 During the American Revolution, in December 1775, American privateers took four vessels at Cape Forchu and took the people of the hamlet prisoners.During the 19th century, Yarmouth Harbour became a major port of registry for sailing ships and by the late 19th century, it was the second largest port of registry in Canada.Shipwrecks were common along the shoreline and it was recommended by Colonel Robert Morse in 1874 that a chain of lighthouses should be built along the shores of Nova Scotia hence the construction of the Cape Forchu Lighthouse in 1840.