My Paternal grandfather was born on Block Island although his family moved to Mystic Connecticut while he was still very young in 1898. The family had property on the island but lost it through tax default. Property on Block Island today sells for a premium - (In the 7 figure range per acre).

Block Island was first sighted by the Italian navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524. (Bridge is named for him in New York) The island was named for the Dutch explorer Adriaen Block who landed there in 1614. The first settlers landed on the island from Massachusetts in 1661 and it became a part of the colony of Rhode Island in 1664.