The History of Ragged Island

Little is known about the early days of the Ragged Island chain, however the settlement of Great Ragged Island was named "Duncan Town" in honor of the Duncan's (Duncan Taylor and his brother Major Taylor) who came from Long Island and settled here in the 19th Century. They developed the island's salt industry, remnants of which can be seen in the salt ponds still providing a smaller scale export commodity for locals today.

Ragged Island is believed to have been a pirates' lair at some point, in addition to a fortress for the Spanish. Cannons were once located at Gun Point and Salt Cay, which guarded the two main entrances of the harbor. On the western coast of the island, Blackbeard's Bay and Blackbeard's Well signify that the pirate may have established his headquarters near the well because of its unique location: "On a hill that looks over nearly the entire island."

Offshore islets and cays are packed with their own history. Just off the mainland, Pigeon Cay has a memorial cross constructed in honor of Henry Norris Churton, Bishop of Nassau, who died at sea when his boat capsized on January 20, 1904. A plaque at the bottom chronicles the tragedy.

It is also strongly believed that Christopher Columbus dropped anchor in the island chain on October 26, 1492, during his initial voyage to the New World.