03x09 - The Lost Cache of Cornwallis

[bunniefuu]

- You guys ready? Let's go!
- Yeah!

Narrator:
On beyond oak island...

Deal: General cornwallis

Waged total w*r
against the colonists.

Howell: Cornwallis
and his pillaging

And plundering would have
been accumulating wealth.

Matty: Matt howell
believes he knows where

Cornwallis's treasure is.

Great day, everybody.
Let's treasure hunt.

Howell: Yeah, let's
go. Let's get wet.

Matty: Divers in.

- You ready?
- I don't think I am.

- (gasps)
- no way!

All the while we
were growing up,

My brother and I were
fascinated with finding treasure.

Rick: Pirate treasure,

Cursed treasure.

Civil w*r gold.

-(laughter) -since then,
our work on oak island

Has shown us there's
a world of mysteries...

- Whoa.
- Waiting to be explored.

Rick: So, we like to reach
out to other treasure hunters.

X marks the spot,
right there. Brilliant.

- Marty: We want to hear their stories...
- That's right.

- And share our insights.
- "ill-gotten gains."

- Rick: And who knows...
- Gary: I got it.

Maybe we can help
them with their search.

Marty: Not only in america.

Wow. That is gold.

- Rick: But all over the world.
- Yeah!

Marty: Beyond oak island.

Matty: Something
that's come up before

In our conversations
has been this

Connection between
w*r and treasure.

You know, where
there's been w*r,

- Where there's been upheaval...
- Upheaval, yeah. Mm-hmm.

As you often say,

There is treasure
associated to it.

Yeah. From the sacking
of rome to havana to

All kinds of nationalistic
warfare, if you will.

And treasure's associated
with almost every one of them.

It's not like we haven't
had significant upheaval

Here in north america.

We looked into
civil w*r connection

With poverty island,

The mexican revolution,
pancho villa... we looked into that.

And even oak island,
like, that connection,

And-and how someone
like george washington

And people like that

You wouldn't normally associate
with the oak island treasure

Until you start finding
some things out, right?

And then you go "well,
wait a second here.

That could've funded the
american revolution in part."

- Yup.
- Uh, absolutely plausible.

Are you guys aware of any other

Revolutionary w*r treasure
mystery specifically?

It kind of flies
under the radar.

You don't associate
the revolutionary w*r

Per se with treasure.

- Well...
- Rick: Well, you obviously...

Yeah. What... What's with
the canary look over there?

I may have put my
finger on one. Uh,

I'm specifically talking
about general cornwallis

- And his defeat at yorktown.
- Okay.

He may have buried treasure,
secreted away treasure,

Uh, right before he
was defeated finally.

Narrator: In 1781, after six
exhausting and violent years,

The tide of the
revolutionary w*r

Was beginning to turn in favor
of the american colonial army,

Thanks to the leadership of
general george washington

And the support of France.

Having lost many of their
strongholds in the north,

The british crown ordered

The esteemed general
charles cornwallis

And some 9,000 soldiers
to take control of the south

By establishing
a new fortification

In yorktown, virginia.

Deal: General cornwallis
was a career soldier

Working his way
up through the ranks,

And he began to actually
ask for the command

To come to the colonies.

He waged total w*r
against all the colonists here.

Narrator: In order
to crush the morale

Of the citizens in virginia,

Cornwallis pillaged the nearby
towns along the york river,

Plundering valuables, and
according to some researchers,

Burying caches of the spoils
along the banks of the river

For later retrieval once
the fort was established.

There was a lot of
looting and raiding

And destroying of
personal property.

Destroying farms,
crops, livestock,

Even murdering people

Who they thought were
supporting the continental troops.

If you can eliminate the
support of the citizens,

Then you're going
to help your cause.

Narrator: Unfortunately
for general cornwallis,

His brutality failed
to pay dividends.

In September of 1781,

He and his soldiers
found themselves

Hopelessly overwhelmed
by washington's army

And their french allies
at the battle of yorktown.

Deal: Cornwallis
went to yorktown

Thinking he was going
to be meeting british ships

With supplies and going to
beef up the army and so forth,

And he didn't realize that
the french navy was there,

And that they had
defeated the british.

And he became trapped.

Trapped by the french navy
on the water, and on the land,

By the french army, as well as

The continental troops
under washington.

Being trapped, cornwallis was,
eventually, in October of 1781,

Forced to surrender his
army there at yorktown.

Narrator: Although documented
searches have been taking place

In and around yorktown
for more than a century,

The believed buried caches

Of general cornwallis's
plundered treasure

Have never been recovered.

Let me ask you this. What
happened to cornwallis

- After his defeat at yorktown?
- It's a great question.

