History of Eleuthera
(mainly taken from Eleuthera by Everild Young, Regency Press, London 1969; available at "The Buccaneer Store", in Governor's Harbor, Pam's Island Gifts in Gregorytown, Sands Store in Palmetto Point)
Eleuthera started, as most islands do, as a coral reef. It gradually assumed a very unusual shape, long and thin, with much shoreline. It is also unusual in that it is relatively hilly, reaching an elevation of 100 feet, much more than most of the other Bahamian islands, and Florida. This fact gives it a scenic advantage, unshared by the other Family Islands, or Out Islands. Generally, Eleuthera is 3-4 degrees cooler than Florida, with constant sea breezes; birds abound, and are characteristicly heard everywhere, once outside the towns.
The History of Man on Eleuthera begins with the Arawaks.
They came to Eleuthera from the coast of the Yucatan in Mexico, and Florida. They knew how to weave cotton cloth, and made spears with fish hooks made from the tortoise shell. They lived primarily on fish, and shellfish. The Arawaks, a
peaceloving people, were not displaced by the warlike Caribs, who did so in all
of the other Lesser Antilles. In the later 1400's, the Spaniards appeared in the area, led by Christopher Columbus.
The Spaniards basically decimated the population of the Bahamas by either killing the residents, or exporting them for slavery. Very few surivied, and the Bahamas, including Eleuthera became very desolate, save for small pockets of survivors. Thus, the Bahamas were like this for the next 200 years.
The first known map of the area called Eleuthera "Cigateo", from the Arawak name, "Cigatoo". According to the time, the mapmakers changed names of the island, as seen in the following table:
YEAR NAME MAPMAKER
1700 Lucayous Islands Wells
1749 Cigateo Alebaster Lucayous Islands Robert (Fr)
1761 Alabaster d'Anville
1784 Harbour Island Bowles
1796 Eleuthera Olim Ciguateo de la Rockette
1815 Eleuthera Wilkinson
1832 Eleuthera, Ethera Island, Cigateo, Blair
A name that is very prominent in Eleuthera's history, William Sayle, is attibuted credit for naming the isle "Eleuthera", which is a variation of the
Greek word for freedom. He had been Governor of Bermuda, but had fallen into disfavor with the Crown of England. Therefore, he wanted to leave Bermuda to pursue freedom, and he decided upon Eleuthera, since the Bahamas were the nearest group of islands to Bermuda. He returned to London, and petitioned Parliament to settle Eleuthera in 1654 (see page 43 for text of petition), what he envisioned as a "utopia". He promised each settler 300 acres of land, upon completion of the voyage to Eleuthera.
However, the voyage did not end smoothly; one of the two ship wrecked on the perilous north part of Eleuthera, destroying much of their supplies. He put most of the settlers ashore at Preacher's Cove, and he went to Virginia for more provisions. When he returned with more supplies, he split the group; one group went to the area now known as "The Current", and his group went to Governor's Harbor.
The soil was very rocky, and not easily cultivated, and the group continued to endure hardship. An interesting sidelight is that Governor Winthrop of
Massachusetts heard of their plight, and sent supplies. In gratitude, the settlers bequeathed 7 tons of Brazilletto timber to the then-young Harvard
College. In 1958, Harvard University presented to Governor's Harbor a plaque made of Braziletto wood in commemoration of that contribution, which still stands today in the Public Library.
Anyways, the settlers constructed wooden houses in Cupid's Cay, in Governor's Harbor. William Sayle returned to Bermuda, where he eventually regained favor witht the crown, and was renamed Governor of Bermuda. He sent his sons to govern Eleuthera in his stead.
The next phase of history was dominated by pirates and buccaneers. The Bahamas in general, became headquarters for the pirates, especially Nassau. The only real contact Eleuthera had with the pirates was a raid by "Calico" Jack on Harbor Island, where he burned a few fishing vessels.
Next, the English took tighter control of the islands, especially after the American War of Independence. After their defeat, many Englishmen did not want to remain in the United States. Therefore, many emigrated with their slaves to the Bahamas, causing the white population of the Bahamas to double, and the black population to triple. The British subjects were given land, to aid their start in their new country. Next came the period of the US Civil War. This had an effect on the Bahamas after it was over, and the slaves were soon emancipated by Queen Victoria in 1834.
Various people then attempted to improve the lot of the Eleutheran islands, including a Reverend Turton. He went to Tarpon Bay, and has this to say... "...Prior to my arrival, though the worthy magistrate had exerted himself to work a reformation, cursing, swearing, drinking to excess, Sabbath-breaking, quarrelling and every kind of wikedness prevailed. Scarcely, however, had I begun to preach to them before many received the word with all readiness of mind, and a remarkable reformation took place, evidently wrought of God..."
At this time, "wrecking", or the salvaging of shipwrecked boats, became a mainstay of the economy. In fact, various tricks were used to lure the ships to the reefs, in the northern part of the island. In fact, at a large reef off Spanish Wells, a reef called 'Devil's Backbone', there are many wrecks today
attesting to the success of the following ruse; lanterns were put on donkeys at night, and moved to stategic areas, to fool the captains into thinking they were the lights of lighthouses, and cause the ships to go off course onto the rocks.
This was especially popular in Spanish Wells, and Harbor Island. The local population even resisted the constructions of lighthouses, in the time of 1845 - 1870, although more than 300 vessels had shipwrecked over the years, since "wrecking" provided a boost to the local economy.
The pineapple farms then came into prominence. The pineapple has been introduced earlier, in the mid 18th century. But it was not until the turn of the century that it really became popular. The red soil of Eleuthera had been ideal for pineapples to grow. A prominent farmer, Jabez Pyfrom was a leading pineapple farmer at that time. Eleuthera's economy thrived and there was much prosperity. At one point, 40 schooners were anchored in Governor's Harbor, awaiting the harvesting of the famous pineapples (description of pineapple harvesting in 1900). But this prosperity was not to last. The US Government started to subsidize the pineapple industries of Cuba and Hawaii, undercutting the Eleutheran crop, and
this industry, as well as the economy of Eleuthera, collapsed. Quarrying was then started, to try to jumpstart the economy, in the area of Hatchet Bay. George Benson, a retired English officer, was instrumental in this endeavor. He also started construction of the "cut" that is now present in Hatchet Bay, connecting the lake with the ocean.
