 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1889 Sellers, Sellyn 1950 All Heirs 1961 Sellers, Sellyn 1962 All Heirs 1963 Nolan, Frederick G. 2016 Nolan, Thomas J.
Lot 12
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1766 Monro, John 1781 Melvin, Robert Sr. 1788 Melvin Family 1821 Unknown / Unverified 1825 McMullen, Neal 1827 McMullen Smith, Neil 1832 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1834 Foras, Edward 1835 Unknown 1838 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1839 Zink, Frederick 1840 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1841 Strachan, John 1857 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1889 Sellers, Sellyn 1950 All Heirs 1961 Sellers, Sellyn 1962 All Heirs 1963 Nolan, Frederick G. 2016 Nolan, Thomas J.
Lot 13
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1765 Unknown / Unverified 1788 Vaughan, Daniel 1790 Melvin, Nathaniel 1796 McMullen, Neal 1801 Melvin, Nathaniel 1806 McMullen, Neal 1827 McMullen Smith, Neil 1832 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1834 Foras, Edward 1835 Unknown 1838 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1839 Zink, Frederick 1840 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1841 Strachan, John 1857 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1889 Sellers, Sellyn 1950 All Heirs 1961 Sellers, Sellyn 1962 All Heirs 1963 Nolan, Frederick G. 2002 Johnston, John
Lot 14
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1765 Unknown / Unverified 1780 Webber, James 1781 Vaughan, Daniel 1790 Melvin, Nathaniel 1796 McMullen, Neal 1801 Melvin, Nathaniel 1806 McMullen, Neal 1811 Crown Ownership 1818 Crandall, Davie Wilbur 1819 McMullen, Neal 1827 McMullen Smith, Neil 1832 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1834 Foras, Edward 1835 Unknown 1838 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1839 Zink, Frederick 1840 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1841 Strachan, John 1857 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1889 Sellers, Sellyn 1950 All Heirs 1961 Sellers, Sellyn 1962 All Heirs 1963 Nolan, Frederick G. 2016 Nolan, Thomas J.
Lot 15
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1821 Smith, John 1853 Smith, Joseph & Smith, Thomas E. 1857 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1889 Sellers, Henry 1913 All Heirs 1935 Grimm, George W. Jr. 1949 Hedden, Gilbert D. 1950 Lewis, John Whitney 1951 Acadia Trust Company 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1961 All Heirs 1962 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 16
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1768 Malay, Mary & Joseph White 1798 Smith, John 1853 Smith, Joseph & Smith, Thomas E. 1857 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1889 Sellers, Henry 1913 All Heirs 1935 Grimm, George W. Jr. 1949 Hedden, Gilbert D. 1950 Lewis, John Whitney 1951 Acadia Trust Company 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1961 All Heirs 1962 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 17
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1765 Unknown / Unverified 1785 Vaughan, Anthony Sr. 1790 Melvin, Nathaniel 1806 Smith, John 1853 Smith, Joseph & Smith, Thomas E. 1857 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1889 Sellers, Henry 1913 All Heirs 1935 Grimm, George W. Jr. 1949 Hedden, Gilbert D. 1950 Lewis, John Whitney 1951 Acadia Trust Company 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1961 All Heirs 1962 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 18
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1765 Unknown / Unverified 1793 Wollenhaupt, Casper 1795 Smith, John 1853 Smith, Joseph & Smith, Thomas E. 1857 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1889 Sellers, Henry 1913 All Heirs 1935 Grimm, George W. Jr. 1949 Hedden, Gilbert D. 1950 Lewis, John Whitney 1951 Acadia Trust Company 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1961 All Heirs 1962 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 19
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1766 Smith, Edward 1768 Lynch, Timothy 1801 Unknown / Unverified 1803 Vaughan, James - Sara & Family 1805 Vaughan Family 1819 Vaughan, David & Sara 1825 Smith, John 1853 Smith, Joseph & Smith, Thomas E. 1857 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1889 Sellers, Henry 1913 All Heirs 1935 Grimm, George W. Jr. 1949 Hedden, Gilbert D. 1950 Lewis, John Whitney 1951 Acadia Trust Company 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1961 All Heirs 1962 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 20
