-55.. BRACKIEY POINT

About the year 1770, a man by the name of Brackley settled on the Northwest corner of Lot 53, from which Brack- ley Point has derived its name. The cellar of the old pio- neer house is on the farm of Roderick McGear who bought it

in 1802 from Rolands, the agent for the Winsloe estate. MbGear, with his father and mother came to this Island from

Scotland in 1793. The coast line of Brackley Point has completely

changedo In thoSe early days there was a very deep channel, called the Narrows, running between the harbor and the Gulf. This channel, which joined Rustico Bay with the harbor, was separated from the Gulf by a vast tract of marshland out— side of which was a large bay surrounded entirely by marsh- about three miles north of the present shore line. This change accounts for the saying that Duncan thCallum "out hay'where they now catch mackerel." For the loss of the har= bor, compensation came in the opening up of Little Rustioo by the tide, nature°s great canal builder. About the year 1810 people crossed it without wetting their feet”

' Duncan MEcCallum, the first permanent settler of Brackley Point came from Argyleshire, Scotland, about the year 1771, accompanying his father, mother, sister and two brothers. They landed at Charlottetown which he said had

”about six smokes (houses) at that time". From Charlottetown the family went to Mbntgomery“s

agent, David Lawson in Covehead, and from there went to the place known as Brackley Pbint where Duncan, who was the youngest son, with his father and mother made their home. One brother Archibald and his wife and a sister, wife of Alexander Anderson, a Loyalist, after a short stay in

Rustico went to Bedeque. Duncan Shaw with sons John, James, Mblcolm and

Duncan arrived at Brackley Point in 1809, but it is not def— initely known when they came to the Island, as they were a few years in Covehead after landing.

Duncan MbcCallum had two sons hbil and James, part of a large family who in 1800 turned their attention to ship- building to carry on trade with St. John's, Newfoundland. Neil was the master builder and James, sailing master. They