Another man famous in the history of Eleuthera, Austin Levy, arrived in 1927, and formed the "Hatchet Bay Plantations", a combined dairy and poultry farm. He became so large, he built his own schools and stores. At about this time, Mr Arthur Vining Davis started the Rock Sound Club, as well as establishing a farm, dock, and workshops in the Rock Sound area. In fact, Princess Margaret lunched at the Rock Sound Club in 1955. Eventually, Mr. Davis sold his interests to Juan Trippe, an executive of PanAm Airlines, who converted the club into the exclusive "Cotton Bay Club",
which is currently the only Robert Trent Jones designed golf course in the Bahamas.
A few women notable in this era were Charlotte Blodget and Rosita Forbes. Ms Blodget arrived in Governor's Harbor in 1937, and found much
unemployment. She started a sea shell and weaving business, and established trade with Boston. Rosita Forbes, an author and journalist of minor repute, wrote copiously, and put Eleuthera on the map. She built a house, called "Unicorn Cay" on a lagoon called "Half Sound". This house is modelled on the famous "Chateaux on the Loire" in France. She said "...if you want to live on an out-island, it is essential to forge all that
you have been brought up to believe. It is odd how soon Eleuthera reduces one to a condition in which almost every happening seems easiest dealt with in a position recumbent and as distant as possible from the actual scene of disaster".
Next, the "Two Knights" of Eleuthera came into importance, Sir George Roberts, and Sir Roland Symonette ("Pop"). Sir Robert was responsible
for the development of the important, inter-island mailboat system, that is still important today, in delivering supplies, as well as the mail. Sir Roland
is responsible for the roads, and a great deal of buildings in Eleuthera. He later became Premier of the Bahamas.
Other prominent Eleutherans at this time included Asa Pritchard, Sir Harold Christie (real estate), and George Baker (canning).
Around this time, Eleuthera had a bit of a scandal, involving Count Alfred de Monigny, who had built a house at the site of what was to later become 'The French Leave', and then the Club Med. It seems that the father of his bride was murdered in Nassau. He was accused but aquitted, but required to leave the Bahamas.
Due to its location near Florida, Eleuthera became a relay station between Columbia and Florida, like many other Bahamian islands, for the
cocaine trade, in the late 70's and early 80's. Though not heavily involved, the island and its economy and people were definitely affected by this drug trade, which has, by and large, largely disappeared due to police activity.
Today, Eleuthera's economy consists mostly of fishing, boating, and tourism. It is used mainly by Canadian, Italian, German, and American tourists as a vacation spot, and, for some, a temporary winter home. It is not nearly as developed as Grand Bahama (Freeport), or New Providence (Nassau).
In Eleuthera, you will find a world of sunshine, and brilliant colors, pink sand beaches, and aquamarine and azure water, where time stands till and life is leisurely and peace is a reality and not an illusion.
INTERESTING MISCELLANEOUS FACTS
ABOUT ELEUTHERA
-there was a cholera epidemic in Harbor Island in 1761-1769
-there is an old cholera graveyard in Governor's Harbor
-public kissing was illegal after the nine o'clock bell was rung by the sheriff in Harbor Island in 1880
-Spanish Wells is known for having the best fishermen and spongers on the island
-the library in Governor's Harbor also serves as a court house
-most of people in Spanish Wells are descended from pirates or early settlers
-there is a severe riptide between the small island of Currant and the mainland, used frequently by divers
More on the History of Eleuthera
Founded in 1648, Eleuthera Island was the birth place of the Bahamas. Captain William Sayles and a group of Puritans sailed from Bermuda in search of religious freedom. Along the way, they found this beautiful gem of an island and named it Eleuthera. From the Greek word eleuthero or eleuther. Eleuthera means free or freedom. You can still get a feel what the founders felt when you visit the island. Eleuthera has that unspoiled and untamed feel about it.
Lucayan Indians originally occupied Eleuthera. Not much is known about this era. Much like the Puritans, the peaceful Lucayan Indians had come to the Bahamas in search of a more peaceful place to live. The Lucayans were enslaved by the Spanish in the 1500s and shipped to South America to work in the gold and silver mines.
Eleuthera (north) is approximately 225 miles from Miami / Ft. Lauderdale. The island is reported to be 110 miles in most quarters, however the
details on how this measurement was derived is not cited. By some counts, the island is around 90 miles long -- 73 miles as the crow flies from extreme ends.
More fascinating is the average width of the island which ranges anywhere from one half to two miles... you are never far from the beach. The
narrowest place on Earth is on Eleuthera at the famed Glass Window Bridge where the distance from one side of the island to the other is less than 100 feet.
Known as Eleu by some of the inhabitants, Eleuthera's population is reported to be somewhere between 8,000 and 10,000 people. Many of these people are farmers and fishermen. One of the biggest export crops is the pineapple. Gregory Town hosts a Pineapple Festival every year on the first weekend of June. This four day event features local culture, food, pineapples of course, and a Junk anoo party.
Eleuthera is known to have some of the best dive sites in the world; most famous for Current Known as fast drift dive the fast current moves between the rock walls of Eleuthera and Current Island. At the right time of day, a scuba diver can drift the 2/3 mile distance in about 10 minutes. Other famous sites include The Blue Hole, The Train Wreck and Devil's Backbone.
Other points of interest include the cave at Hatchet Bay. Located in the countryside of Eleuthera, this beautifully vaulted, mile long, three level cave is made of limestone and populated with graffiti, bats, and a water room. Explorers used the tar weeping from the rocks to write on the walls. Beautiful stalagmites and stalactites can be seen throughout the cave. This cave was purported to have been used by pirates to
hide their treasures.
Another famous Eleutherian cave is Preacher's Cave. This is where Captain Sayles and his fellow travelers made camp and held their religious services. There is a stone plaque at the entrance of the cave which says William Sayle ship wrecked at Devil's Backbone found refuge here. Sermons held 100 years.
And then there's bonefishing on Eleuthera Island. Miles upon miles of wadable flats are there as well as fishable surf where one can catch snapper, jacks and barracuda. While there are many popular areas to go for bonefish, there are that many more than get very little pressure. It pays to talk to the locals who fish every day.
Eleuthera is not known for gambling, shopping or amusement parks. What it is known for is its natural beauty and serenity. Anyone who has been
there will attest to that. If you like the color of a turquoise blue ocean, pink sands, shock blue skies, warm weather and cool breezes, Eleuthera Island is the place for you.
Sickle-shaped Eleuthera is 110 miles long, an average of 6¾ miles wide and its highest elevation is 168 feet. Located at latitude 25 degrees North and Longitude 76 degrees West, near the edge of the Caribbean Sea, it is about 60 miles from Nassau at its nearest point, Current Island, and approximately 200 miles from Florida. The island has been a romantic hideaway for the British Royal Family for many years. It is where HRH Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana spent a holiday in 1982 and where Prince Edward proposed to Sophie in 1999.
