CAN-NS-ANTIGONISH-L Archives

Archiver > CAN-NS-ANTIGONISH > 2002-07 > 1025835575


From: Vincent and Suzanne MacNeil <>
Subject: [Antigonish] The arrival of the first MacNeils in Cape Breton.
Date: Thu, 04 Jul 2002 22:19:35 -0400


Hello everyone,
I posted the first part of this before but I have added an
explanation as to who the people probably were. Enjoy, Vince

The Arrival of the MacNeils in Cape Breton

In the year 1799, two families emigrated from Barra, Scotland, to
seek new homes in the New World, as then known. The heads of the
families were, Donald McNeil and Johnathan McNeil. They left Glasgow,
Scotland aboard the ship in August, and landed at Pictou, Nova Scotia,
late in September. Both families followed down the Gulf to Arisaig
(Antigonish Co. ) where some Scottish families had settled some years
before. They were told by Donald “Og” MacNeil , who fought at the seige
of Louisbourg, on his return to Barra, that the shores of the Bras D’or
Lakes would be the best place to settle in Cape Breton. They built small
huts at Arisaig, where they spent the winter. Next summer, 1800, Donald
MacNeil and his son Rory (Morr) and Johnathan MacNeil and his son John,
came down to Cape Breton in a small row boat. When they came to St.
Peters, where the canal
now is, they were obliged to haul their boat over land a
distance Donald “Og”
of half a mile. After rowing for some distance down the Big Bras D’or
Lake, they came to the North Side of the narrows, where they landed.
Staked out lands, and decided to settle down. Those were the first
MacNeils, who settled in Cape Breton.
After clearing some land, they returned to Arisaig, with the
intention of coming back the following summer, but misfortune overcame
them, as Donald MacNeil, one of the heads of the families, took sick and
died that fall. This misfortune discouraged Johnathan MacNeil for
awhile, but early in the Spring of 1802, they came back to Cape Breton,
where they cleared and burnt the land and planted potatoes. In July of
that year, another vessel landed at Pictou, in which were emigrants from
Barra. These Barra men made their way to Cape Breton, and settled on
both sides of the Grand Narrows. Those who settled on the North side
were, Donald MacNeil (Donald Ban’s son) and Malcolm Campbell, who was
married to Donald “Ban” McNeil’s daughter, and Roderick MacNeil, who was
married to another one of Donald “Ban’s” daughters. They settled to the
west of the first settlers. Another man by the name of Rory MacNeil ,
(Donald Murdock’s son), settled to the North East, on lands later owned
by the writer of this copy, and now by Dan A. MacDonald, who resides on
it.
Donald MacNeil, brother of the above Rory, and who was married to a
daughter of Johnathan MacNeil, “Eoin Mac Dhomhnuill ic Iain”, their two
sons, Neil and Big James, with their mother, moved after the death of
their father to Jamesville, where they settled and where their
descendants are still living. This Donald MacNeil (Eomhnuill MacRuairi),
who was in ill health, although he came across, died in 1805, and was
the first death among the MacNeil immigrants. At this time no burial
grounds were fixed on either side of the narrows, and when it became
known to the deceased’s sister, then the wife of Neil MacNeil (Ban) of
Coopers Pond, that no place for the interment was offered by anyone on
the North Side, she requested that the remains be taken to the South
Side and interned on a part of their land, which she allotted. Now the
Christmas Island Cemetery is on this very land, where this first pioneer
was buried in 1805.

It is hard to believe what hardships those pioneers went through
during the first yeas. There ere no roads, and travel and trade was all
made by water. Their boats were too small to carry a cow. Finally, in
1803 when each family gathered enough hay, they made a few trips to a
French settlement near St. Peters, where they bought 4 or 5 yearling
heifers. Those yearlings freshened in 1805, and this was the first milk
they had, since they left the Old Country years before.

By Francis H. MacNeil

According to Francis Hector MacNeil, Donald Og MacNeil returned to
Barra and told the people that Cape Breton would be a good place to
settle. Donald (Ruairidh) and his son Rory “Mor” were from the island of
Sandray. Interestingly, records exist in the parish register of Barra
from 1805 to 1817 for Donald “Og”’s sons Murdock, Rory, and Barra or
Ben. These records indicate that the sons of Donald “Og” were living at
Sandray. One can conclude that Donald (Ruairidh), Rory “Mor” and Donald
“Og” were neighbours on the island of Sandray.
Donald “Og” however, was not the only MacNeil at the Battle of
Louisbourg. The following land petition from the Cape Breton Land Papers
indicates that Roderick MacNeil, husband of the widow Mary MacNeil was
also there. This proves that MacNeils were present at this battle.
Item no.: 1423 Mfm no.: 15793 Grantee: McNiel, Mary Year: 1816
Petition to Fitzherbert: Petitioner is widow of the late
Roderick McNiel of Benaakady. Her husband, a soldier, was wounded at
the Siege of Louisbourg, and settled with his family at Benaakady ten
years ago, where he occupied a small marsh in lot 7, but died before he
could obtain a title. Petitioner is now seventy years old, her children
all have families of their own. She continues to cut the grass on the
marsh, which enables her to keep two cows which provide her chief
income. Her son-in-law, David Brown, is trying to dispossess her of the
land. She asks a title. Note: granted.

Who were the first four MacNeils to come to Cape Breton?

The families Francis Hector wrote about in the above letters can be
found in “All Call Iona Home”. The descendants of Donald (Ruairi)
MacNeil are families 35a to 56. Rory “Mor” is in family 36. Francis
Hector, author of these stories is in family 48. The descendants of Eoin
(Donald, John) are families 56a to 85.

Who were the other early settlers mentioned by Francis H.?

Donald “Og” MacNeil’s descendants are families 1 to 35 in “All Call
Iona Home” and are found on pages 167 to 170 of “The MacKenzies’ History
of Christmas Island Parish”.
Francis Hector wrote, “Those who settled on the North side were,
Donald MacNeil (Donald Ban’s son) and Malcolm Campbell, who was married
to Donald “Ban” McNeil’s daughter, and Roderick MacNeil, who was married
to another one of Donald “Ban’s” daughters. They settled to the west of
the first settlers. Another man by the name of Rory MacNeil , (Donald
Murdock’s son), settled to the North East”. Donald MacNeil (Donald Ban)
must be part of family 164 in “All Call Iona Home”. Malcolm Campbell who
was mentioned in Francis Hector’s letter would be part of family number
286 in said book. He married Flora MacNeil daughter of Donald “Ban”.
Roderick MacNeil who married another of Donald Ban’s daughters must be
number 141a, Rory (Rory) in this book. Rory MacNeil (Donald, Murdock)
can be found on page 150 in “The MacKenzies’ History of Christmas Island
Parish”. He also wrote, “Donald MacNeil, brother of the above Rory, and
who was married to a daughter of Johnathan MacNeil”. This would be a
reference to family number 170 in this book. “Neil MacNeil (Ban) of
Coopers Pond” would be Neil Ban McNeil on page 161 of “The MacKenzies’
History of Christmas Island Parish”.


This thread: