The area of Canso, including the present day town and its' surrounding islands, has had a tumultuous but exciting history. The bountiful fishery is what breathed life into the area throughout the centuries. Fish were so plentiful in the waters off of Cap Canso that one could practically catch them with their bare hands. It should be noted before we continue that Grassy Island got its namesake only recently. It was generally lumped together with the other islands under the name of "Canso", and was occasionally referred to as "Canso Island" or "Fort Island"(follow the link for more information on Canso's name).

Over the centuries Canso endured numerous British, Mi'kmaw and French raids. It also barely survived attacks by privateers of the American Revolution like that of Captain John Paul Jones.

The inhabitants of Canso were persistent and hard working. These people watched out for each other, cared for each other, and helped each other in times of need and hardship. This section of our site is dedicated to all of those hardworking fishermen and women who gave their lives to the fishery. Maybe once you read this section you will see why they never gave up the pursuit of a life by the sea.

Due to the nature of the history in this area, it has been divided into sub-sections, which you are invited to browse through below:

General Overview of the History of Grassy Island

Before the 1600's - Aboriginal Habitation

The 1600's - A time of exploration and discovery

Early 1700's - Growth of the fishery and settlement on Grassy Island

Mid 1700's - Fortifications at Grassy Island and the attack of 1744

Late 1700's - Privateers, and the eventual abandonment of Grassy Island

TIME LINE - (In table format)

Historical Map of Grassy Island (Courtesy of Gary & Susan Scott)

Historical Links - Canso and Grassy Island