Eleuthera has a hump-back ridge, and is an island of coral and wind-impacted sands formed by winds and waves. Sand dunes were blown into heaps on the eastern shore of the island, eventually consolidating into powder and forming natural cement. The sand has been described as pink-white and peach on Harbour Island and certain parts of the mainland.
Serene colonial villages and rolling acres of pineapple plantations make Eleuthera an island of the most casual sophistication. The cool laziness of
Eleutheran life and dusty-yet-drenched colours of the island give it the feel of a giant illusion. Much of the island’s architecture and way of life were
influenced by Loyalist settlers in the late 1700s.
The island is divided into two regions, North Eleuthera and South Eleuthera. The North encompasses Harbour Island, Spanish Wells, Upper & Lower Bogue, The Bluff, The Current The island is divided into two regions, North Eleuthera and South Eleuthera. The North encompasses Harbour Island, Spanish Wells, Upper & Lower Bogue, The Bluff, The Current & Current Island, Gregory Town, Hatchet Bay and James’ Cistern. The South encompasses Governor’s Harbour, Palmetto Point, Savannah Sound, Tarpum Bay, Rock Sound, Green Castle, Deep Creek, Waterford, Wemyss Bight and Bannerman Town.
Harbour Island was ranked "The Best Island in the Caribbean" by Travel & Leisure magazine in 2005. In its 10th annual poll, readers of the elite travel
magazine rated Harbour Island number one among the islands of the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda on its World’s Best Cities and Islands list.
Briland, as it is known to residents, is approximately 3.5 miles long by 1.5 miles wide. Once the capital of the Bahamas and the second largest city to
Nassau in the 1900s, the current population is estimated between 1500 to 2000. The island is located approximately 200 miles from Miami, 60 miles from Nassau/Paradise Island and two miles East of Eleuthera.
Dunmore Town, the main and only town on Harbour Island, is one of the oldest settlements in The Bahamas. When the Revolutionary War broke out in the United States, the Loyalist Governor of Virginia fled to The Bahamas where he was awarded the title of Lord Dunmore, Governor of The Bahamas. He laid out what is today Dunmore Town, at the center of Harbour Island, giving shape to the village you see today.
Harbour Island was a noted shipyard and sugar refinement center in the late 1800s, and the resourceful residents have also made their way in the world as skilled shipbuilders and farmers. The island itself has little potable soil, but residents were given land to farm on the “mainland” (Eleuthera) in 1783, and much of that original grant is still being tilled by Brilanders today.
Shipbuilding and farming of citrus, pineapples, and tomatoes made Harbour Island fairly prosperous until World War I brought worldwide depression. The first regular tourist business that today provides the bulk of the island’s livelihood began with weekly Bahamas Air flights in 1941. Electricity, phone service, television and most recently e-mail have put Harbour Island in reach of the several hundred visitors a week that today experience her charms.
The island’s enduring popularity is founded on its tropical greenery stretching out to meet the warm, pink-hued sand beaches it is famous for. Its
resorts and the warm Briland hospitality housed in the quaint New England architecture of the island’s Loyalist history add to nature’s palette. Rows of
century-old trees border narrow flower-lined streets. It’s a sight not to be missed.
A short water taxi ride from North Eleuthera is St. George's Cay and Spanish Wells, a beautiful 1½ mile fishing village set among groves of palms and trees. While the Eleutheran Adventurers were the first settlers of the Cay, situated on the eastern shore of the island, it was the Spanish conquistadors who first put Spanish Wells on the map. It was there that they sunk a well in the 17th Century to provide their ships with potable water. The island was designated the final landing point for their galleons before attempting the arduous journey back to their homeland, loaded down with the riches of the New World.
Spanish Wells was first inhabited in 1649, and some of the Loyalists who came from Carolina in 1776 settled here. The people have very strong family ties and many of today’s residents proudly claim that their heritage goes back to the early pioneers. In fact, if you happen to be descended from a Loyalist in Spanish Wells, you would be called a “Newcomer.”
They residents are very industrious and were never slave owners. For centuries they have been making their living from the bounty in the miles of
deep blue sea around the island. In fact, this small community provides 75% of all the crawfish caught in The Bahamas during the season. They also make excellent fishing guides and diving instructors. Those who are not employed in the fishing industry are involved in farming and fruit growing.
The Bouge is situated five miles from the Bluff. Reportedly, the name is simply a corruption of “The Bog” which refers to a swamp in the vicinity. The
area is divided into two sections, Upper and Lower Bogue, which were established after Emancipation. The Methodist Church is the oldest church in the settlement.
The Bluff lies about five miles south of Spanish Wells on the western shores of Eleuthera. This old-fashioned village has a miniature harbour and was originally settled by liberated slaves. After Emancipation, the slaves in the district settled on most of the finest lands in the settlement taking care to be near the sea for the convenience of shipping their fruits and catching fish. It has fine orange orchards and thousands of oranges were formerly shipped to America. The oldest church is John Wesley Methodist Church. There are no facilities for tourists and most of the people earn their living by farming.
The Current is a small village which gets its name from the tide that boils through the cut that separates it from Current Island. It is believed to be one
of the oldest settlements and that Captain William Sayle brought some settlers here on his way to “discovering” Cupid’s Cay. The men are good fishermen; the women make a living from arts and craft and are said to produce some of the country’s finest straw work.
Gregory Town is five miles north of Hatchet Bay. The settlement is named after Governor John Gregory, who was Governor of the Bahamas in the 1950’s. The settlement has unexpected charm. Some visitors say that it reminds them of Jerusalem and others, the Italian Riviera. Scores of pastel-painted cottages dot the sun-drenched, steep hillsides. Its perfect deep-blue harbour, which pirates called “The Cove,” is still used today. The two main resorts are The Cove and Cambridge Villas.
In 1988, the annual Pineapple Festival was started here by the local Tourist Office. In July 1989, when it was learned that Jensen Beach, Florida, also celebrated a Pineapple Festival, Gregory Town and Jensen Beach became official Sister Cities. History shows that pineapples from Eleuthera helped start the Pineapple Industry in Jensen Beach in 1888.
Hatchet Bay, a one-mile-long settlement lined with Casuarina trees, is situated between Gregory Town and James Cistern. Alice Town is the main
settlement and the most populated in the north. Years ago, Hatchet Bay was referred to as East End Point. The Harbour is shaped like the head of a hatchet with the handle being cut out by the sea. During the 1940’s, a channel was cut out to facilitate boats coming into the shore. Located here is the Hatchet Bay Plantation, established in 1936 by Mr. Austin Levy, which produced dairy and poultry products. It was purchased by The Bahamas Government in 1975 and subsequently controlled by the Bahamas Development Corporation. It is now closed.
