Bart.
Royal Island is located off the northwest part of Eleuthera, and is five miles long with a natural harbor in the center. According to Moseley's 1926 book The Bahamas Handbook, Royal Island was originally called "Ryal Island", an Anglicized version of "Real" after the silver one real coin which circulated throughout the Spanish empire. At least one researcher (AB Molander) has suggested that Royal Island may be Guanahani, the island where Christopher Columbus first set foot in the New-World.
In late April of 1696, the pirate Henry "Long Ben" Every (also sometimes known as John Avery) anchored here in the pirate ship Fancy after fleeing the Atlantic. Meanwhile, asmaller boat containing four men went on to visit Nicholas Trott, the corrupt governor of the Bahamas who resided on New Providence, as part of a plot to bribe him to ensure Every would not be apprehended by local authorities during the ensuing manhunt by the English government. Every's plan was successful, and he was one of the few pirates in history to retire with his loot without being arrested or killed in battle.
According to the November 1874 edition of Harper's Monthly magazine (Volume 49, page 765-6), Royal Island's sheltered harbor was also a rendezvous where arms and stores were concealed, and where royalist privateers took refuge during the American Revolution. The magazine goes on to say that "an old stone house still remains there which has doubtless witnessed many wild, mysterious scenes in days gone by." Exploring the ruined estate on this island, one can certainly believe it!
The center of Royal Island is home to the ruins of an old mansion which once boasted numerous guesthouses, a bar, a large detached kitchen and bathroom, and several other outbuildings along with an impressive garden. Most of the references to habitation on this island have been found in nautical references which, as early 1887 (or possibly 1823 -- see below), refer to the house in reference to a nearby well full of good water. For example, the 1918 edition of the West Indies Pilot makes reference to "a large and conspicuous stone house" near the center of the island and 3/4 miles northeast of "two remarkable wooded paps or hummocks, about 75 feet high." Perhaps the same house is referred to in the 1887 and 1892 editions of that same reference, although they mention only a "house" without calling it "large" or "conspicuous" so perhaps these sources are referring to one of the earlier building. The first edition of the Colombian Navigator, published in 1823, refers to "a large house, with its garden, and some trees" on "Egg Isle", but since it does not provide any additional treatment of Egg Island or Royal Island, it seems possible that the "Egg Isle" was confused with Royal Island. Note that the guest houses scattered around the estate appear to be of much more recent construction than the main house and the older buildings on the east side of the estate. Further research is required to determine which building was indeed the first to be built.
Current references are consistent in claiming that the crumbling remains of the estate which can now be seen there was the center of a sheep farm on the island which was established by an estranged English dignitary. However, it is not clear how long ago the house was inhabited. The most recent individual to own the property was Mrs. Evelyn Guyton, although the house has been deserted for decades and was recently sold to a developer with plans to turn the island into a subdivision of luxury homes. Unfortunately, the current map of development plans on the Royal Island website seems to indicate that this historic estate is slated for demolition so that a pair of homes may be built on the underlying lot.
