The History of Eleuthera/Harbour Island

Eleuthera

At the core of Eleuthera is freedom. In fact, more than 300 years ago, English Adventurers in search of religious freedom founded the western world’s first true seat of democracy and named it Eleuthera. Its settlers, fleeing persecution in Bermuda and England, called themselves "The Eleutheran Adventurers.”

Led by Captain William Sayle, the 70-member band of adventurers first went ashore near Governor’s Harbour. Disputes arose among the group and Sayle and his faction headed off toward the northern part of the island by boat. Their boat floundered on the treacherous reefs known as the Devil’s Backbone. It ripped open the bottom of their boats and their supplies were lost. Many of them nearly starved, but they made do, living and worshipping in a cavern that is now known as Preacher’s Cave.
 

Harbour Island

Harbour Island also has a colorful history. Dunmore Town dates back to the 18th century and is one of the oldest settlements in The Bahamas. Formerly the capital, it is second only to Nassau in importance. It was also once the summer home of the Royal Governor, Earl of Dunmore.

The island itself has little fertile soil, but residents were given land to farm on the “mainland” (Eleuthera) in 1783, and much of that original grant is still being tilled by Brilanders today.

From a noted shipyard and sugar refinement center in the late 1800s to shipbuilding and citrus farming just before WWI to a thriving tourism business—thanks to weekly flights beginning in 1941—Harbour Island’s history is just as fascinating as the island itself.  

Spanish Wells

First inhabited in 1649 when the Spanish Conquistadors sunk a well to provide ships with potable water, Spanish Wells was the last stop before the journey back with the riches of the New World. In 1776, the island was settled by some of the Loyalists who came from the Carolinas and many of today’s residents proudly claim that their heritage goes back to those early pioneers.