In Alice Town, there is the Hatchet Bay packing house of the Department of Agriculture. Pineapples, cabbages, onions, watermelons, pumpkins, sweet peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers are some of the produce that is shipped to New Providence from Eleuthera. This settlement, situated between Hatchet Bay and Governors Harbour, derived its name from the fresh water cisterns found there by a man called James during its early years of habitation. A part of this two-mile-long settlement is perched on the hilltop and referred to as “The Cliffs” because of its height from sea level.
There are seven churches here, the oldest of which is John Wesley Methodist Church, which is over 200 years old and has the largest number of followers. The new Methodist Church seats 200 persons.
Governor’s Harbour is so called because the first seat of government was established there. It was also the place where Captain William Sayle,
ex-Governor of Bermuda, established the first settlement in The Bahamas at Cupid’s Cay. Robert Hutchinson, a loyalist who died in 1815, was the grandfather of Mrs. Asa Prichard, a local resident. His other descendants are the Bethel, Pyfrom, Sturrup and Moss families.
A fire at Cupid’s Cay in 1907 destroyed a number of the old colonial buildings. However, from the distance across the bay, the cay still looks like a
beautiful colonial fishing village. Some of the old buildings are in disrepair, because property owners left the settlement after the decline in the pineapple factory and canning factory.
Cupid’s Cay is joined to the mainland by a causeway. The causeway was originally a wooden bridge which was reportedly blown away in the gales of 1928 or 1929. (Old pictures show a wooden bridge with an arch over it.) A concrete bridge was later built.
Cupid’s Cay was also the location of the first U.S. Consulate, which now houses a shop owned by Margaret Bethel. Accommodations include Quality Inn, Carmen & Richard’s and Laughing Bird Apartments.
This rapidly expanding settlement took its name from the many Palmetto Palm Trees that can be seen all along the main road and throughout the area. Palmetto Point is divided into two sections, North and South; the North is referred to by the locals as the Country and the South as South Side.
The South side was settled first, but due to the shortage of water, the settlers moved to the North side where the settlement flourished because it had
fresh water wells. The South side is well settled today and there are several tourist accommodations. The first settlers carried the surnames, Bethel, Sands and Knowles. A place of special interest on the north side is the massive 127 year old Silk Cotton Tree, where many public functions are held.
Savannah Sound, a relatively small settlement, is situated 16 miles east of Governor’s Harbour between Tarpum Bay and Palmetto Point. The name is derived from the savannah, which extends from 3½ miles at the back of the settlement, and the bay behind the savannah. The wells of the savannah supplied the entire settlement with fresh water in bygone days, although most homes had a rain water tank.
Savannah Sound was peopled originally by the Gibson, Culmers and Bullards. This settlement is well known for the number of teachers and musicians who were born there. Among these were Timothy Gibson, teacher and song writer, who wrote several songs about The Bahamas, including our present National Anthem - “March on Bahamaland.” Also, it is said that in every Government Ministry in country there is someone who descended from Savannah Sound.
The early settlers earned their living by fishing and farming and numerous ruins of large colonial houses remind us of what the settlement used to be.
Today, the Tourism industry has brought some prosperity back to the settlement, evidenced by the new houses, shops and offices on the main road and along new roads.
The quaint old settlement of Tarpum Bay is situated between Rock Sound and Savannah Sound. The original name was Glenelg, after Glenelg a former Secretary of State for the Colonies. The name was change to Tarpum Bay because of the Tarpon fish which was often found on the beach.
The original settlers include the Bullards, who came from Savannah Sound, the Culmers and the Careys who came from Ireland. The town is a favorite locale for artists.
The settlement of Rock Sound was originally called New Portsmouth. At one stage it was also called Wreck Sound, because of the wrecking of ships out on the reefs. Many feel that Rock Sound is very appropriate, because of a large rock located between the ocean and the sound.
Green Castle was once a part of the area known as the Rattray Estate. This settlement, situated between Rock Sound and Wemyss Bight, derived its name from the home of Zaccheus Smith which was conspicuously situated atop Bay Road. The building was very large, green in color, and was entered via steps starting at the roadway below. It was called “the castle,” because of its colonial architecture. The home was destroyed by Hurricane David in 1979.
Mr. Smith was a former Justice of the Peace, Catechist of the Anglican Church, a prominent businessman, and was affectionately called “Governor” by the people living in this area.
This settlement was originally called Free Town and is the largest in the South. It was one of the areas where liberated slaves were allowed to work the land. Deep Creek is so called because of the deep creek facing the settlement. There is no harbour and almost everyone is able to paddle out to their small boats to go fishing.
Deep Creek is divided into four parts: Delancy Town, Sweeting Town, Free Town and Thompson’s Town. The Anglican Church is in Delancy Town, the Baptist Church in Sweetings Town, the school in Free Town, and the Methodist Church in Thompson’s Town.
Cotton Bay was formerly called “White Lands,” because residents of the area farmed on the sand. The tourist resort, just outside of Green Castle, was developed by Mr. Arthur Vinding-Davis, who bought it during the 1940’s from Mr. Juan Trippe, who was then President of Pan American Airways. An 18-hole golf course located there was designed by Robert Trent Jones.
Mr. Trippe felt that the people of Eleuthera were a big part of its attraction. He created the name "Cotton Bay" to describe the home of what he
considered to be the friendliest people in The Islands of The Bahamas. He saw that the people here "cottoned" easily to each other, or got along very well.
This settlement is situated between Bannerman Town and Deep Creek. It was named after Lord Gordon Wemyss, an early slave owner from Scotland who settled here during the seventeenth century. There is quite a bit of “commonage” land
here, having been willed to descendants of their slaves both by the former owners.
Lord Wemyss’ house still stands today, at the rear of the Mt. Olive Tabernacle, Assemblies of God Church. His tomb, which was also located there,
has now been flattened. First class marina facilities can be found at Davis Harbour within the Wemyss Bight area.
