FOREWORD

The present compilation dealing with the place—names of Prince Edward Island is issued in pursuance of the policy of the board to publish the informa- tion about the meaning and origin of names that has accumulated in its records during the past twenty-six years. The majority of the names are described by townships or lots, of which there are 67, numbered from 1 to 67. A few are described by counties, of which there are three and a few by royalties,* of which there is one in each county. '

In Prince Edward Island, a province of small farm settlements not far distant from each other, there are numerous cases in which the same word figures in several names. For instance, Rustico, Rusticoville and North Rustico are settlements in the same district. It is plain that the names are derived from Rustico. To save space, only one entry will be found, Rustico. Cognate names of this description figured largely in the list of post offices on the island, till many were closed in 1912 and following years on the inauguration of rural free delivery. .

Except for omissions of this character, the list contains most of the place— names of the island, though sometimes with little or no information about the meaning. The aim has been to record the earliest occurrence of a name. The board will appreciate communications from any readers throwing further light upon particular names or correcting errors in the information given, as there is nothing easier than to make mistakes about the origin of place—names.

With the information in the records of the board as a basis the compiler pursued the subject by correspondence with residents in all parts of the island. The numerous maps of the island in the Public Archives at Ottawa were consulted, and during the summer the maps and plans in the Land Office at Charlottetown were examined. Special thanks are due to Hon. D. A. Mackinnon, MP. for Queens county; A. B. Warburton, K.C., judge of probate, Charlotte- town, and Mrs. Neil Macleod, Summerside. ,.

The Indian names surviving on Prince Edward Island to-day are Bedeque bay, Cascumpeque bay, Malpeque bay, Miminegash pond, Miscouche point, Pisquid river, Shemody river and point, Tignish river, and Tracadie bay. Their survival is due to the French, whose connection with the island began with the voyage of Jacques Cartier in 1534: and whose occupancy ended with the fall of

Louisbourg and Quebec.

Such terminations as Bedeque instead of Bedek and Malpeque instead of Malpek are in themselves tokens of French influence and there is the further evidence, that while French maps show the above Indian names the first Enghsh 'map of the island shows not a single Indian name, save in a secondary place, Bedeque bay being named Halifax after the Earl of Halifax, Cascumpeque bay being named Holland after Lord Holland, and Malpeque bay being named

Richmond after the Duke of Richmond. ,

*By .the royalties of Charlottetown, Georgetown and Princetown are understood to-day the‘town Sites as laid out in 1765, but they were originally lands reserved for the exercise of the Royal pleasure as to their disposal. At a meeting of H.M. Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, July 8, 1767, it was resolved that in the laying out of land set apart for the building of towns, after the site of the town had been laid out, a common should be set apart and pasture lots be laid out, “allowing one acre of pasture lott for every ten feet in front of the townlott and that if the reSidue of the town lotts, ovel~ and above what shall be necessary for the town shall not be sufficrent in quality for common and pasture lotts accord- ing to the above plan, that the land to be assigned to each town lott for a pasture shall be less in quantity; keeping however the same proportion; and if, on the contrary, there should be more than sufficrent for the aboye purpose according to the said proportion, the surplus to remain as demesne lands of the Crown, subject to such future disposition as His Majesgjinshall direct.” The size of the original pasture lots was twelve acres at Charlottetown and eight acres at Georgetown'an rince town. These were granted in fee simple by the governor of the colony representing the Crown from time to time to pur-

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C 9.5615. Apart from the town Site lands practically the rest of the province was disposed of 111 a: day In 1““ 111 grants by

ballot Chiefly to 111 V l e1 lot 66, reserv ed for the Clown, and lots 40 and 59 (already I ilitary and na 81 officers. the except 0115 1) ng

disposed of ). school and church lands in each township and reserves 0 Archives, 1905. Orders in council, Imperial. Pt II, p- 9-)

547—1}