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Variation in the spelling continued into the Nineteenth Century when eventually it was reduced to the two forms, Tatmagouche and Tatamagouche . The former which conforms to the even yet ordinary pronunciation of the word was to be found in many documents and in letters of persons of education until about 1850. It was the spelling used by William MacKay, who under the direction of the Government prepared in 1834 what was at that time the most accurate and up to date map of the Province. When in 1837, James Macnab* made the first complete survey and division of the DesBarres Grant he used the spelling, Tatamagouche and from Macnab’s plan the same spelling found its way into the deeds and the conveyances of that period. Bayfield’s chart was in the hands of every sea captain sailing in Nova Scotian waters and of many merchants and shippers of that time. The accepting by Macnab and by Bayfield of the spelling Tatamagouche, probably was responsible for the survival of the word in that spelling. A rather curious place name to survive in a corrupted form from the French is the name of the small Island or large rock off the entrance of Tatamagouche Harbour between Cape John and Malagash Point. In modern times it has consistently been known as Amet Island. *James Macnab was the eldest son of Alexander Macnab who was born in
Souie,
Perthshire, Scotland, in 1762. He Alexander came to America in 1784 and settled
at Wallace about 1790. He was educated and trained in land surveying and in
navigation. James Macnab received a good education and in addition had years of
practical surveying with his father. The Macnabs in their time did virtually all
the surveying in the vicinity of Wallace and Tatamagouche. After the death of
DesBarres, James Macnab was employed by his estate to make the first complete
survey and divisions of the DesBarres lands at Tatamagouche. Back |
