Big Island, Nova Scotia
- Official Name: Big Island
- Geographic Feature Type Category: Populated Place
- Geographic Feature Type: Community
- Latitude / Longitude: 45.662264, -62.423227
- NTS Map Number: 011E09
- 1879 Pictou County Atlas: Section 19
- Nova Scotia Land Grant Map Number: NS Land Grant map 093
- Nova Scotia 1:10k Topographic Map Number: 1045650062400 (Big Island)
Big Island is a rural coastal community located on Merigomish Island along the Northumberland Strait. The Mi’kmaq name for the area was “Kikchesebeiik” meaning a passage close to land or close inshore.
The island was granted to John Hencker in 1765 and was probably purchased by Lieut. Col. Robertson of the 82nd division about 1785 because by January, 1 803, it became known as Robertsons Island. In the late 19th century the name gradually changed to Merigomish Island and the community name became Big Island.
Settlement began here before 1806.
Population in 1956 was 97.
[Source: Nova Scotia Place Names – T. Brown / Places of Nova Scotia – C. Bruce Fergusson ]
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