Master's Obra

Spencer’s Island is found in Cumberland County Nova Scotia, on the western end of Greville Bay on the Bay of Fundy. The Island was named after Lord Spencer who was the British statesman at the time. The Mi’Kmaq also used the island seasonally and they called the island Wochuk meaning small kettle island. In 1778, a name in the family tree, the Spicers, became the first recorded family on the island. Spencer’s Island became a shipbuilding center owned by Joshua Dewis. The first vessel built was the Amazon and she was launched on May 18, 1861. Her maiden voyage was in June 1861 with Captain Robert Wilson McLellan as her first captain. He was my cousin 6 times removed. Shortly into the ship’s voyage, Captain McLellan fell ill with pneumonia and had to return to Spencer’s Island where he died on June 19, 1861. The Amazon continued having mishaps and was eventually sold. Her name was changed to the famous Mary Celeste. At Joshua Dewis’ shipbuilding business, large vessels were built like the full-rigged ship Glooscap in 1891. It was the largest ship built in Cumberland County and the last square rigger built along Parrsboro Shore. Today Spencer’s Island has a historic lighthouse dated 1904, a beach campground that is situated where the old shipbuilding center used to be and a café. Recently the Canadian Coast Guard has allowed the lighthouse to turn its light back on and it is open to the public. Respectively, Lynn (Light) Mazur