This small settlement was named after Governor Sir Alexander Bannerman. It has a beautiful beach with white sand. The family names closely associated with Bannerman Town include Finley, Butler, Mackey, Miller and McKenzie. The Millers came from Long Island, and the Butlers came from Rum Cay. Many of these people came to work in the pineapple industry and farming.
information from the website: http://www.eleuthera-life.com/
(mainly taken from Eleuthera by Everild Young, Regency Press, London 1969; available at "The Buccaneer Store", in Governor's Harbor, Pam's Island Gifts in Gregorytown, Sands Store in Palmetto Point)
Eleuthera started, as most islands do, as a coral reef. It gradually assumed a very unusual shape, long and thin, with much shoreline. It is also unusual in that it is relatively hilly, reaching an elevation of 100 feet, much more than most of the other Bahamian islands, and Florida. This fact gives it a scenic advantage, unshared by the other Family Islands, or Out Islands. Generally, Eleuthera is 3-4 degrees cooler than Florida, with constant sea breezes; birds abound, and are characteristicly heard everywhere, once outside the towns.
The History of Man on Eleuthera begins with the Arawaks.
They came to Eleuthera from the coast of the Yucatan in Mexico, and Florida. They knew how to weave cotton cloth, and made spears with fish hooks made from the tortoise shell. They lived primarily on fish, and shellfish. The Arawaks, a
peaceloving people, were not displaced by the warlike Caribs, who did so in all
of the other Lesser Antilles. In the later 1400's, the Spaniards appeared in the area, led by Christopher Columbus.
The Spaniards basically decimated the population of the Bahamas by either killing the residents, or exporting them for slavery. Very few surivied, and the Bahamas, including Eleuthera became very desolate, save for small pockets of survivors. Thus, the Bahamas were like this for the next 200 years.
The first known map of the area called Eleuthera "Cigateo", from the Arawak name, "Cigatoo". According to the time, the mapmakers changed names of the island, as seen in the following table:
YEAR NAME MAPMAKER
1700 Lucayous Islands Wells
1749 Cigateo Alebaster Lucayous Islands Robert (Fr)
1761 Alabaster d'Anville
1784 Harbour Island Bowles
1796 Eleuthera Olim Ciguateo de la Rockette
1815 Eleuthera Wilkinson
1832 Eleuthera, Ethera Island, Cigateo, Blair
A name that is very prominent in Eleuthera's history, William Sayle, is attibuted credit for naming the isle "Eleuthera", which is a variation of the
Greek word for freedom. He had been Governor of Bermuda, but had fallen into disfavor with the Crown of England. Therefore, he wanted to leave Bermuda to pursue freedom, and he decided upon Eleuthera, since the Bahamas were the nearest group of islands to Bermuda. He returned to London, and petitioned Parliament to settle Eleuthera in 1654 (see page 43 for text of petition), what he envisioned as a "utopia". He promised each settler 300 acres of land, upon completion of the voyage to Eleuthera.
However, the voyage did not end smoothly; one of the two ship wrecked on the perilous north part of Eleuthera, destroying much of their supplies. He put most of the settlers ashore at Preacher's Cove, and he went to Virginia for more provisions. When he returned with more supplies, he split the group; one group went to the area now known as "The Current", and his group went to Governor's Harbor.
The soil was very rocky, and not easily cultivated, and the group continued to endure hardship. An interesting sidelight is that Governor Winthrop of
Massachusetts heard of their plight, and sent supplies. In gratitude, the settlers bequeathed 7 tons of Brazilletto timber to the then-young Harvard
College. In 1958, Harvard University presented to Governor's Harbor a plaque made of Braziletto wood in commemoration of that contribution, which still stands today in the Public Library.
Anyways, the settlers constructed wooden houses in Cupid's Cay, in Governor's Harbor. William Sayle returned to Bermuda, where he eventually regained favor witht the crown, and was renamed Governor of Bermuda. He sent his sons to govern Eleuthera in his stead.
The next phase of history was dominated by pirates and buccaneers. The Bahamas in general, became headquarters for the pirates, especially Nassau. The only real contact Eleuthera had with the pirates was a raid by "Calico" Jack on Harbor Island, where he burned a few fishing vessels.
Next, the English took tighter control of the islands, especially after the American War of Independence. After their defeat, many Englishmen did not want to remain in the United States. Therefore, many emigrated with their slaves to the Bahamas, causing the white population of the Bahamas to double, and the black population to triple. The British subjects were given land, to aid their start in their new country. Next came the period of the US Civil War. This had an effect on the Bahamas after it was over, and the slaves were soon emancipated by Queen Victoria in 1834.
Various people then attempted to improve the lot of the Eleutheran islands, including a Reverend Turton. He went to Tarpon Bay, and has this to say... "...Prior to my arrival, though the worthy magistrate had exerted himself to work a reformation, cursing, swearing, drinking to excess, Sabbath-breaking, quarrelling and every kind of wikedness prevailed. Scarcely, however, had I begun to preach to them before many received the word with all readiness of mind, and a remarkable reformation took place, evidently wrought of God..."
At this time, "wrecking", or the salvaging of shipwrecked boats, became a mainstay of the economy. In fact, various tricks were used to lure the ships to the reefs, in the northern part of the island. In fact, at a large reef off Spanish Wells, a reef called 'Devil's Backbone', there are many wrecks today
attesting to the success of the following ruse; lanterns were put on donkeys at night, and moved to stategic areas, to fool the captains into thinking they were the lights of lighthouses, and cause the ships to go off course onto the rocks.
This was especially popular in Spanish Wells, and Harbor Island. The local population even resisted the constructions of lighthouses, in the time of 1845 - 1870, although more than 300 vessels had shipwrecked over the years, since "wrecking" provided a boost to the local economy.
The pineapple farms then came into prominence. The pineapple has been introduced earlier, in the mid 18th century. But it was not until the turn of the century that it really became popular. The red soil of Eleuthera had been ideal for pineapples to grow. A prominent farmer, Jabez Pyfrom was a leading pineapple farmer at that time. Eleuthera's economy thrived and there was much prosperity. At one point, 40 schooners were anchored in Governor's Harbor, awaiting the harvesting of the famous pineapples (description of pineapple harvesting in 1900). But this prosperity was not to last. The US Government started to subsidize the pineapple industries of Cuba and Hawaii, undercutting the Eleutheran crop, and
this industry, as well as the economy of Eleuthera, collapsed. Quarrying was then started, to try to jumpstart the economy, in the area of Hatchet Bay. George Benson, a retired English officer, was instrumental in this endeavor. He also started construction of the "cut" that is now present in Hatchet Bay, connecting the lake with the ocean.