He never shows up

For the official
retreat-defeat ceremony.

He just kind of takes off.

We also know that he was
destroying his own ships

So that the americans
and the french

Couldn't take them
and use them, or...

So, you know, that could
be an act of defiance.

It could be an act of hiding
what he had plundered

Because he was plundering
things from the colonists.

And so, the idea would be that
maybe he secreted the treasure

Before he took off.

- Marty: Mm-hmm.
- And it makes a lot of historical sense.

There's precedent for that.

There are treasure hunters
who have found artifacts

- In that area of the york river.
- How do you know all this?

Well, great question. There's
a guy named matt howell.

He has reached out
to us, and he believes

He knows where
cornwallis's treasure is.

Well, that sounds
quite interesting.

- He's standing by if you want to talk to him.
- I'd love to hear.

- Matty: All right.
- Let's find out what he knows.

Matty: There he is.

- Hello, matt!
- Hello, matt!

Gentlemen, thank
you for taking my call.

- Welcome to the w*r room.
- Thanks. It's, uh...

It's a pleasure to be here.

Uh, I'm-I'm super excited
to bring you guys this story.

How did you even get into this?

You said you were a firefighter?

Yeah, by trade, I'm a
firefighter-paramedic,

But for my days off, I'm a
full-time treasure hunter.

My name is matt,
I'm from virginia.

I've been a
firefighter since 2007,

And a paramedic since 2012.

I've always been
interested in stories, history

And treasure hunting
probably my whole life.

I would say I really
became passionate

About actively searching
about ten years ago.

And ever since that time, I
have found a lot of artifacts

And documented them.

Virginia, to me, is the
epicenter of u.S. History.

It goes back to a group
of settlers setting up roots.

And that start is what expanded

What we know as
the united states.

A lot of treasure
story is mystery.

And then the other
part of it is adventure.

It's way more than a
hobby. I guess it's a passion.

Tell us about this story,
this cornwallis thing.

Why-why this
one? Is this your...

Is this your number
one treasure hunt, then?

Yeah, so, currently this is
my number one treasure hunt,

And I'll tell you why.

This lays its roots
into the location

Where I live, and,
uh, the foundations

Of the united states
happened around cornwallis.

I found this news
article from 1909,

And there was a gentleman who
lived very close to where I was.

And he said, "emphatically,
I have the whereabouts

To the cornwallis treasure."

And he says, "it's
a copper chest

Filled with gold
bullion and diamonds."

And he said, "the
cornwallis treasure is buried

"in the traditional
british style,

"under several
yards of good earth,

And it lies along the
banks of the york river."

What's the justification
for you believing

That he would hide
treasure on the york river?

There's a number

Of really well-documented,
published letters.

The cornwallis letters, and
they document his movements.

Matty: Interesting.

Howell: His travel routes
mirrored the york river.

Marty: Okay.

Howell: The york is composed

Of the mattaponi river
and the pamunkey river.

It was the
superhighway of traffic

During the colonial period.

So, do you think he
was burying this stuff

Before the ultimate
defeat at yorktown?

I believe that by
this time, in 1781,

He has amassed
enough in his strongbox

That he doesn't
want to carry it.

He's trying to get to yorktown
as quickly as possible,

And he knows any extra
weight is going to slow him down.

So, as the original
newspaper article said,

It's possible he buried it
under the banks of a river.

I don't believe he
would've actually

Marked the spot with any sort
of object or anything like that.

But I think he would have used a
landmark that would make sense

That would be easy
to come back to.

Maybe it was a dock,
maybe it was a pier or a piling.

From what I know,
everything has been searched

Around the yorktown area.

If a treasure hasn't been found,

It's like einstein says.

You can't go and do
the same thing over

And over again and
expect different results.

So, we have to go out and
look in a different manner

And in a different place.

- Exactly.
- Marty: Why don't you tell us

Where do you think it is and
why and what do you want to do?

So, I have a crew, and
we will be searching

On a tributary of the
york... the pamunkey river...

Looking for what we would
consider a ghost town.

There's no remnants
of structures,

There's no foundations, but
we know the town was there.

We'll be diving on this area
where we believe the treasure is

And where other
people haven't searched.

We do know, from research
of the cornwallis letters

And some of the local reference,

That this town was the
last known location he was

Before he started building
those defenses at yorktown.

- Wow.
- How big is this elephant you're hunting?

I mean, how much money
could we be talking about?

The original newspaper
article said $2 million.

So that's 1909.

Today, we're looking
at about $65 million

Worth of cornwallis's treasure.

- Sounds intriguing.
- Matty: Absolutely.

Marty: So, what's
your... What's your plan?

How-how do you want to do it?

Yeah, I'll be
handling the diving,

And I have one of my crew
who will be on the shore,

But we could use one more,
uh, with a metal detector.

You know, the more
eyes on the ground,

The more boots working,
the better chance you have.

We might be able
to help you out, matt.

I would love to
reach out to nikoline,

If-if you'll have us, matt?
And what about you two?

I don't think we're gonna be
able to spare time on this one,

But I think you should go.

I think you should help
him out with what he needs,

And I think you
should report back here

- With a handful of colonial treasure.
- (rick laughs)

Sound good, matt?

I can't wait. Let's get on it.

Let's chase
cornwallis. Let's go!

- All right.
- All righty.

- Marty: Make it so.
- Matty: Yes, sir.

Nikoline: Matty,

- Thank you so much for inviting me along.
- Oh, please.

When we heard from
matt, and talked about

Possibly being able to find

- Tossed treasure...
- Mm-hmm.

By revolutionary general
cornwallis, I'm like, "well,

"we got to get you out
there and start looking

- For-for artifacts," right?
- Yes!

Narrator: In
mechanicsville, virginia,

Matty blake and metal-detecting
expert nikoline bohr

Are on their way to assist

Local treasure hunter
matt howell and his team

In a search for an estimated
$65 million in plundered valuables

Believed to be
connected to the british

Revolutionary w*r
general charles cornwallis.

- Matty: This is it.
- Nikoline: Very nice.

- Matt! Hey!
- How are you, buddy?

- Good! Great to see you guys!
- Going out, yes? -Hi!

Howell: It's so cool to have

Matty and nikoline come to us.

Let's go inside where
it's a little cooler,

And, uh, see what
we got going on.

Awesome, love it.

To show them our
path, and our method.

We are treasure hunters at
heart, and research is key.

Howell: Beautiful.

Narrator: Joining matt
are fellow diver brad polack,

Researcher and
metal-detecting expert ross walker

And dallas weston, a researcher

Who has been studying
colonial american history

For more than 50 years.

I can't wait to see, uh,
what you have here,

But-but first of all,

Can you show me where
exactly we're going today?

We're looking at a
period map of virginia,

And the travels of cornwallis.

We'll be working off
the york river today

- And its tributaries.
- Matty: So,

I see york river here.

So, legend says the
treasure is where? Here?

- Here. Yorktown.
- Okay. And where are we going?

Up here, in the pamunkey...
On the banks of the pamunkey.

- On the banks of the pamunkey?
- Yeah.

And why?

That was one of his last stops

Before he made
it to-to yorktown.

Interesting.

You can see right from
the map, it's more hidden.

Back in these
waters, you can hide.

We personally believe that
he would've used a landmark,

Whether a port,

A ferry crossing or a dock.

He would have used something
that was prominent enough

That he could
remember where it was

- To go and get it.
- Nikoline: Mm.

Narrator: From his research,

Matt has identified
the possible location

Of a port town that once existed

Along the banks of
the pamunkey river,

Which he believes
could be connected

To the buried treasure of
general charles cornwallis.

Although no evidence
remains today

Of this once-thriving
community and its dock system,

During the colonial period,
it was a recognizable center

Of commerce and
transportation located in an area

That general cornwallis
is known to have looted

And burned more
than 200 years ago.

Howell: Cornwallis and
his pillaging and plundering

Would have been
accumulating wealth...

Spoils of w*r, so to speak.

He wants to hide
it from everyone.

We are going to be
looking specifically

For what we believe to be a port

Where a number of
ships would have landed

Over the course of years,

And we want to find evidence
of his looting, his pillaging.

Now what happened
with these rivers is,

- They shifted over the years.
- Sure.

So if he built a
hide for his treasure,

It could now be either
in the shallow water

Or into the near deep water...
30, 40, maybe even 50 feet deep.

- Wow. It gets that deep?
- Mm-hmm.

Narrator: Over the
past two centuries,

The natural watercourse of
the pamunkey river has shifted

In certain areas by
as much as 100 feet.

This means that any treasure
that general charles cornwallis

May have buried near the
riverbank on dry land in 1781

Could be submerged
under water today.

Now, if there's one thing
I like more than talking

About history, it's going
and hunting history.

- So, let's go do it!
- Let's do it. -Yes.

All right!

Matty: All right,
so what's the plan?

So, the other
crew's already out.

- Uh, they're getting set up.
- Okay.

And we are going to
go catch up with them.

We're looking for a town
that doesn't exist anymore.

There's no signs that this thing
was once there to begin with.

So, how do you
even know about it?

Ross: Yeah, we've
scouted this spot.

We've found a couple relics

To give us some inclination
that there was something there.

