Isles of shoals are groups consisting of small islands and tidal ledges. These are one of the abandoned places in New Hampshire. These groups of islands are located approximately 6 miles away from the East Coast of the United States at the border of the state of Maine and New Hampshire.

History of the Isles of Shoals

These groups of islands were residents of indigenous people, who used it for seasonal fishing camps. In the early 17th century these lands were settled by Europeans. This place is the northernmost fishing port of the United States and Rockport, Massachusetts is the southernmost. Isles of Shoals was one of the fishing areas for the British and French colonies. The isles of the shoals were named "Smith Iles" by English Explorer Captain John Smith in 1614. This name lasted till the colonization of New England and the British began. Later in 1623, another explorer named Christopher Levett along with his 300 fishermen discovered the isles. Which were then fully abandoned.The first town named Apledoore included all the island was found in 1661 and operated by the Massachusetts Bay colony along with the province of New Hampshire and the province of Maine. In the following years, the name changed to Iles of Shoals. From the year 1680, the population started to migrate into two islands: Star Island, which is now under New Hampshire and the other was Hog Island, also known as Appledore,  which is under Maine. In later years New Hampshire established another town named Gosport on Star island. In Appledore Island, there was a famous summer hotel built by Thomas Laighton and Levi Thaxter.

Isolation of Isles of Shoals 

Due to the Revolutionary war in 1778, the newly build Gosport town needed to be moved to Rye in New Hampshire and this small island was abandoned. Moreover, many rampant incidents took place in the Isles of shoals like a double murder, an escaped victim, and a jailbreak.  These unfortunate events give birth to many spooky stories about the isles. One of the most infamous murders incidents happened here in 1873, the Smuttynose murders. Two women were found murdered and the murderer escaped from the place. It was believed that the ghosts of the poor victims haunted the rocky isles mainly around Marren's rock.

Today's scenario of Isles of Shoals 

Today most of the islands are private property and some of the islands are used for fishing. The Appledore is the operating station of the Shoals Marine Laboratory. And the island is mostly owned by Star Island Cooperative.