The Island was later granted to Admiral Sir Alexander Forrester Cochrane. Sir Cochrane was a British Naval captain, and the grant was made following his visit to Pictou in October of 1809. Sir Cochrane’s granted extended to below the high-water mark of the island, meaning that he not only owned the land but also three hundred feet of the ocean surrounding the island’s perimeter.

Sir Cochrane did not include the land past the high-water mark in these plots, effectively allowing him to retain ownership of the surrounding land. This meant that the first people to live on Pictou Island were tenants rather than landowners. It was not until 1840 – eight years after Sir Cochrane’s death – that the first 100-acre deed was sold. All of the lots were sold piece by piece until the late 1880’s.” (PictouIsland.com)

The map of Pictou Island is one of several maps included in the 1879 Historical Atlas of Pictou County. The maps in the historical Pictou County atlas highlight the basic topographic features of the community along with with cadastral data of prominent land owners, locations of buildings and other details.

The map (displayed further below on this page) was included as a map inset on page 72 along with section 19.