Nova Scotia Archives

Footprints in the Sand

Pre‐1867 Government Records for Sable Island

The Report of Seth Coleman to Sir John Wentworth, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia

1801. — 4 pages : 30 x 50 cm.

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The report of Seth Coleman to Sir John Wentworth, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
In conformity to they Instructions dated 11th Instant I proceeded to the Island of Sable but from contrary Winds and Calms I did not arrive there until the 24th. After landing, my first pursuit was to find the Wreck lately cast a way upon the Island and to afford such assistance as was in my power in saving the property and relieving the People, but to my great disappointment after discovering the Wreck and the Hut which the crew had inhabited I met with only a Lad who had belong'd to the Vessel in charge of a small part of the cargo and some remains that had been saved of the wreck, with orders to remain there until the Vessel that had taken away the principal part of the property shou'd return. Disappointed in the principal object, I turned my attention to the exploring the Island to find a suitable spot for erecting a Light House, which if once effected, would tend to prevent those melancholy disasters which so frequently happen, and I am satisfied a wooden Building could be made sufficiently secure without any stone for it's Foundation. The place on which it must stand is altogether sand but well guarded from the winds by a thick growth of Beach Grass intermixed with a wild Pea. There are no springs nearer than a Mile and a half, but I have no doubt but good water


A report sent back to Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Wentworth from Seth Coleman which details his discoveries when sent to investigate the possibility of establishing a human presence on the Island. Coleman documents the American shipwreck he encounters upon arrival, some details of the Island’s flora (pea grass) and fauna (horses), its current residents (shipwreck survivors), makes a case for the potential and necessity of a lighthouse, and then continues to speculate on the success of a settlement on the island, believing it could support “several families”.

4 pages 30 x 50 cm

Date: 1801

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives RG 31 series 120 volume 2 number 2

Nova Scotia Archives — https://archives.novascotia.ca/sable/archives/

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