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1765 Unknown / Unverified 1789 McNeil, Alexander 1791 James, Edward 1794 Bezanson, Joseph 1806 Smith, John 1853 Smith, Joseph & Smith, Thomas E. 1857 Graves, Anthony Thickpenny 1889 Sellers, Henry 1913 All Heirs 1935 Grimm, George W. Jr. 1949 Hedden, Gilbert D. 1950 Lewis, John Whitney 1951 Acadia Trust Company 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1961 All Heirs 1962 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 21
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1765 Unknown / Unverified 1789 James, Edward 1790 McNeil, Alexander 1791 James, Edward 1792 Unknown 1795 James, Edward 1796 McGinnis, Donald 1828 McGinnis Family 1930 Young, Wallace & Margaret 1931 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1932 Dauphinee, Archibald C. & Young, Wallace & Margaret 1944 Beamish, Clarence James 1956 All Heirs 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1960 All Heirs 1961 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 22
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1758 Prescott, Jonathan Dr. 1784 Melvin, Robert Sr. 1788 Melvin, Robert Jr. 1791 Melvin, Jacob 1795 McKinnon, Daniel 1820 McGinnis, Donald 1821 McKinnon, Daniel 1871 McGinnis Family 1930 Young, Wallace & Margaret 1931 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1932 Dauphinee, Archibald C. & Young, Wallace & Margaret 1944 Beamish, Clarence James 1956 All Heirs 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1960 All Heirs 1961 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 23
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1765 Unknown / Unverified 1778 Prescott, Jonathan Dr. 1781 Unknown / Unverified 1783 Bowie, William 1784 McLean, Hector 1788 McGinnis, Donald 1828 McGinnis Family 1930 Young, Wallace & Margaret 1931 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1932 Dauphinee, Archibald C. & Young, Wallace & Margaret 1944 Beamish, Clarence James 1956 All Heirs 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1960 All Heirs 1961 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1975 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Blankenship, Dave 2025 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 24
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1784 Smith, Duncan 1785 Allen, Ambrose 1791 Monro, John 1799 Ball, Samuel 1847 Ball, Isaac "Butler" 1898 Ernst, Abraham & Sellers, Henry 1911 Ernst, Abraham 1912 Sellers, Henry 1913 All Heirs 1935 Conrad, Ingram Eli 1936 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1937 Hedden, Gilbert D. 1950 Lewis, John Whitney 1951 Acadia Trust Company 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1961 All Heirs 1962 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 25
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1765 Unknown / Unverified 1786 Hopkins, George 1787 Ball, Samuel 1847 Ball, Isaac "Butler" 1898 Ernst, Abraham & Sellers, Henry 1911 Ernst, Abraham 1912 Sellers, Henry 1913 All Heirs 1935 Conrad, Ingram Eli 1936 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1937 Hedden, Gilbert D. 1950 Lewis, John Whitney 1951 Acadia Trust Company 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1961 All Heirs 1962 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2004 Tobias, David C. 2005 Kostrzewa, Alan
Lot 26
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1778 Unknown / Unverified 1781 Crown Ownership 1785 Anderson, James 1788 Ball, Samuel 1847 Ball, Isaac "Butler" 1898 Ernst, Abraham & Sellers, Henry 1911 Ernst, Abraham 1912 Sellers, Henry 1913 All Heirs 1935 Conrad, Ingram Eli 1936 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1937 Hedden, Gilbert D. 1950 Lewis, John Whitney 1951 Acadia Trust Company 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1961 All Heirs 1962 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 27
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1781 Unknown / Unverified 1784 Ellis, David 1785 Pattillo, Alexander 1791 McGinnis, Donald 1799 Ball, Samuel 1801 McGinnis, Donald 1820 Ball, Samuel 1821 McGinnis, Donald 1828 McGinnis Family 1930 Young, Wallace & Margaret 1931 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1932 Dauphinee, Archibald C. & Young, Wallace & Margaret 1944 Beamish, Clarence James 1956 All Heirs 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1960 All Heirs 1961 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 28
