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An Historical Overview

By Brian Kinsman
Parks and Recreation Division
NS Department of the Environment
April 1995

Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Pre-European Settlement

3.0 European Exploration and Settlement

4.0 The McNab Family (1782-1934)

4.1 Peter McNab I
4.2 Peter McNab II
4.3 James McNab
4.4 Roderick Hugonin
4.5 Captain Westcote Lyttleton
4.6 Robert Cassels
4.7 Peter McNab III

5.0 Island Residents (1793-1867)

6.0 Cholera Epidemic

7.0 H.M.S. Tribune

8.0 Maugher Beach

9.0 Recreational Use of McNabs Island

10.0 Fortifications

10.1 Early Efforts
10.2 Sherbrooke Tower
10.3 Fort Ives
10.4 Fort McNab
10.5 Fort Hugonin
10.6 Strawberry Battery
10.7 Rifle Ranges

11.0 Lawlor Island

12.0 Devils Island

13.0 Folklore

13.1 Buried Treasure
13.2 Sea Serpents
13.3 Lost Gold Mine
13.4 Ghosts
13.5 Captain George


Bibliography

List of Figures - Not available online
Figure 1 Location Map
Figure 2 McNabs Island
Figure 3 Plan of Chibouquctou, 1711
Figure 4 A Plan of the Harbour of Chebuctou and Town of Halifax, 1750
Figure 5 Peter McNab II
Figure 6 James McNab
Figure 7 Land Ownership, McNabs Island, c.1855
Figure 8 McNabs Island and the Hugonin Home, c.1895
Figure 9 Hugonin - Perrin House, McNabs Island, c.1890, with Perrin Family
Figure 10 Halifax from McNabs Island, c.1862
Figure 11 McNabs Island, c.1885, showing Findlay House on Left and Former Innes Farm on Right
Figure 12 View on McNabs Island with Halifax in Background, c.1860
Figure 13a War Department Property, McNabs Island, 1867
Figure 13b War Department Property, McNabs Island, 1867
Figure 14 Peter McNab III Stone House, c.1870
Figure 15 Plan of the Peninsula and Harbour of Halifax, 1808
Figure 16 Southern Half of McNabs Island, 1865
Figure 17 H.M. Dockyard, Halifax, 1870, with Pyramus on Left
Figure 18 Sketch of Maughers Beach, c.1830
Figure 19 Woolnough's Pleasure Ground, August 9, 1873
Figure 20 Sherbrooke Tower, McNabs Island, c.1870
Figure 21 Fort Ives, c.1873

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