Howell: Right. So, we haven't
found any huge concentration,

But we're looking for
that concentration today.

We're looking for
remnants of structures.

- Got it.
- We're looking for those broken household items,

And maybe, if we get lucky,
maybe we'll find something

That-that we can direct
link, maybe something

With a name on it.

Matty: Let's treasure hunt.

The goal today is,

If they can find the town,

If it is where they think it is,
somewhere along these banks,

You might find his treasure,
but you got to find the town first.

So, if they can find
anything that is of period,

Then they're on their way.

All right, so, what
do we need to do?

Let's divide and conquer.

- Love it.
- Right?

So, we'll have you
guys on the banks.

- We'll get you guys, uh, set up with some water gear...
- Mm-hmm.

And looking through
that shallow water,

Looking for those targets.

We'll throw on the scuba
gear, and we'll take care

Of that seven-foot-range
all the way down to 40 foot.

- Great.
- Nikoline: Wow.

So, with both of us working,

I think we have a better chance
of nailing down some more clues,

If not coming up
with something big.

Matty: That sounds awesome.

- Yeah, let's get wet.
- Yeah, let's go.

Howell: So, today,
we're going to try to prove

That a ghost town was here,

With shallow water detecting
and diving underwater.

- All right, we ready?
- Yeah.

Howell: If we could
find a military button or

Pieces of destruction, I
think we'll be successful.

- I'm going to get started.
- All right! Go find something.

Narrator: In order to search
for clues and potential valuables

In the shallow waters
near the riverbank,

Ross and nikoline are using

Minelab equinox
800 metal detectors,

Which are capable of
distinguishing between targets

That are ferrous...
Such as iron...

And those made of non-ferrous
materials like silver and gold.

Ross: Got a lot
of iron over here.

Nikoline: That's a
really good indication

That there was
activity in this area.

Narrator: They are
also using floating sifters

To clean mud and
sediment off of any

Potentially important artifacts
that they might discover.

-(beeping) -nikoline:
Did you get something?

- Shotgun shell.
- Oh.

Ross: Daggone duck hunters.

Matty: Divers in.

Brad: Matt and
I'll be diving today.

The first spot that
we're going to visit

Is known for having
really low visibility.

The best thing we have to
work with would be the sounds

That we're hearing,
so, we'll listen

For the metal detector
and try to discriminate

What we're hearing
and what the targets are,

And hopefully recover, you
know, a piece of treasure.

This is matty with a comm
check. You guys got me? Over.

Ah.

Brad: The dive conditions
here are pretty rough for us.

There's really low visibility,

A whole bunch of
leaves and debris

That are running through
the water pretty fast.

We've got really high current,

Lots of entanglements
with trees,

Leftover fishing nets,
things of that nature.

So, it can be a dangerous
situation for sure.

How are things looking
down there? Over.

Copy that. Terrible
conditions. Be careful.

Howell: Dark water diving...

If you're a little
bit claustrophobic,

Or you have a problem
with confined space,

Man, this isn't for you.

Howell: I think
the average person

Or maybe even the, uh,

Experienced scuba
diver would think

We're a few points
off of legally insane.

This really isn't
for most people.

Copy. Go ahead. We got
ears on you. Go ahead.

Copy that. Put it in the
pouch, we'll look at it topside.

Matty: Copy that,
divers. We'll be waiting.

Over and out.

Narrator: In the pamunkey
river near mechanicsville, virginia,

While searching for
an estimated $65 million

In revolutionary w*r treasure,

Divers matt howell and
brad polack have just made

What they hope could
be an important discovery.

- Matty: There he is!
- Dallas: There he is!

Matty: They're coming up,
they're coming onto the boat,

And they've got
something for you to look at.

So, the anticipation is high,

My excitement level's
really high, and, uh,

It's just, like, let's see what
he's got. What does he have?

I know he's got something
that he's happy about,

And that make me really happy.

Well, matt, whatever
is in that pouch,

You earned it, my friend,

'cause you were down there
a while, and you worked hard.

Let's see what we've got down
in the... In the bottom of the bag.

- Um... -Ah, check that out.
- What you find?

A shoe buckle.

- Yeah.
- Wow. Oh, that's awesome.

That's awesome!

- Wow.
- Nice.

Fancy and oval-shaped one, too.

That's really intricate.
Yeah, look at that.

- That is beautiful!
- That's pretty awesome. -Yeah.

Brad: That's pretty cool.

- Wow.
- Dallas: Yeah.

We have found
period shoe buckle.

It definitely puts us
in the right time frame.

Howell: American revolution, and

What would you say, dallas?

Uh, late 1770s, 1780s.

Matty: Sometimes
items tell a story.

