History of Union Island' Union Island was settled as early as 5400 BC by tribes from South America, however, the present population is a mixture of African and European descendants. The French were the first Europeans, arriving before l763. They were followed by the British to whom the French ceded the island in l763. Slavery was abolished in l834, thereafter some residents continued to cultivate the land, growing mainly corn and peas. Many however became sea farers - a tradition that continues today.