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1766 Holt, Moses 1770 Unknown / Unverified 1771 Crown Ownership 1775 Unknown / Unverified 1777 Rogers, Jeremiah 1778 Ellis, David 1779 Unknown / Unverified 1781 Crown Ownership 1784 Sharp, James 1788 McGinnis, Donald 1820 Ball, Samuel 1821 McGinnis, Donald 1828 McGinnis Family 1930 Young, Wallace & Margaret 1931 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1932 Dauphinee, Archibald C. & Young, Wallace & Margaret 1944 Beamish, Clarence James 1956 All Heirs 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1960 All Heirs 1961 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 29
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1766 Holt, Moses 1768 Unknown / Unverified 1774 Crown Ownership 1781 Ellis, David 1787 Unknown 1788 Unknown / Unverified 1791 Unknown 1794 Monro, John 1796 Bezanson, John 1810 McGinnis, Donald 1820 Ball, Samuel 1821 McGinnis, Donald 1828 McGinnis Family 1930 Young, Wallace & Margaret 1931 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1932 Dauphinee, Archibald C. & Young, Wallace & Margaret 1944 Beamish, Clarence James 1956 All Heirs 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1960 All Heirs 1961 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 30
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1766 Young, Thomas 1767 Crown Ownership 1771 Unknown / Unverified 1775 Rogers, Jeremiah 1779 Ellis, David 1781 Unknown / Unverified 1793 Unknown 1794 Monro, John 1796 Bezanson, John 1797 Unknown / Unverified 1808 Pulsifer, John 1810 Ball, Samuel 1847 Ball, Isaac "Butler" 1898 Ernst, Abraham & Sellers, Henry 1911 Ernst, Abraham 1912 Sellers, Henry 1913 All Heirs 1935 Conrad, Ingram Eli 1936 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1937 Hedden, Gilbert D. 1950 Lewis, John Whitney 1951 Acadia Trust Company 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1961 All Heirs 1962 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 31
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1771 Unknown / Unverified 1795 Hatt, Jacob & Mary Hovey 1797 Bezanson, John 1807 Ball, Samuel 1847 Ball, Isaac "Butler" 1898 Ernst, Abraham & Sellers, Henry 1911 Ernst, Abraham 1912 Sellers, Henry 1913 All Heirs 1935 Conrad, Ingram Eli 1936 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1937 Hedden, Gilbert D. 1950 Acadia Trust Company 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1961 All Heirs 1962 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Lot 32
Year Owner
1751 Crown Ownership 1753 Smith, Richard & Gifford, John 1754 Crown Ownership 1784 Cunningham, Richard 1785 Crown Ownership 1809 Ball, Samuel 1847 Ball, Isaac "Butler" 1898 Ernst, Abraham & Sellers, Henry 1911 Ernst, Abraham 1913 All Heirs 1935 Conrad, Ingram Eli 1936 Dauphinee, Archibald C. 1937 Hedden, Gilbert D. 1950 Lewis, John Whitney 1951 Acadia Trust Company 1957 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1961 All Heirs 1962 Chappell, Melbourne R. 1977 Tobias, David C. 1987 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2006 Tobias, David C. 2007 Oak Island Tours Inc. 2019 Blankenship, Daniel C. 2020 Oak Island Tours Inc.
Who Owned Oak Island?
In 1762, Surveyor General Charles Morris divided Oak Island into 32 four-acre lots as part of the Shoreham Grant — the only island in Mahone Bay to be formally surveyed this way. This interactive map traces lot ownership from 1751, when the island was undivided Crown land, through to today's Oak Island Tours Inc.
Key ownership milestones include: Crown ownership (pre-1762), the Shoreham Grant division (1762), Anthony Graves acquiring major holdings (1780s–1850s), the Smith family's long tenure (lots 15–20, 1795–1857), Frederick Blair and the Oak Island Treasure Company era (1890s–1940s), Melbourne Chappell consolidating most lots (1950s–1970s), David Tobias and the Triton Alliance (1970s–2006), and the current era under Oak Island Tours Inc. (2006–present), owned by Rick and Marty Lagina.
The ownership data spans 275 years, 32 lots, and 68 documented owners. Records sourced from the Oak Island Mystery Trees Compendium by David Neisen.
Return to The Curse of Oak Island