So, if you have an
18th-century piece like this...

A, yes, it's putting
it in the right time,

But b, it's ornate.

This is not something
that a worker,

A dock worker, would
necessarily be wearing.

So then you start thinking
about, okay, whose was this?

Was this a wealthy colonialist,

Was this an officer,
was it cornwallis?

Literally, I mean, it-it starts
to bring you down that road.

Great find.

Now I've got two of these...
Two of those round things

- That look like they went into a musket.
- Oh!

- Nice.
- Yeah, those do look like musket ba*ls.

- How about those?
- Wow. Holy moly!

That is awesome.

Howell: Super in line with
the-the same time period

Where we were looking
and what we were looking for.

Absolutely.

Howell: Who would
carry musket ba*ls?

The militia would've
carried musket ba*ls,

The british would've
carried musket ba*ls,

And they would've
had to have extras.

Are those musket ba*ls,
in particular, evidence

That there was a town here?

All right, brad, show him up.

Well, one small...
One small, shiny...

Ooh. Oh, that's
a button or coin?

- Oh, that's a button!
- It's a button.

Yes. Fantastic.

You can see on the
back of it better than I can.

There, you can see
the fastener right there.

- Right? That is a button.
- That's a button.

Does it... Does it have a
maker's mark? A lot of them did.

Definitely has...
What does that say?

L-london? Does that say london?

- Yeah.
- That says london!

-London. English
made. (laughs) -ooh!

- Nice.
- That puts you right on the map, baby!

- Dallas: I think you did it, brad.
- Wow!

- You can just barely see it.
- Nice!

Howell: We think
that this is evidence

That there was a town here,

And that there were items
directly coming from london.

The significance of
what we found today

Was pretty big.

There could be a treasure here,

But I believe there's so
much more work to be done.

We're running out
of daylight here,

So why don't we go
check in with nikoline?

They've been searching
this whole time.

Maybe they've come up
with something incredible.

Yeah, let's hope.

- All right, hold on. -Are you good?
- Yeah, we're good.

Matty: This team is rolling.

Item after item.
We're moving forward,

But we're running
out of daylight.

There's only so much
a diver can do in a day,

So we're gonna have
to call it for now, but

Spirits are high,
they have things

They need to follow up on,

And we get another
crack at this tomorrow.

Well, good to see
you guys again.

- Good to see you!
- Yeah.

It was a long, hot
day. I mean, I know

We worked hard, and I kept an
eye on you guys from a distance.

You guys were
really mucking around.

Uh, give me the highlights.

Even though there was
no monetary value found,

We still learned a lot.

We've got some more
experience under our belt.

And the best thing is,
we can mark these spots

- Off the list on these banks.
- Mm-hmm. -Matty: That's it.

- Nikoline: Yeah.
- I mean, that's...

And that's something
marty lagina says all the time.

- You got to find out where it's not.
- Mm-hmm.

- Nikoline: It's definitely not...
- To find...

So you don't waste
your time mucking around

In certain places. You
can mark all those off.

- Yeah. -Absolutely.
- Matty: Well, they did

So well, we can just
do a highlight reel

- Of their best finds, how about that?
- Oh, wow.

- Are you ready?
- Yeah.

Matty: Take it away, matt!

We had a fantastic,
fantastic number of finds.

- Aw.
- Check that out really closely.

- Oh, it's beautiful!
- Where the shank is.

- See?
- Oh, wow.

- London!
- London.

- That is awesome.
- Matty: Isn't that cool?

Howell: Yeah, it puts us right
to where we want to go, right?

- Ross: Absolutely.
- Matty: Literally.

And to think we only found it

In pitch-black, in
44 feet of water.

- Brad: Right? Yeah, piece of cake.
- (howell laughs)

Ross: That is cool. That puts
you right in the time period.

Howell: Yup.

All right, it's been
a long, hot day.

Let's go, uh, clean
this up, and, uh,

- We'll do it again tomorrow.
- Let's go!

Let's go! Tomorrow's the day!

The search continues.

Narrator: As a new day begins
near mechanicsville, virginia...

Nikoline: It's
gorgeous out here.

Narrator: Matty blake

And metal detection
expert nikoline bohr

Are continuing a search
of the pamunkey river

With treasure hunter
matt howell and his team

For an estimated

$65 million in buried valuables

Connected to the famed
british revolutionary w*r general

Charles cornwallis.

You guys had a
great day yesterday.

- Yup.
- So, you're on a roll. Let's keep it going.

Yeah, absolutely.

Matty: There's our team.

- Howell: There we go.
- Nikoline: Yay.

Brad: Today, we're
diving in the same river,

But a little bit
further upstream.

The volume of
water and the depth

Is significantly different.

