We have read and heard much recently about the land and housing development on West Island. This was Fairhaven's School District No. 17.

In the book entitled " A Brief History of the Town of Fairhaven" we find that chapter 4 was written by Cyrus D. Hunt, who stated: "It is said John Cooke had a great desire to possess islands." This seems to be true for, on 1669, nine years after he settled here, he purchased of the Indians "one whole island near the town, called Nokatay."

Mercy (Marcy) was a daughter of John Cooke and married Stephen West, after whom West Island was named. On March 6, 1731-1732 Marcy West et al. (Stephen West) conveyed to John West as follows:

"To all Christian people to whom these presents as shall come, we Stephen West, and my wife Marcy West, of Dartmouth, in ye County of Bristol, within his majesty's province of ye Massachusetts Bay, in New England, yeoman: send greetings and know ye that we, Stephen West and my wife Marcy West for and in consideration of ye love, good-will and affection which we have do bear towards our loving son, John West, have given and granted freely and clearly, and absolutely give and grant to said John West, his heirs and assign ye one half of ye island called Nakatah which said island lays eastward of Long Island and Sconticut Neck, so called in Dartmouth aforesaid, viz, the one half of both upland and meadow, viz, salt marsh meadow contained on said island, that is to be divided off and taken from ye other part by an east ans west line with ye house standing on ye northerly part of said island."

This was recorded October 17, 1765. On March 6 1730, Stephen West sold to his son, Stephen West Jr., the southerly part of the island together with a way from Sandy Point to the southerly part of the island along the beach.

On the occasion of the old Dartmouth Centennial Celebration, held on Septmeber 14, 1864, James B. Congdon composed a poem, the first line of which runs: "From Nacata to Coakset's shore." A footnote is worded as follows:

"NACATA-generally known as West Island, belonging to the town of Fairhaven. Many years ago John West gave by will one half of this island to trustees, who were to bestow the income upon the industrious and worthy poor. As but little income derived from it, the property was sold. The New Beedford Monthly Meeting of Friends has the appointment of the trustees, and and the fund is now a menas of relief to many a poor but worthy person. "From Nacata to Coakset," that is, West Island to Westport, was the description of the old town of Dartmouth."

From a New Bedford paper issued years ago, we glean the following:

"West Island was formerly the propert of John West, who left it by will to support the industrious poor of the town of New Bedford, which then included Fairhaven."

On Page 445 of Bradford's History of Plymouth Plantation." he mentions 'Nacata" in this wise: 'to another place called the Acushnet River which entereth at ye western end of "Nacata." The deed spells the word 'Nakata."

The early maps of West Island show the location of two houses, one in the north, considerably inland, and one south of the central part near the west shore. The north property was marked on the map of 1855 "R. Anthony," and the south, "J. Taber." On the map of 1870, the north property is marked "J. West estate," the south still being that of "J. Taber."

In the south part of the island entering at about Jacobs Neck, we note Bass Creek, extending nearly to the southern extremity of the island. Above Sandy Point on the west shore is shown the location of a wharf from which a road leads to the southern part, in a curving, southeasterly direction. On the map are designated on the north, Cedar Point; on the east, Pine Neck, Shallow Cove and Jacobs Neck on (this should not be confused with Jacobs Neck on Scontincut Neck); on the south, Rocky Point; on the west, Sandy Point, the wharf and Round Neck. Between West Island and Sconticut Neck are three islands, viz Long Island, Egg Island and Round Island. East of the entrance to Shallow Cove there are two islets, namely Gull Island and Brown Rock, and opposite Pine Neck we discern Pine Neck Ledge. The coast line visible from lower Sconticut Neck is nearly a straight line running in a southerly direction from Sandy Point to Rocky Point, whereas the shore line elsewhere is irregular. Such is the brief topography of West Island.