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 49 cm.

view page 1 2 3 4 view transcript 1 2 3 4

close

note: transcription publicly contributed - please contact us with comments, errors or omisions

water might be obtained by sinking a well of a moderate depth. As I have started, that in my opinion, a Light House is necessary upon general Principles permit me to observe in support of that opinion, that the necessity is obvious from the circumstances of the late misfortune, the Vessel being bound to England she if the wind was faire of course, must be steering by the compass nearly Past in that case, to take a view of the Wreck, and and the proposed spot for the Light House at the same time which I had an opportunity of correctly observing She must have passed not more than one mile and a half from the place upon which I would recommend the Light House to be built or admitting she had the wind easterly and standing in, the distance from where she lies, could not exceed four miles, which in clear weather, would discovered the Light and prevented that misfortune. I cannot presume to offer a decided opinion upon the expediency of a Light upon the east end of the Island because from the shortness of the time I was there, I had not an opportunity of fully satisfying myself, upon a subject of such importance, still at the same time I cannot help thinking, that if a light was there established, it might be the means of saving the lives of many persons, for from the remains of timber and other articles, discoverable upon the Island, no doubt remains in my mind but that Vessels have been frequently lost, from which
none


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 49 cm

Date: 1801

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

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

Crown copyright © 2024, Province of Nova Scotia.