Significantly more tree
entanglements and things falling

On the river up here
where it's smaller.

So, there's a little more
obstructions up here,

A little less current.

- Let's get some gear on.
- Yeah, let's go.

Brad: Matt and I spend
a lot of time together

Checking on our gear,
making sure everything's safe

And right for us
throughout the day...

Here, matty.

Brad: To be
ready for these hunts

And make sure that we're
prepared to be able to go out,

Make these dives in
these rough conditions,

So we have a solid
plan before we just

Disappear into the darkness.

All right. Great day,
everybody. Let's go.

Nikoline: Wooh!

Dallas: Divers are in.

Check, check. Matty on
surface looking for a comm check.

Brad, hear you loud
and clear, my friend.

Divers, how are the
conditions down there?

Is the viz better
than yesterday?

Anything, any targets? Over.

Ooh. Keep going.

Dallas, where in your research...

Based on everything
that you've learned...

Where would pinpoint,
like, x marks the spot,

The town was here.
Where would it be?

I think it's right here
over our shoulder.

- Right over here? Wow.
- Yeah.

And what do we know
about the town, you know?

- Just...
- It was... It was a tobacco port.

And cornwallis came through
here, we think, at least twice.

Well, we know he came here once
'cause he burned the warehouses

And lots of houses in the town.

The problem is we can
find no concrete evidence

Where the pier was.
If we can find a pier,

We'd be on to something here.

- (chuckles)
- yeah, absolutely.

I see... I see something.

Oh, we have a diver at surface.

Nikoline: Maybe
he found something.

Oh, he got something!

- What is it?
- Matty: Oh, man!

- Nikoline: Awesome.
- Oh, man!

Nikoline: This looks promising.

- Matty: Oh, man!
- Oh. Here.

- So, you see that iron that matty has in his hand?
- Mm-hmm.

Howell: I think that's
a piece of the dock.

Nikoline: You
think it's the dock?

Dallas: Something that
strapped wood together.

- Nikoline: Definitely. I mean, look at this brick.
- Yeah.

Look at that. Is there way to
tell if it's postmodern or not?

- You can... Yeah.
- Well, it has...

- It's handmade.
- Yeah, it's...

- Got a curve to it.
- Yup.

Dallas: It's been eroded
a whole lot, so it's smooth,

But they were not real smooth

- Like bricks are today.
- Yeah. Rough.

Yup. So it's old.

Dallas: Yeah. That's
a handmade brick.

- All right, that puts you in the time period you want.
- Yeah.

Narrator: Prior to
the 1853 invention

Of the brick-making machine,
which took place in England,

Brick manufacturing
was done by hand

During the colonial
period in north america,

Using soft clay with water,

Which was then
finished inside of fire kilns.

Is it possible that this
handmade brick offers evidence

Of the 18th-century town

Where matt howell
and his team believe

General cornwallis may
have buried a large cache

Of looted valuables?

People do not make
handmade bricks anymore.

And it's really cool, because
when you hold it up like this,

You can see that it is a
little thicker on one side,

It begins to warp
a little bit in a way

That a machine-made
brick wouldn't.

Therefore, this brick places
us back in cornwallis's time.

This could be from
one of the structures

- Of this ghost town.
- Oh, yeah. Definitely. Yeah.

Yeah, we need to see what
volume of brick is in there.

- Matty: Right.
- Nikoline: Mm.

- Um, there's got to be more, though.
- Matty: Right.

- Howell: Dallas?
- Yeah?

I legit found the best signs

Of a dock I've ever
seen over there.

I was finding timbers
that were cut square

That were stuck
down in the mud...

- Nikoline: Mm. Hmm.
- And big flat decking.

Where I first dropped down...

- Dallas: Yeah.
- On the left-hand side.

- I think that's got to be where it is.
- It has to be.

- I've never seen anything like that.
- Hmm.

Finding this dock, finding
these pieces, it's huge for us.

It says that we're
on the right track.

It says that the people

Who wrote these things
down long ago weren't lying.

They're telling you the truth,

And you just had to
go look for that truth.

Now we need to get under there,

And we need to find some targets

- That show that people were here.
- Matty: Got it.

That those british troops
came through here.

- Nikoline: Mm.
- Matty: Got it.

- We got to get something that's personal now.
- Matty: Got it.

And you're on a roll.
Let's keep it going.

- Brad, you ready?
- Yeah, let's go.

Matty: When you're doing
underwater treasure hunting,

There's just an energy in the
air and excitement in the air

Because you're literally
pulling history from the water.

So, the anticipation is high.

My excitement
level's really high,

But it's a little scary,
'cause it's black-water diving.

Huge, strong currents.

