Ellis Island the region. The oyster beds remained a major source of food for nearly three centuries. Landfilling to build the railyards of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Central Railroad of New Jersey eventually obliterated the oyster beds, engulfed one island, and brought the shoreline much closer to the others. During the colonial period, Little Oyster Island was known as Dyre's, then Bucking Island. In the 1760s, after some pirates were hanged from one of the island's scrubby trees, it became known as Gibbet Island. It was acquired by Samuel Ellis, a colonial New Yorker and merchant possibly from Wales, around
Horsey Island Horsey Island Horsey Island is an island in the parish of Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex. It lies in Hamford Water and is part of the Hamford Water National Nature Reserve, co-managed by Natural England and the Essex Wildlife Trust. Permission is required to visit. The western section of the island contains a freshwater pool surrounded by trees. At one point boats could moor here, but this is now discouraged. There are a number of oyster beds along here and the north edge of the island. In the centre of the island are a number of farm buildings. In the 19th century, a