Nixes Mate
Encyclopedia
Nixes Mate, also known as Nixes Island, Nix's Mate and Nick's Mate, is one of the smaller islands in the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
. The island lies about 5 nm
from downtown Boston and about 0.6 nm east of Long Island Head Light
. The island covers and uncovers with the tide. A prominent black and white stucco covered wood pyramidal beacon, resting atop a granite base, reaches a height of approximately 20 feet (6.1 m).
The base was erected by the Boston Marine Society
in 1805. By 2001, the daymark was in poor condition. The Coast Guard, which is responsible for it, announced that it would be replaced, but following public outcry they rebuilt it instead, in 2003. The island is not open to the public. It is described in the Light List as "Nixes Mate: black, white band midway of height, octagonal pyramid on square granite base", Light List number 1-11450.
In 1636, Nix's Mate was granted to John Gallop, a harbor pilot
who lived on nearby Gallops Island
and used the then 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) island for grazing his sheep. Ship's ballast
was quarried from the island during the 17th century, followed by slate
in the 18th century, resulting in today's much smaller island. In 1726, upon the arrest of pirate chief William Fly
, officials brought him to Boston where he was executed. His body was then gibbet
ted on Nixes Mate to serve as a warning to sailors not to turn to piracy. Before Fly's execution, he famously scolded the hangman for incorrectly securing his noose, then re-tied it himself. His body, as well as those of two other pirates, is buried on the island.
Nixes Mate was added to the National Register of Historic Places
as Nix's Mate Daybeacon on March 18, 2004, reference number 04000189.
Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
The Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area is a National Recreation Area situated among the islands of Boston Harbor of Boston, Massachusetts. The area is made up of a collection of islands, together with a former island and a peninsula, many of which are open for public recreation and some...
. The island lies about 5 nm
Nautical mile
The nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator...
from downtown Boston and about 0.6 nm east of Long Island Head Light
Long Island Head Light
Long Island Head Light is an historic lighthouse on Long Island in Boston, Massachusetts. The current brick tower is the fourth lighthouse on the island. The light was first established in 1819, largely as a result of a study conducted by the Boston Marine Society, which had built the daybeacon on...
. The island covers and uncovers with the tide. A prominent black and white stucco covered wood pyramidal beacon, resting atop a granite base, reaches a height of approximately 20 feet (6.1 m).
The base was erected by the Boston Marine Society
Boston Marine Society
The Boston Marine Society is a charitable organization in Boston, Massachusetts, formed "to 'make navigation more safe' and to relieve members and their families in poverty or other 'adverse accidents in life.'" Membership generally consists of current and former ship captains...
in 1805. By 2001, the daymark was in poor condition. The Coast Guard, which is responsible for it, announced that it would be replaced, but following public outcry they rebuilt it instead, in 2003. The island is not open to the public. It is described in the Light List as "Nixes Mate: black, white band midway of height, octagonal pyramid on square granite base", Light List number 1-11450.
In 1636, Nix's Mate was granted to John Gallop, a harbor pilot
Maritime pilot
A pilot is a mariner who guides ships through dangerous or congested waters, such as harbours or river mouths. With the exception of the Panama Canal, the pilot is only an advisor, as the captain remains in legal, overriding command of the vessel....
who lived on nearby Gallops Island
Gallops Island
Gallops Island, also known as Gallups Island, is an island in the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, situated between Georges Island and Long Island and just over from downtown Boston. The island has a permanent size of , plus an intertidal zone of a further , and is composed of one...
and used the then 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) island for grazing his sheep. Ship's ballast
Sailing ballast
Ballast is used in sailboats to provide moment to resist the lateral forces on the sail. Insufficiently ballasted boats will tend to tip, or heel, excessively in high winds. Too much heel may result in the boat capsizing. If a sailing vessel should need to voyage without cargo then ballast of...
was quarried from the island during the 17th century, followed by slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
in the 18th century, resulting in today's much smaller island. In 1726, upon the arrest of pirate chief William Fly
William Fly
Captain William Fly was an English pirate who raided New England shipping until he was captured by some of the crew of a seized ship. He was hanged in Boston, Massachusetts. Reportedly, Fly approached the hanging with complete disdain and even reproached the hangman for doing a poor job, remaking...
, officials brought him to Boston where he was executed. His body was then gibbet
Gibbet
A gibbet is a gallows-type structure from which the dead bodies of executed criminals were hung on public display to deter other existing or potential criminals. In earlier times, up to the late 17th century, live gibbeting also took place, in which the criminal was placed alive in a metal cage...
ted on Nixes Mate to serve as a warning to sailors not to turn to piracy. Before Fly's execution, he famously scolded the hangman for incorrectly securing his noose, then re-tied it himself. His body, as well as those of two other pirates, is buried on the island.
Nixes Mate was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as Nix's Mate Daybeacon on March 18, 2004, reference number 04000189.