They can't see their
hand in front of their face.

Matt, confirm. Confirm.

Did you say you
saw bricks? Over.

Oh!

Yes!

- That's good, dallas.
- It is.

Big pile of bricks.
Confirmed. Over. Great job.

Oh, that's-that's
what you wanted.

This is the moment you want
as a treasure hunter, right?

You want to find
that validating piece.

Even if it's not "the treasure."

You are finding the piece
of the puzzle that says,

"I'm in the right place,
continue the search."

- Nikoline: Ooh!
- Matty: Ooh!

You just gave
topside the chills!

- (laughs)
- way to go, matt!

Great to hear it.
Keep going. Over.

You can hear the
excitement in his voice.

- Nikoline: Mm.
- Matty: That's what it is.

I hear that.

Howell: We got on the
bottom today, and the current

Was absolutely
kicking our butts.

It's dark, it's cold, it's wet,

But you get that
beep on the machine.

It's exhilarating.

Yes! Confirm. Targets acquired.

Great job, fellas. Over.

There he is. We have
a diver on the surface.

- All right, he's good.
- Nikoline: Yay!

We got a happy diver.

Howell: Coming out of the
water, all you want do is just

Rip your bag open and
share it with the world

And share it with the guys

Who are in that
same journey with you.

- Hand me the goods!
- Nikoline: All right.

- Matty: No peeking.
- Oh, it's heavy.

Oh!

Howell: That's what
we were looking for.

- Matty: Yes!
- Howell: Yeah. -Wow.

Matty: Well, you know comms
on a dive can be hit or miss,

But I have rarely...
Matter of fact, I'd say

I don't think I've ever heard
a diver as happy as you were

Through those comms
a few minutes ago.

Um, what were you seeing
before we look at what's here?

I'm really, really excited.

I was in enough bricks down
there to build a whole city.

- Oh, my gosh!
- The entire bottom

Of the river right here,
absolutely packed full.

- Awesome work!
- Howell: That's a...

That's a pretty good dive.

While we were under water,
we were finding countless

Bricks just scattered
along the bottom.

It looked like it
could've been the bricks

That built this ghost town.

Without any further ado, let's
take a look at what you got.

So, just by tradition, we've
got to go for the big pouch first.

(nikoline gasps)

Matty: Whoa!

Oh, man! Look at...

Howell: Is it a button,
or is it a horse rosette

- Or a bridle rosette?
- Nikoline: Oh! -Yeah.

It almost looks like something
on a bridle, doesn't it?

Yeah, it's got a
different attachment point

- On the back there.
- It's a heavy, uh...

Matty: That does look
like something on a saddle.

Howell: When I saw
this piece on the bottom,

This made me very excited.

That's a pewter spoon.

- Nikoline: Hmm.
- Matty: Oh, wow.

Oh, wrapped.
Check that out. Wow.

Howell: But it's
wrapped up intentionally.

- Get out! -Yeah.
- How fun.

- It's got cut marks on the side.
- Holy moly.

And it's been
intentionally bent around.

Dallas: Yeah, we have
found period silverware

And spoons like that.

The british was... That was one

Of their prime
ways of destroying

Silverware and spoons and
things was just wrap it up in a knot.

So, this is a-a...
An act of-of-of...

- Howell: Malice.
- Malice.

- Yeah. -Dallas: Yeah.
- How crazy!

Howell: The rolled-up
spoon, it had cut marks.

It was done purposely,

So I believe this is
cornwallis, this was his troops,

And this is what he was doing.

All right, so what's next?

- You ready? -Mm-hmm.
- Matty: I don't think I am.

- Nikoline: (gasps) ah!
- Matty: You have a coin!

That's a coin.

- That's a coin!
- Brad: All right.

Howell: You know what is it?

I think I know what it is.
Just from seeing a bust.

Is that the king?

Let's see that side?

I can see lady liberty on it.

Yeah, I think that's a
liberty cap large cent,

And that would date to the
first minted american coinage.

Wow.

The very first liberty cap
was minted about 1793-1794.

- So...
- So, what would this tell you?

Howell: So this would tell us

This place was
still thriving post

- The american revolution.
- Yeah, after the revolution.

Now, these folks are the
first americans that live here.

- Matty: You got a coin.
- Howell: We got a coin.

That's the very first
one I have ever found.

- Come on!
- Ah!

- Congratulations.
- Congratulations.

- Thanks.
- Wow.

Nikoline: This coin
was only minted

For three years...
From 1793 until 1796.

Americans were here

Using the first american
coinage minted in america

After the revolution.

So, the goal in the
last couple days, right,

For you guys was in pursuit
of cornwallis's treasure?

