Originally called Little River, the name was changed to Bayfield in 1864 in honor of Henry W. Bayfield, an English naval officer who surveyed and charted coastal locations in Nova Scotia. The river supplied the power for a grist mill, saw mill and carding mill. Gradually the importance of shipping farm produce to Newfoundland increased and the Little River Pier Company constructed the first wharf. Anglican and Methodist churches were added to the community. In 1815 the first school was opened ; Aylward Taylor was the schoolmaster. A post office opened in 1852 and a customs office was built and operated by Edward Randall. By 1900 the local fishery was of great economic importance and it eventually replaced of farm produce.
Shipping in the 1800’s
A booming shipping trade was run out of Bayfield Wharf in the mid 1800’s. One important activity was the shipment of cattle to Newfoundland. Produce was also transported like vegetables, grain, butter lumber and socket stones which were used in cemeteries as a base for headstones. One well known seas captain from the area was Captain James Keay. He took shiploads of fish to the West Indies and on his return brough back such things as sugar, molasses and rum. Ships owned by James Randall, his son Elisha Williams and later C.B. Whidden sailed out of Bayfield to Newfoundland, Boston and the West Indies.