The area now known as Kingston was the site of the first major Loyalist settlement on the peninsula.

The first Loyalists arrived in 1783 and quickly made their mark, building the Anglican Rectory and Union House hotel in 1788, and the Trinity Church in 1789 - all of which are still standing and actively functioning.

Other historic buildings still stand: the 1810 Carter House now functions as a tea room and gift shop; and the MacDonald Consolidated School building (1910), which is one of the first consolidated schools established by the MacDonald Foundation.

An excerpt from Kingston and the Loyalists of the "Spring Feet" of 1783 by Walter Bates (Centennial Print & Litho Ltd., 1980):

Nothing but wilderness before our eyes; the women and children did not refrain from tears!

John Marvin, John Lyon and myself went on shore and pitched a tent in the bushes and slept in it all night. Next morning every man came on shore and cleared away and landed all our baggage, women and the children, and the sloop left us alone in the wilderness.

We had been informed the Indians were uneasy at our coming, and that a considerable body had collected at the head of Bellisle. Yet our hope and trust remained firm that God would not forsake us. We set to work with such resolution that before night we had as many tents set as made the women and children comfortable.

Next morning we discovered a fleet of ten Indian canoes slowly moving towards us, which caused considerable alarm with the women. Before they came within gunshot one who could speak English came to let us know, "We all one brother!: They were of the Micmac tribe and became quite friendly, and furnished us plentifully with moose meat.

We soon discovered a situation at the head of Bellisle Creek suitable for our purpose of settlement with Church and school.

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