Early Settlement

With its sheltered harbour and abundant habitat for a natural food supply, the Yarmouth area was frequented by the native Mi'kmaq before the arrival of European visitors. The area was visited in 1604 by the French explorer Samuel D. Champlain who is credited with naming Cape Forchu. Acadian settlement developed in the 17th century and continues to flourish in Pubnico, Wedgeport and other nearby communities. Settlers from New England began settlements in the 1760s encouraged by offers of land grants. The struggling early settlement was boosted by an influx of Loyalists, including Black Loyalists, from New England by way of Shelburne in 1785.

Early settlers depended upon the fishery for their livelihood.

[Illustration captions, from left to right, read] , . Yarmouth, 1829, looking up Church Hill. Pen and ink sketch by Miss Sarah B. Farish (1789-1876)

. Yarmouth from a map published by A. F. Church c. 1870. The directory indicates the variety of businesses operating at that time.

. Yarmouth harbour and vicinity, from The Atlantic Neptune by J. F. W. Desbarres, Esq. Published according to Act of Parliament, Dec. 1st, 1780 Plate 9 , The labels show traditional Mi'kmaq place names [Molegucoke, Te-ceboke, Menegook, Walnaic, Keespougiac] in the vicinity of Yarmouth as recorded by Rev. J. R. Campbell, A History of the County of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia (J. and A. McMillan, Saint John, NB, 1876) Page 20

. Charlotte Letitia Fletcher, 1800-1843, , Mary Eleanor Fletcher, 1799-1855, , portraits by Joseph Brown Comingo in 1816. , Comingo was an itinerant artist who travelled through Yarmouth County in 1816-17. He was born in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia in 1784.

. Richan's Hotel. By the year 1810 in Yarmouth, "The chief hotel was Richan's, where special sessions from time to time were held. The 'Long Room' in this house was thought wonderful, at the time, for its size. On the north side of the house stood a great willow tree, where from time to time such poor wights as were guilty of petty larceny or the like, were tied up and received 'thirty-nine lashes on the back, well laid on.'" From Rev. J. R. Campbell A History of the County of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia (J. and A. McMillan, Saint John, NB, 1876) Page 126

. Yarmouth 1878

. Yarmouth, 1829, from Patten Road. Sketch by Miss Sarah B. Farish (1789-1876)

. Yarmouth, 1829, looking north from Cumberland Street. Water colour painting by Miss Sarah B. Farish (1789-1876)

. Yarmouth looking west from White Rocks, 1861. Cliff Street is on the right side. From a pencil sketch by James C. Moody.

Photos:Yarmouth County Museum

Learn more about Yarmouth's heritage at the Yarmouth County Museum and Archives, 22 Collins Street