First, we have to establish

He is where we think he
is, and you had a new target

Right here, right?

And can we prove
the town was here?

- Yeah.
- Matty: With that dock

And with these finds, too.

I mean, this pewter
spoon alone, I think, to me,

Is evidence what you
say happened here

Could have happened here, right?

Yes.

So, I mean, that's
a huge victory.

That is a huge victory
for the last couple of days.

The finds you made
have all validated.

There's been
nothing along the line

That has said, like,
"well, we were off."

This shouldn't be here,
or nothing was here.

It's been the opposite.

It's been bread crumb
after bread crumb,

After bread crumb.

And a lot of blood,
sweat and tears,

A lot of tragedy,
a lot of loss of life.

Lot of great moments,
a lot of victories

Happened all right here,
and you guys are bringing it

Back to life, so thank you
on the behalf of everyone.

Yeah.

Matty: This has
opened me up to a whole

New chapter of the
american revolutionary story,

And it's beautiful,
it's heartbreaking,

It's emotional, it's exciting,

It involves ghost towns
and hidden treasure.

It has been an honor to be here.

Congratulations, guys.
I think you did a lot.

We are super happy to share it.

- Nikoline: Aw.
- I mean, just...

To have you guys come
and hang out, to learn,

The-the knowledge that
you guys have brought

And then to be able to share
what we do and how we do,

It's just, that's next-level.

Howell: I know we're
in the right place.

I can envision

Bustling town dock that
would've been loading

- And unloading ships.
- Are you gonna continue

On this spot, do you think?

We know we are after today.

This certainly has
upped the ante.

- (all laughing)
- matty: Absolutely.

Howell: I dream that
this story continues,

That we get to tell
it to more people,

And if we found the
treasure tomorrow,

I dream we could
find another story

And explore, and adventure,
and share and just keep going.

- It's been inspirational.
- Yeah?

- Yeah.
- Awesome.

Walking in
cornwallis's footsteps.

Matty: I can't wait to tell rick
and marty about what you found.

♪ ♪

Rick: Hey, matt. Welcome
back to the w*r room.

I hear congratulations
are in order.

(laughs) thanks, guys.

I would call this a huge
success out on the river

And really, really
exciting finds.

- Rick: All of these were found?
- Matty: Yes.

- Wow.
- Matty: Yep.

Matt, I've been
dying to ask you,

Any updates since I left?

We found what we
think is the actual

Entire dock site
of this ghost town.

I've heard rumors of it.

I know guys who
have searched over it

For twenty years
and never found it.

Marty: Possibly,
locating that town

Puts you that much closer
to finding this treasure?

Howell: Yeah.

When you start to find

The evidence of
destruction that we found,

It only makes sense that

We're possibly one
or two steps away.

That's, that's cool.
You're on his trail.

- One more hint, right?
- Howell: That's right.

Every piece of the puzzle
to get the whole picture.

What land is this on?
Is it on private land?

Or state land? Or what is it?

So the commonwealth
of virginia owns

Any navigable waterway bottom.

Right now, we are in
the process of reporting

Everything we found
to the commonwealth.

And as long as we stay in the
good graces of the commonwealth,

Hopefully, we'll
be allowed to return

To do some more
exploration work.

We've worked really hard
to roughly map the site

And we want to go do some
detailed mapping, as well,

To really have an understanding
of how the site is laid out

And hopefully we can get into

- The right area.
- Marty: You know, if you get that

Firmed up... the relationship
with the commonwealth...

- Let us know, okay?
- Yeah.

- Marty: We might be able to help.
- Absolutely,

You guys will be
the first ones I call.

- Well, good.
- Matty: (laughs) perfect. We'll be standing by

For your call and more updates,
and matt, thank you again.

Just a life-changing trip.

I really do appreciate
it. Thank you.

- Thanks, guys, I appreciate it.
- Marty: See ya.

- Rick: Take care. Bye-bye.
- Bye-bye.

- That's impressive.
- Marty: It was very impressive. Yeah, he is an impressive guy.

It's a good, a good find.

A nice treasure hunt for
us to get involved in, matty.

- Yeah. Thank you.
- Well done. Well done, you.

Thank you. Great
people, great story.

And, um, there's one
treasure hunt, though, I know of

That I hope doesn't end.

-(chuckles) -where
would that be?

- I don't know.
- Matty: Mm...

-(laughing) -speaking of
which, let's go see about that.

There was at least
something here.

- Yes, sir. We know that.
- At least that.

Whoa!

- Wow!
- Oh, I think so.

- Wow.
- Matty: Breaking news.

- Well done, matty.
- (matty laughs)

- Let's go to work.
- Let's go.

Matty: Let's go find that
oak island treasure, boys.