Judique, Nova Scotia
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Judique is a small community located on the Ceilidh Trail (Route 19) on the western side of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Early Settlement
On May 10 1772, the good ship Alexander from Tobermory, with 210 emigrants from Uist and the mainland, arrived in Prince Edward Island. Among them were Michael McDonald of South Uist, Robert Innes, mason, of Blair-Athole, Hugh McEachern, wife and family of Moidart, and Allan Ban McDonell of Glengarry. Michael, Robert, and Allan Ban married, about the same time, daughters of Hugh McEachern, and became the very first settlers of Judique. This settlement took place in 1787. Prior, however, to this date, Michael McDonald had frequently landed on the coast, partially explored it, and finally selected Judique as the most desirable locality.
Origins of the Name
The origins of the name Judique have evoked many an opinion. A great majority of the people of Judique hold that it is an Indian name meaning water. However, according to Thomas J. Brown's Place Names of the Province of Nova Scotia, the name is said to mean a river or stream where the water turns swiftly forming eddies, and is of French origin.
Another story relates to Nicholas Denys who had fishing stations along the coast of what now is Inverness County. One of Denys's sea captains, on a return trip to Arichat with a cargo of fish, was reading Scripture from the Book of Judith. It was a beautiful day and as he was passing along the coast of what is now Judique, he was overcome by the rolling hills and greenery of the area. It is said that it was recorded in his log with the name "Judic" which in course of time was written "Judique."