Tusket Islands

43°39′08″N 66°00′50″W

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Tusket Islands in Nova Scotia

The Tusket Islands are a chain of islands located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Nova Scotia, south of the town Yarmouth.

History

In 1633, Jean de Laite referred to the islands as "Isles aux Tangneux" in his work The New World.[1] The Mi'kmaq referred to the islands as "Aglassawakade," or "place of the English."[2]

There is a local belief that pirate treasure is hidden on one of the islands.[3]

Several dwellings were built on the islands during early decades of European settlement.[4]

Geography

The islands stretch along the coast from Pinkney's Point to Wedgeport. Big Tusket Island has the highest elevation at 31 metres and Bald Tusket Island has an elevation of 16 metres.

The islands include:

• Allen Island
• Pease Island
• Spectacle Island
• Ellenwood Island
• Murder Island (also known as Île du Massacre) - Local lore attributes the numerous human remains found on the island to the extermination of slaves brought up from the Caribbean or Africa subsequent to their work in the construction of subterranean architecture relating to the Oak Island treasure mystery.[5]
• Harris Island
• Holmes Island
• Haymaker Island
• Turpentine Island
• Owls Head Island
• Eagle Island
• Marks Island
• Candlebox Island
• Tarpaulin Island
• Dog Island
• Calf Island
• Big Tusket Island (also known as St. Martin's Island)
• Green Island
• Inner Bald Tusket Island
• Outer Bald Tusket Island - Location of the micronation Principality of Outer Baldonia.

References

1. John Roy Campbell (1876). A History of the County of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
2. Thomas J. Brown (1922). Place-names of the province of Nova Scotia. p. 147 – via Archive.org.
3. "Native of Windsor Tells Of Pirate Hoard Buried On the Tusket Islands On the South-west Coast of Nova Scotia". The Register. June 1, 1927. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
4. "Tusket Islands". Yarmouth.org. 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
5. Place Names of Atlantic Canada. 1970