Naushon Island facts for kids
Tarpaulin Cove light house on Naushon Island
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 Naushon Island
Location in Massachusetts
Naushon Island
Location in the United States
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Elizabeth Islands |
| Coordinates | 41°29′47″N 70°42′26″W / 41.4964979°N 70.7072523°W |
| Total islands | 1 |
| Area | 7.4 sq mi (19 km2) |
| Administration | |
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United States
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| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Dukes County |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 30 |
| The Elizabeth Islands |
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| Major Islands listed in order from east to west |
| Nonamesset Uncatena Naushon Pasque Nashawena Penikese Cuttyhunk |
| Minor Islands: |
| Bachelor Baret Bull Cedar Gosnold Gull Rock Veckatimest Weepecket Islands |
Naushon Island is the biggest of the Elizabeth Islands in southeastern Massachusetts. It is part of the town of Gosnold, Massachusetts. The island is owned by the Forbes family. In the year 2000, about 30 people lived there all the time.
The island is about seven miles (11 km) long. Its land area is about 7.4 square miles (19.18 km²). It is separated from Cape Cod by a narrow water channel. Smaller islands like Uncatena and Nonamesset are also nearby. Naushon Island is located four miles (6 km) northwest of Martha's Vineyard.
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Island History: Who Owned Naushon?
Naushon Island has been a special getaway for the Forbes family for over 150 years. John Murray Forbes bought the island in 1842. He was a smart businessman who made a lot of money by investing in early railroads.
Forbes first bought the island with a business partner, William W. Swain. But soon after, Forbes bought Swain's part and became the only owner. When John Murray Forbes passed away in 1898, he left Naushon Island in a special trust. This trust was managed by his five children. Today, the Naushon Island Trust, Inc. still owns it.
Other nearby islands, Pasque Island and Nashawena Island, were also bought by Forbes's family members later on. They are still privately owned. There are about 35 houses on Naushon, mostly on the east side.
Early Owners and Special Sheep
Before the Forbes family, James Bowdoin III (1752–1811) owned Naushon Island. He was the son of a Massachusetts governor. President Thomas Jefferson chose James Bowdoin III to be a special representative to Spain.
James Bowdoin III had a beautiful home on "Nashaun Island." He was one of the first people to bring special Merino sheep to America. He worked hard to make his own sheep flocks better. He also taught others how important it was to improve their sheep.
A sample of wool from his sheep was found among Thomas Jefferson's papers. Jefferson's note said it was "Specimen of Mr. Bowdoin's wool, from American sheep raised on his Island of "Nanshaw"."
Famous Visitors: John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is a well-known American politician. He was a U.S. senator and later the U.S. Secretary of State from 2013 to 2017. He is not a direct descendant of John Murray Forbes. However, he is related to Forbes's uncle. John Kerry has visited Naushon Island many times since he was a kid.
Exploring Naushon Island's Landscape
Naushon Island and the smaller islands around it are private. These include Uncatena, Nonamesset, Monohansett, Bull, Cedar, Bachelor, Veckatimest, and Weepecket. Most of these islands are closed to the public.
However, there are a few places on Naushon that you can visit:
- Kettle Cove
- West Beach
- Tarpaulin Cove
- Weepeckit Island (off the north shore in Buzzards Bay)
- Bull Island (at the entrance of Hadley Harbor, open for picnics)
Hadley Harbor is on the east end of Naushon. It is a deep harbor that is well protected from storms. Other bays on the island include Inner Harbor, Lackeys Bay, Monsod Bay, and Northwest Gutter.
Naushon Island does not have paved roads. Instead, it has many miles of trails. These trails go through beautiful beech woods. A lighthouse stands above Tarpaulin Cove, guiding ships.
