12 Questions
What was the direction of the wind on the morning of May 6, 1778?
Northwest
What was the number of sheep that were flushed out of Naushon Island by the British soldiers?
1,884
What was the name of the ship that received the sheep captured by the British soldiers?
HMS Harlem
Who owned Naushon Island at the time of the 1778 sheep heist?
James Bowdoin
What type of cattle are mentioned as being raised on the Elizabeth Islands today?
Scottish Highland
Why did the islanders raise different livestock after the 1778 sheep heist?
To make it harder for the British to steal their livestock
What was the primary source of John Murray Forbes' wealth in the 19th century?
Tea and opium trade with China
What is the main reason why the Elizabeth Islands are often overlooked by most people?
The more-celebrated neighboring islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket get all the attention
Which island in the Elizabeth Islands is not privately owned by the extended Forbes family?
Cuttyhunk Island
What is the direction of the prevailing summer winds in the Elizabeth Islands?
Southwesterly
What is the effect of the afternoon sea breeze on the wind in Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay?
It reinforces the prevailing southwesterlies
Who obtained a deed for the Elizabeth Islands from the Wampanoag Indians in 1658?
Thomas Mayhew
Study Notes
The British Occupation of Naushon Island
- On May 6, 1778, 800 British soldiers stormed the beaches of Naushon Island, capturing 1,884 sheep from the resident islanders.
- The soldiers loaded the sheep into small boats and rowed them out to the HMS Harlem and 16 smaller warships.
The Elizabeth Islands
- The Elizabeth Islands are a chain of seven islands and nine islets located off Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
- The islands are privately owned by the extended Forbes family, except for Cuttyhunk Island, which is a public town in Massachusetts, and Penikese Island, a state-owned wildlife sanctuary.
- The islands are connected by four natural breaks: Woods Hole, Robinsons Hole, Quicks Hole, and Canapitsit Channel.
History of the Islands
- In 1658, Thomas Mayhew obtained a deed for the Elizabeth Islands from the Wampanoag Indians, promising freedom from disease and eternal salvation in exchange for the islands.
- In 1778, James Bowdoin, founder of Bowdoin College, owned Naushon Island, and the island residents were his tenant farmers.
- In 1843, the Bowdoin family sold the island to John Murray Forbes, who gained wealth in the 19th-century tea and opium trade with China.
- The Forbes family has since diversified into cattle ranching on the islands.
Sailing in the Elizabeth Islands
- The geography of Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay creates a unique sailing environment, with a consistent southwest wind and strong currents.
- The combination of wind and current creates a steep chop, making it ideal for sailing, but challenging for powerboats.
- The multiple breaks between the islands provide easy navigation and access to various wind, current, and anchorage conditions.
In 1778, British soldiers stormed the beaches of Naushon Island, capturing the island and its sheep. Learn about this historic event and its significance.
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