Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, Canada
This place derives its name from the Micmac Indian word "Nekataouksit" meaning "the
great forked tidal river". Tusket Wedge (now Wedgeport) was at one time called
"Chebec". Tusket Island in 1633 is called by Jean de Laite "Isles aux Tangneux" or
"Gannet Islands". The Indians also knew this place as "Aglassawakade" or "place
of the English". The name also appears as "Tousquet" in Rameau's history of the
French colonies 1859.
Tusket population 395, was originally settled by Dutch United Empire Loyalists from New
York and New Jersey in 1785, although some Acadian French had previously been in the
area. The old Tusket Courthouse, built in 1805 and featuring a bell tower, is the oldest
standing courthouse in Canada.
