Today the word Gouyave means Action to some, others fishing. The town of Gouyave gained notoriety in Sat.2^nd March 1795 , when Julien Fedon , “a free coloured planter” who owned a large estate in Belvidere , St. John’s led a revolt against the British in what is called the Fedon’s Rebellion. 

First called Charlotte Town and Duncan ’s Town, the town was later named Gouyave because it was abundant in Guava. On Tue. March 5^th 1795, a major battle took place in the town between Captain Guerdon and Fedon’s men. Over thirty persons were killed on both sides.

This town and parish was the second most important part of Grenada after the Town of St. George, the capital.  As a matter of fact, after the great fires of St. George’s many people and businesses took up residence in the town of Gouyave.

Gouyave provided refuge for hundreds of persons displaced after the Great St. George’s Fire on Fri. 1^st Nov.  1775’s. Hence, it was not uncommon to see advertisement on the availability of boarding houses and Day Care Centers. It was the home of many important and rich merchants and the staging grounds for the Fedon Rebellion of 1795 –6.  During that period it was a free port or Port Liberte and naval base for the French insurgents.

The Town of Gouyave was divided into four segments, Portuguese Town around Middle River, Duncan Town around St. Rose and Lower Depradine Street and the L’Anse.