Donald(Daniel) McGinnis (McInnes, MacQuin, Mckinnis)
My name is Kel W. Hancock. I'm a retired soldier, an historian and an anthropology student here in Nova Scotia.
I am compiling information on my ancestor one Donald(Daniel) McGinnis (McInnes, MacQuin, Mckinnis).
Donald was born (I think) in North Carolina in 1758
He seems to have left Anson County NC to fight as a Loyalist in the American Revolution.
By 1790 he had received a Land Grant of 100 acres near Chester Nova Scotia.
In Sep 1795 he married (Barbara) (Maria) (Anna) Sawler (Siler, Seiler) of Western Shore NS.
That same year he began work attempting to recover whatever lies buried beneath Oak Island Nova Scotia.
I have been researching the Oak Island enigma for about 12 years now and I find it quite disheartening to see that the romantic notion of "three teenage lads" rowing out to the island to explore is still the standard version of how my gggggGrandfather discovered the money pit.
I am writing a biography of Daniel McGinnis that will put these legends to rest with hitherto unpublished information.
I am in the process of tracking the Loyalist movements of McGinnis prior to settling in Nova Scotia and have found a connection to a Lieut Miles McInnes (also of Anslo-later of Musqodoboit NS) who served under a Capt Donald McInnes in a North Carolina Regt.
I believe this Capt to be our Donald (Daniel) McInnes.
Miles McInnes can be traced back to the Isle of Skye and I am hoping that these origins are common to the father of Donald McInnes.
I am extremely interested in info regarding the war years of both these men as I believe that they are integral to the mystery at Oak Island,
I would greatly appreciate any info you could provide on Donald (Daniel) McInnes, Miles McInnes and the North Carolina Loyalists.
This biography will change all that has been written about the "discovery" of the Oak Island Money Pit.
sincerely
Kel W. Hancock