Another man famous in the history of Eleuthera, Austin Levy, arrived in 1927, and formed the "Hatchet Bay Plantations", a combined dairy and poultry farm. He became so large, he built his own schools and stores. At about this time, Mr Arthur Vining Davis started the Rock Sound Club, as well as establishing a farm, dock, and workshops in the Rock Sound area. In fact, Princess Margaret lunched at the Rock Sound Club in 1955. Eventually, Mr. Davis sold his interests to Juan Trippe, an executive of PanAm Airlines, who converted the club into the exclusive "Cotton Bay Club",
which is currently the only Robert Trent Jones designed golf course in the Bahamas.
A few women notable in this era were Charlotte Blodget and Rosita Forbes. Ms Blodget arrived in Governor's Harbor in 1937, and found much
unemployment. She started a sea shell and weaving business, and established trade with Boston. Rosita Forbes, an author and journalist of minor repute, wrote copiously, and put Eleuthera on the map. She built a house, called "Unicorn Cay" on a lagoon called "Half Sound". This house is modelled on the famous "Chateaux on the Loire" in France. She said "...if you want to live on an out-island, it is essential to forge all that
you have been brought up to believe. It is odd how soon Eleuthera reduces one to a condition in which almost every happening seems easiest dealt with in a position recumbent and as distant as possible from the actual scene of disaster".
Next, the "Two Knights" of Eleuthera came into importance, Sir George Roberts, and Sir Roland Symonette ("Pop"). Sir Robert was responsible
for the development of the important, inter-island mailboat system, that is still important today, in delivering supplies, as well as the mail. Sir Roland
is responsible for the roads, and a great deal of buildings in Eleuthera. He later became Premier of the Bahamas.
Other prominent Eleutherans at this time included Asa Pritchard, Sir Harold Christie (real estate), and George Baker (canning).
Around this time, Eleuthera had a bit of a scandal, involving Count Alfred de Monigny, who had built a house at the site of what was to later become 'The French Leave', and then the Club Med. It seems that the father of his bride was murdered in Nassau. He was accused but aquitted, but required to leave the Bahamas.
Due to its location near Florida, Eleuthera became a relay station between Columbia and Florida, like many other Bahamian islands, for the
cocaine trade, in the late 70's and early 80's. Though not heavily involved, the island and its economy and people were definitely affected by this drug trade, which has, by and large, largely disappeared due to police activity.
Today, Eleuthera's economy consists mostly of fishing, boating, and tourism. It is used mainly by Canadian, Italian, German, and American tourists as a vacation spot, and, for some, a temporary winter home. It is not nearly as developed as Grand Bahama (Freeport), or New Providence (Nassau).
In Eleuthera, you will find a world of sunshine, and brilliant colors, pink sand beaches, and aquamarine and azure water, where time stands till and life is leisurely and peace is a reality and not an illusion.
INTERESTING MISCELLANEOUS FACTS
ABOUT ELEUTHERA
-there was a cholera epidemic in Harbor Island in 1761-1769
-there is an old cholera graveyard in Governor's Harbor
-public kissing was illegal after the nine o'clock bell was rung by the sheriff in Harbor Island in 1880
-Spanish Wells is known for having the best fishermen and spongers on the island
-the library in Governor's Harbor also serves as a court house
-most of people in Spanish Wells are descended from pirates or early settlers
-there is a severe riptide between the small island of Currant and the mainland, used frequently by divers
More on the History of Eleuthera
Founded in 1648, Eleuthera Island was the birth place of the Bahamas. Captain William Sayles and a group of Puritans sailed from Bermuda in search of religious freedom. Along the way, they found this beautiful gem of an island and named it Eleuthera. From the Greek word eleuthero or eleuther. Eleuthera means free or freedom. You can still get a feel what the founders felt when you visit the island. Eleuthera has that unspoiled and untamed feel about it.
Lucayan Indians originally occupied Eleuthera. Not much is known about this era. Much like the Puritans, the peaceful Lucayan Indians had come to the Bahamas in search of a more peaceful place to live. The Lucayans were enslaved by the Spanish in the 1500s and shipped to South America to work in the gold and silver mines.
Eleuthera (north) is approximately 225 miles from Miami / Ft. Lauderdale. The island is reported to be 110 miles in most quarters, however the
details on how this measurement was derived is not cited. By some counts, the island is around 90 miles long -- 73 miles as the crow flies from extreme ends.
More fascinating is the average width of the island which ranges anywhere from one half to two miles... you are never far from the beach. The
narrowest place on Earth is on Eleuthera at the famed Glass Window Bridge where the distance from one side of the island to the other is less than 100 feet.
Known as Eleu by some of the inhabitants, Eleuthera's population is reported to be somewhere between 8,000 and 10,000 people. Many of these people are farmers and fishermen. One of the biggest export crops is the pineapple. Gregory Town hosts a Pineapple Festival every year on the first weekend of June. This four day event features local culture, food, pineapples of course, and a Junk anoo party.
Eleuthera is known to have some of the best dive sites in the world; most famous for Current Known as fast drift dive the fast current moves between the rock walls of Eleuthera and Current Island. At the right time of day, a scuba diver can drift the 2/3 mile distance in about 10 minutes. Other famous sites include The Blue Hole, The Train Wreck and Devil's Backbone.
Other points of interest include the cave at Hatchet Bay. Located in the countryside of Eleuthera, this beautifully vaulted, mile long, three level cave is made of limestone and populated with graffiti, bats, and a water room. Explorers used the tar weeping from the rocks to write on the walls. Beautiful stalagmites and stalactites can be seen throughout the cave. This cave was purported to have been used by pirates to
hide their treasures.
Another famous Eleutherian cave is Preacher's Cave. This is where Captain Sayles and his fellow travelers made camp and held their religious services. There is a stone plaque at the entrance of the cave which says William Sayle ship wrecked at Devil's Backbone found refuge here. Sermons held 100 years.
And then there's bonefishing on Eleuthera Island. Miles upon miles of wadable flats are there as well as fishable surf where one can catch snapper, jacks and barracuda. While there are many popular areas to go for bonefish, there are that many more than get very little pressure. It pays to talk to the locals who fish every day.
Eleuthera is not known for gambling, shopping or amusement parks. What it is known for is its natural beauty and serenity. Anyone who has been
there will attest to that. If you like the color of a turquoise blue ocean, pink sands, shock blue skies, warm weather and cool breezes, Eleuthera Island is the place for you.
Sickle-shaped Eleuthera is 110 miles long, an average of 6¾ miles wide and its highest elevation is 168 feet. Located at latitude 25 degrees North and Longitude 76 degrees West, near the edge of the Caribbean Sea, it is about 60 miles from Nassau at its nearest point, Current Island, and approximately 200 miles from Florida. The island has been a romantic hideaway for the British Royal Family for many years. It is where HRH Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana spent a holiday in 1982 and where Prince Edward proposed to Sophie in 1999.
