18th century map
people clamming on tidal flats
colorized portrait of woman

Island History

INTRODUCTION

Although likely visited by fishing fleets from Europe at a very early date, the earliest recorded purchases and settlers came in the 1600s. The “Indian Wars” around 1668 resulted in abandonment of those earliest settlements, and it was not until the 1700s that the first permanent settlements took root. Descendants of early settlers still inhabit the Island today.

Part of Edgecomb (Freetown) when it was incorporated in 1774, and known as Jeremisquam, Westport was incorporated as a separate town in 1828. Island history includes colonization dating to the 1600s, and a role in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. Until post-Civil War years, Westport was largely a fishing island with fishermen and mariners outnumbering farmers. Like many area communities after the Civil War, the island saw a gradual decline in its maritime tradition and an increase in summer visitors. Accommodating summer visitors became a cottage industry for some homeowners and local farmers.

Transportation to Westport has shaped both its development and economy. Getting to the Island has evolved over the years from private boats and dories, to a bridge that was carried away by winter ice, to steamers and a two-car ferry, to a causeway and back to a bridge. Perhaps because of measured access to the island, hotels and motels never became a part of this coastal landscape. The Island was a much more rural, “down home” place to visit with home-cooked meals, local farm fare and blending with the local way of life. The Town Hall became legend for its weekend dances and community events that were the glue for bringing residents and summer visitors together.

THE NEXT CHAPTERS

Documenting Westport Island history is an ongoing process. We continue to sort, organize and connect the materials in our collections to develop our understanding of Westport’s rich history. There is still much out there. We benefit from and thank all those families that share new information each year: photographs, oral or written histories, stories handed down from ancestors, artifacts in personal collections, and family documents. Contact us to share your family memorabilia.   

Island History