Green Turtle Cay got its name for once being a haven for the green turtle species. Unfortunately, most of the turtles were killed out over the years and those remaining are now protected. Most of the residents of Green Turtle Cay are descendents from the British Loyalists who left the United States following the Revolutionary War in the late 1780’s. The town of New Plymouth was settled by Loyalists in 1783 and named the town after New Plymouth, Massachusetts. The architecture of the houses to this day reflects the New England style with peaked roofs, pastel colors, gingerbread and picket fences.
The residents of Green Turtle Cay used to make their living by sponging, shark fishing, salvaging from ships that hit the reef (wrecking) and growing pineapples. In fact the property just to the north of Leeward Yacht Club was at one time the old pineapple plantation and there are still a few remnants remaining there like the brick stove and the tank they used to wash the pineapples in. Now the island residents depend mainly on fishing, lobster fishing and tourism.
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