Eleuthera has a hump-back ridge, and is an island of coral and wind-impacted sands formed by winds and waves. Sand dunes were blown into heaps on the eastern shore of the island, eventually consolidating into powder and forming natural cement. The sand has been described as pink-white and peach on Harbour Island and certain parts of the mainland.
Serene colonial villages and rolling acres of pineapple plantations make Eleuthera an island of the most casual sophistication. The cool laziness of
Eleutheran life and dusty-yet-drenched colours of the island give it the feel of a giant illusion. Much of the island’s architecture and way of life were
influenced by Loyalist settlers in the late 1700s.
The island is divided into two regions, North Eleuthera and South Eleuthera. The North encompasses Harbour Island, Spanish Wells, Upper & Lower Bogue, The Bluff, The Current The island is divided into two regions, North Eleuthera and South Eleuthera. The North encompasses Harbour Island, Spanish Wells, Upper & Lower Bogue, The Bluff, The Current & Current Island, Gregory Town, Hatchet Bay and James’ Cistern. The South encompasses Governor’s Harbour, Palmetto Point, Savannah Sound, Tarpum Bay, Rock Sound, Green Castle, Deep Creek, Waterford, Wemyss Bight and Bannerman Town.
Harbour Island was ranked "The Best Island in the Caribbean" by Travel & Leisure magazine in 2005. In its 10th annual poll, readers of the elite travel
magazine rated Harbour Island number one among the islands of the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda on its World’s Best Cities and Islands list.
Briland, as it is known to residents, is approximately 3.5 miles long by 1.5 miles wide. Once the capital of the Bahamas and the second largest city to
Nassau in the 1900s, the current population is estimated between 1500 to 2000. The island is located approximately 200 miles from Miami, 60 miles from Nassau/Paradise Island and two miles East of Eleuthera.
Dunmore Town, the main and only town on Harbour Island, is one of the oldest settlements in The Bahamas. When the Revolutionary War broke out in the United States, the Loyalist Governor of Virginia fled to The Bahamas where he was awarded the title of Lord Dunmore, Governor of The Bahamas. He laid out what is today Dunmore Town, at the center of Harbour Island, giving shape to the village you see today.
Harbour Island was a noted shipyard and sugar refinement center in the late 1800s, and the resourceful residents have also made their way in the world as skilled shipbuilders and farmers. The island itself has little potable soil, but residents were given land to farm on the “mainland” (Eleuthera) in 1783, and much of that original grant is still being tilled by Brilanders today.
Shipbuilding and farming of citrus, pineapples, and tomatoes made Harbour Island fairly prosperous until World War I brought worldwide depression. The first regular tourist business that today provides the bulk of the island’s livelihood began with weekly Bahamas Air flights in 1941. Electricity, phone service, television and most recently e-mail have put Harbour Island in reach of the several hundred visitors a week that today experience her charms.
The island’s enduring popularity is founded on its tropical greenery stretching out to meet the warm, pink-hued sand beaches it is famous for. Its
resorts and the warm Briland hospitality housed in the quaint New England architecture of the island’s Loyalist history add to nature’s palette. Rows of
century-old trees border narrow flower-lined streets. It’s a sight not to be missed.
A short water taxi ride from North Eleuthera is St. George's Cay and Spanish Wells, a beautiful 1½ mile fishing village set among groves of palms and trees. While the Eleutheran Adventurers were the first settlers of the Cay, situated on the eastern shore of the island, it was the Spanish conquistadors who first put Spanish Wells on the map. It was there that they sunk a well in the 17th Century to provide their ships with potable water. The island was designated the final landing point for their galleons before attempting the arduous journey back to their homeland, loaded down with the riches of the New World.
Spanish Wells was first inhabited in 1649, and some of the Loyalists who came from Carolina in 1776 settled here. The people have very strong family ties and many of today’s residents proudly claim that their heritage goes back to the early pioneers. In fact, if you happen to be descended from a Loyalist in Spanish Wells, you would be called a “Newcomer.”
They residents are very industrious and were never slave owners. For centuries they have been making their living from the bounty in the miles of
deep blue sea around the island. In fact, this small community provides 75% of all the crawfish caught in The Bahamas during the season. They also make excellent fishing guides and diving instructors. Those who are not employed in the fishing industry are involved in farming and fruit growing.
The Bouge is situated five miles from the Bluff. Reportedly, the name is simply a corruption of “The Bog” which refers to a swamp in the vicinity. The
area is divided into two sections, Upper and Lower Bogue, which were established after Emancipation. The Methodist Church is the oldest church in the settlement.
The Bluff lies about five miles south of Spanish Wells on the western shores of Eleuthera. This old-fashioned village has a miniature harbour and was originally settled by liberated slaves. After Emancipation, the slaves in the district settled on most of the finest lands in the settlement taking care to be near the sea for the convenience of shipping their fruits and catching fish. It has fine orange orchards and thousands of oranges were formerly shipped to America. The oldest church is John Wesley Methodist Church. There are no facilities for tourists and most of the people earn their living by farming.
The Current is a small village which gets its name from the tide that boils through the cut that separates it from Current Island. It is believed to be one
of the oldest settlements and that Captain William Sayle brought some settlers here on his way to “discovering” Cupid’s Cay. The men are good fishermen; the women make a living from arts and craft and are said to produce some of the country’s finest straw work.
Gregory Town is five miles north of Hatchet Bay. The settlement is named after Governor John Gregory, who was Governor of the Bahamas in the 1950’s. The settlement has unexpected charm. Some visitors say that it reminds them of Jerusalem and others, the Italian Riviera. Scores of pastel-painted cottages dot the sun-drenched, steep hillsides. Its perfect deep-blue harbour, which pirates called “The Cove,” is still used today. The two main resorts are The Cove and Cambridge Villas.
In 1988, the annual Pineapple Festival was started here by the local Tourist Office. In July 1989, when it was learned that Jensen Beach, Florida, also celebrated a Pineapple Festival, Gregory Town and Jensen Beach became official Sister Cities. History shows that pineapples from Eleuthera helped start the Pineapple Industry in Jensen Beach in 1888.
Hatchet Bay, a one-mile-long settlement lined with Casuarina trees, is situated between Gregory Town and James Cistern. Alice Town is the main
settlement and the most populated in the north. Years ago, Hatchet Bay was referred to as East End Point. The Harbour is shaped like the head of a hatchet with the handle being cut out by the sea. During the 1940’s, a channel was cut out to facilitate boats coming into the shore. Located here is the Hatchet Bay Plantation, established in 1936 by Mr. Austin Levy, which produced dairy and poultry products. It was purchased by The Bahamas Government in 1975 and subsequently controlled by the Bahamas Development Corporation. It is now closed.
