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The history of St. Margaret's Bay spans approximately four hundred years. During the first 175 years there were no permanent settlers residing in the area. Only the Mi'kmaq would spend their summer months, fishing and hunting along the shores of St. Margaret's Bay and then returning inland for the winter months. Over the years archaeological digs have unearthed arrow heads and other Native artifacts as proof that the Mi'kmaq did spend time around the Bay. Even during the early 1900's they continued to set up summer camps in the Bay area.
Several islands, coves, inlets and communities have been named after the area where the Mi'kmaq were known to have camped. For example, in Glen Haven, Indian Point Road extends along a point of land that juts out into the Bay and leads to Big and Little Indian Islands. It is believed that there are Native grave sites on these islands. At the Head of St. Margaret's Bay, near Indian River, a Mi'kmaq family by the name of Bernard was issued a grant of land during the late 1700's, which was eventually sold.
A census was taken in 1752 with 35 names listed as temporary residents of the Bay; however, by 1785 we see a growth in population as the first settlers were offered land grants on the condition that they take up permanent residence. Some of the first permanent settlers of the Bay area were the children of Foreign Protestants who had received land grants in Lunenburg County in 1752. Many of these men were farmers and fisherman by trade who wanted to own land and provide food and shelter for their families. By moving to the Bay they were able to pass on land to their children, so they could build their homes as well. As Joseph Howe traveled around the Bay in 1839 he published, in The Novascotian, his observations concerning this tradition: "The practice at the Bay, is to give to children at the period of life when they can turn it to most account what would be theirs" (after the father died).
During the same time period, there was another influx of Loyalist settlers from the United States. These settlers were granted land in return for their allegiance to the British Crown. In 1793, a poll tax assessment was recorded showing a total of 59 families residing in the St. Margaret's Bay area. However, this number had grown to a total of 506 people after another assessment was carried out in 1817.
It is around this time that the Bay area grew from being a settlement to a number of separate small communities, with the building of proper stores, churches, way stations and school-houses. This was a period of steady growth and development. By 1840 there were a total of 161 families living in the area. During the years 1840 to 1845, as a traveler rode his horse along this narrow, rugged road he would come upon numerous hills, where he could stop and see for miles. One such spot was named for the owner, John George Dauphinee, located in Head of St. Margaret's Bay, and still referred to as Dauphinee's mountain. Before the overgrowth of trees, a person could climb to the top and see a magnificent view of many islands, coves and inlets in St. Margaret's Bay.
Contributed by Alfreda Withrow
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