"Watermen and their Wives" a Tangier Island Travel Page by grandmaR

Red sign out front says "This crab shanty supplies Fresh Seafood to the Fisherman's Corner Restaurant".

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Thomas graves on Tangier Island

History

Tangier Island was visited in 1608 by Captain John Smith, who gave it the name. A part of the island was patented by Ambrose White in 1670. It was settled in 1686 by John Crockett and his son's families.

In 1814, it was the headquarters of a British Fleet ravaging the Chesapeake Bay. From here the fleet sail to attack Fort McHenry. The Rev. Joshua Thomas in a prayer correctly predicted the failure of the expedition (which was true and resulted in the words to the Star Spangled Banner being written).

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Ducks in the harbor at dusk

Local Customs

Tangier Island has mostly been isolated from the mainland for many years and the men have made their living from the water. Now, most of their business is crabbing, particularly soft crabs.

There is a mail boat that comes each day from Crisfield, and there are now tourists that come on ferries from Crisfield, Reedville and Onancock in the summer and hunters that come in the fall and winter. In the summer people come on their own boats, and some come in their own planes. The island women do a considerable business housing and feeding the tourists.