In Alice Town, there is the Hatchet Bay packing house of the Department of Agriculture. Pineapples, cabbages, onions, watermelons, pumpkins, sweet peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers are some of the produce that is shipped to New Providence from Eleuthera. This settlement, situated between Hatchet Bay and Governors Harbour, derived its name from the fresh water cisterns found there by a man called James during its early years of habitation. A part of this two-mile-long settlement is perched on the hilltop and referred to as “The Cliffs” because of its height from sea level.
There are seven churches here, the oldest of which is John Wesley Methodist Church, which is over 200 years old and has the largest number of followers. The new Methodist Church seats 200 persons.
Governor’s Harbour is so called because the first seat of government was established there. It was also the place where Captain William Sayle,
ex-Governor of Bermuda, established the first settlement in The Bahamas at Cupid’s Cay. Robert Hutchinson, a loyalist who died in 1815, was the grandfather of Mrs. Asa Prichard, a local resident. His other descendants are the Bethel, Pyfrom, Sturrup and Moss families.
A fire at Cupid’s Cay in 1907 destroyed a number of the old colonial buildings. However, from the distance across the bay, the cay still looks like a
beautiful colonial fishing village. Some of the old buildings are in disrepair, because property owners left the settlement after the decline in the pineapple factory and canning factory.
Cupid’s Cay is joined to the mainland by a causeway. The causeway was originally a wooden bridge which was reportedly blown away in the gales of 1928 or 1929. (Old pictures show a wooden bridge with an arch over it.) A concrete bridge was later built.
Cupid’s Cay was also the location of the first U.S. Consulate, which now houses a shop owned by Margaret Bethel. Accommodations include Quality Inn, Carmen & Richard’s and Laughing Bird Apartments.
This rapidly expanding settlement took its name from the many Palmetto Palm Trees that can be seen all along the main road and throughout the area. Palmetto Point is divided into two sections, North and South; the North is referred to by the locals as the Country and the South as South Side.
The South side was settled first, but due to the shortage of water, the settlers moved to the North side where the settlement flourished because it had
fresh water wells. The South side is well settled today and there are several tourist accommodations. The first settlers carried the surnames, Bethel, Sands and Knowles. A place of special interest on the north side is the massive 127 year old Silk Cotton Tree, where many public functions are held.
Savannah Sound, a relatively small settlement, is situated 16 miles east of Governor’s Harbour between Tarpum Bay and Palmetto Point. The name is derived from the savannah, which extends from 3½ miles at the back of the settlement, and the bay behind the savannah. The wells of the savannah supplied the entire settlement with fresh water in bygone days, although most homes had a rain water tank.
Savannah Sound was peopled originally by the Gibson, Culmers and Bullards. This settlement is well known for the number of teachers and musicians who were born there. Among these were Timothy Gibson, teacher and song writer, who wrote several songs about The Bahamas, including our present National Anthem - “March on Bahamaland.” Also, it is said that in every Government Ministry in country there is someone who descended from Savannah Sound.
The early settlers earned their living by fishing and farming and numerous ruins of large colonial houses remind us of what the settlement used to be.
Today, the Tourism industry has brought some prosperity back to the settlement, evidenced by the new houses, shops and offices on the main road and along new roads.
The quaint old settlement of Tarpum Bay is situated between Rock Sound and Savannah Sound. The original name was Glenelg, after Glenelg a former Secretary of State for the Colonies. The name was change to Tarpum Bay because of the Tarpon fish which was often found on the beach.
The original settlers include the Bullards, who came from Savannah Sound, the Culmers and the Careys who came from Ireland. The town is a favorite locale for artists.
The settlement of Rock Sound was originally called New Portsmouth. At one stage it was also called Wreck Sound, because of the wrecking of ships out on the reefs. Many feel that Rock Sound is very appropriate, because of a large rock located between the ocean and the sound.
Green Castle was once a part of the area known as the Rattray Estate. This settlement, situated between Rock Sound and Wemyss Bight, derived its name from the home of Zaccheus Smith which was conspicuously situated atop Bay Road. The building was very large, green in color, and was entered via steps starting at the roadway below. It was called “the castle,” because of its colonial architecture. The home was destroyed by Hurricane David in 1979.
Mr. Smith was a former Justice of the Peace, Catechist of the Anglican Church, a prominent businessman, and was affectionately called “Governor” by the people living in this area.
This settlement was originally called Free Town and is the largest in the South. It was one of the areas where liberated slaves were allowed to work the land. Deep Creek is so called because of the deep creek facing the settlement. There is no harbour and almost everyone is able to paddle out to their small boats to go fishing.
Deep Creek is divided into four parts: Delancy Town, Sweeting Town, Free Town and Thompson’s Town. The Anglican Church is in Delancy Town, the Baptist Church in Sweetings Town, the school in Free Town, and the Methodist Church in Thompson’s Town.
Cotton Bay was formerly called “White Lands,” because residents of the area farmed on the sand. The tourist resort, just outside of Green Castle, was developed by Mr. Arthur Vinding-Davis, who bought it during the 1940’s from Mr. Juan Trippe, who was then President of Pan American Airways. An 18-hole golf course located there was designed by Robert Trent Jones.
Mr. Trippe felt that the people of Eleuthera were a big part of its attraction. He created the name "Cotton Bay" to describe the home of what he
considered to be the friendliest people in The Islands of The Bahamas. He saw that the people here "cottoned" easily to each other, or got along very well.
This settlement is situated between Bannerman Town and Deep Creek. It was named after Lord Gordon Wemyss, an early slave owner from Scotland who settled here during the seventeenth century. There is quite a bit of “commonage” land
here, having been willed to descendants of their slaves both by the former owners.
Lord Wemyss’ house still stands today, at the rear of the Mt. Olive Tabernacle, Assemblies of God Church. His tomb, which was also located there,
has now been flattened. First class marina facilities can be found at Davis Harbour within the Wemyss Bight area.
This small settlement was named after Governor Sir Alexander Bannerman. It has a beautiful beach with white sand. The family names closely associated with Bannerman Town include Finley, Butler, Mackey, Miller and McKenzie. The Millers came from Long Island, and the Butlers came from Rum Cay. Many of these people came to work in the pineapple industry and farming.
information from the website: http://www.eleuthera-life.com/