Re: How did Ellis Island get its name?
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In reply to:
Re: How did Ellis Island get its name?
12/15/99
Ellis Island got it's name from the owner Samuel Ellis. he was a butcher and owned the Island during the 1780's. The island began as a desolate three acre sand bar that grew into a twenty-eight acre island due to landfill operations. the island went through many owners. The indians called it "gull island". the Dutch called it "oyster island" due to the rich Oyster bed off the Island.After the Revolutionary war, The gov. wanted to fortify the island because of the location in the harbor. Samuel, agreed to deed it over to the state, but he died before the transfer was made.It wasn't until 1808 that the state finally took control of the Island. it was immediately transferred to the Federal Gov. they had a cannon mounted, barracks were erected and the Island was named Fort Gibson.After the war of 1812, the fort was abandoned, and the government used the island to store munitions. The Federal Bureau of Immigration took it over in 1891. They renamed the Island Ellis Island.The Island is now a National Monument.