Manan Archipelago

The Manan islands lie at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, between the mainland and the open Atlantic. The Passamaquoddy knew the largest island as Munanook, a name later adapted by French visitors. Fish and marine animals drew people to these shores, while fog and powerful tides made the surrounding passages demanding for sailors. In 1606 Samuel de Champlain sheltered at nearby White Head and recorded the island as Manthane.

After the American Revolution, Loyalists sought homes under British rule. Moses Gerrish and his companions received permission to occupy Grand Manan and neighbouring islands for fishing, and arrived in 1784. Their new settlement faced years of uncertainty over whether the island belonged to Britain or the United States. A boundary commission awarded Grand Manan to Britain in 1817, bringing the islanders' long dispute over their allegiance to an end.