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"MAC DONALDS FROM THE BRAS D'OR TO THE ESTRELLA"
Author: William Norin- The book is 274 pages long and includes approximately 50 pictures.
"From the Bras d' Or to the Estrella" is the story of a Scottish family who
came from the Scottish Highlands to Prince Edward Island on the famous
vessel Alexander in 1772. They were among the Tracadie Settlers.
Later they moved to East Bay, Cape Breton where many of their descendents
live today. Eventually the came west to the Central Coast of California to live
in one of the old California missions established by Spanish missionaries.
Read and see pictures of life in the early west including their involvement
with the infamous Dalton Gang.
OBITUARIES FROM THE SYDNEY POST-RECORD Vol 1: 1933-1950
Vol 2: 1951-1956
Vol. 3: 1945-1950
Vol. 4: 1951-1956
Author: Wayne Macvicar
- A series of four volumes have been published indexing extracts of obituaries found in the Sydney Post-Record which were published from 1933-1956.
The Sydney Post-Record was formed through the merger of the Sydney daily newspapers, The Record and the Sydney Daily Post (later Post) in January 1933. The name was changed to just the Post-Record in 1948 but essentially remained the same until July 1956 when it was changed to Cape Breton Post to reflect a wider (hopefully) reading audience. The period covered includes January 1933 to July 1956 inclusive, with the exception of lost issues. Due to the number of obituaries, it has been divided into four volumes, each with 6000-8000 separate entries.
Each entry includes the following information:
SURNAME, Given Names (Actual name or nickname); Date of death, as accurate as can be determined, Place of death; Date of burial (only given when known and when actual date of death is not), Place of burial; Limited biographical information to assist in identification of the individual; Source: Date of newspaper, Page of newspaper
A maiden name cross-reference was also prepared and incorporated into the main body of the index to assist the researcher in finding married female lines.
The four volumes have been published by the Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia (GANS) as follows:
Publication P-28: Volume 3 1945-1950, published 2002
Publication P-31: Volume 4 1951-1956, published 2003
Publication P-32: Volume 1 1933-1938, published 2004
Publication P-33: Volume 2 1939-1944, published 2005
Copies are available from the GANS website, http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Recreation/GANS
or by writing to: Genealogical Association of Nova Scotia
PO Box 641, Station Central, Halifax, NS Canada B3J 2T3
EARLY SETTLERS OF INGONISH (1800-1997)Author: Lark B. Szick
- A valuable aid for anyone researching the area.
Contained within this publication are the genealogies of many early families who made Ingonish their home.
Extensive descriptive notes on many family members are indicated throughout these personal histories,
allowing readers and researchers a glimpse at the lives and times of their ancestors.
Included are: * Crown land grant index, * Early land grant map for Ingonish * A. F. Church's map ca 1864
* Descendant charts for the surnames listed below * BREWER, CANN, CURTIS, DAISLEY, DAUPHINEE,
DONOVAN, DOYLE, GILLIS, HARDY, HAWLEY, HINES, KERR, McGEAN, MacNEIL, NOLAN,
ROBERTS, ROPER, WILLIAMS, and YOUNG.
SETTLERS OF NORTHERN CAPE BRETON (1800-1997)Author: Lark B. Szick
This book is an acknowledgment of the brave struggles endured by the men and women who paved the way
for their future descendants. It is to memorialize our Northern Cape Breton ancestors' valiant efforts of
survival and should not be considered a record of history.
*Some of the early settlers listed are: BUCHANAN, BURTON, CAPSTICK, DAISLEY, DIXON, DUGGAN,
DUNPHY, FITZGERALD, GWINN, HELLEN, KERR, MALONEY, MacLEAN, MacDONALD, McEVOY,
MacINTOSH, MacPHERSON, PETRIE and YOUNG.
90 pages, cerlox binding with card stock covers, repr., 1997
SPARLING, MUSGRAVE & OTHER RELATED LOYALISTFAMILIES OF CAPE BRETON ISLAND
Author: Lark B. Szick
- The Sparling and Musgrave families were living in New York in 1783 at the time of the American Revolution.
With the anticipated evacuation of New York Peter William Sparling (1732-1821) and his sons-in-law Bartholomew Musgrave and Joseph Ristine who were loyal to the British crown, as were many others, added their names to the Evacuation list. Hoping to find a more peaceful life for themselves and their descendants in Nova Scotia.
Upon arriving in Port Roseway, some were so discouraged with what they saw that they soon after continued on their way, to find a better place to make a home for themselves and their families. The families that did stay knew that they must achieve or perish. The Sparlings, Musgraves, Ristine realized that to succeed in Nova Scotia, they would have to relocate.
By 1785 we find the Sparlings and Musgraves living in North Sydney and surrounding areas, along with other loyalist settlers.
Extended families include: ALLANS, BALL, BRUNETT, DAISLEY, GRANDMEYER, GRANT, GREY, INGRAHAM, JEFFERSON, LEAVER, LEWIS, MALONEY, MOFFAT, MOORE, PETERS, ROBERTS, ROSS, SPENCER, STOUT, WEILHAUSEN and other.
84 pages, cerlox binding with card stock covers, first printing , Spring 1999
Bras D'OrShack Stories
Author: By Dennis Jessome
Complied by Lark B. Szick
- Any book of memories about the Bras D'Or shacks is bound to be of interest as Bras D'Or is one of the oldest and most enduring communities in Cape Breton and the past and present day inhabitants of it carry with them not only the memories, but the good, solid attitudes in their everyday life.
The contribution made by these people was considerable. Their efforts should not pass without some permanent tribute. With this in mind, Dennis' memories and record of the trials and successes of growing up in the shacks will be of interest to the younger generation and serve as a reflection to the generation that grew up in this time frame.
75 pages, cerlox binding with card stock covers, first printing , Dec. 2006
- ROSS FAMILIES OF MARGAREE, CAPE BRETON
PIONEERS AND DESCENDANTS
Author: Lark B. Szick
After much research and with the help of many Ross descendants the book "ROSS FAMILIES OF MARGAREE"
documents these early settlers to the fullest.
It was prepared for the ROSS REUNION in Margaree
Extended families include: BURTON, CARMICHAEL, COADY, CRANTON, CROWDIS, ETHERIDGE,
FRIZZLE, HART, INGRAHAM, MACRAE, MACISAAC, MACPHERSON, MARPLE, MUNROE,
PETERS, RYAN, SHAW and many more.
WEILHAUSEN DESCENDENTS 1785-2003
Author: Lark B. Szick
- Frederick Weilhausen an officer of high rank was given a free grant of land at Georges River, and N. W. Arm.
Frederick fought in Louisbourg, and served for 8 years in Gen Von Lossbag's Reg't., Hessian Army, and an
English Imperial Army during the American Revolution.
After moving his family from the N.W. Arm area, he operated a store and a saloon in the Lower section of Englishtown.
He settled on 400 acres of crown land and brought up his 12 children.
The name no longer exists today in Cape Breton by many descendents are scattered throughout the area of St. Anns Bay.
- ROBERT EDWARD LEONARD
FAMILY HISTORY
RAIBEART EIDEARD LEONARD
EACHDRAIDH THEAGHLAICH
Author: Robert E. Leonard
MARK CROWDIS FAMILY
OF CAPE BRETON,
NOVA SCOTIA
1752-2000
AND
EXTENDED FAMILIES
Author: Patricia West Crowdis
Thomas Richard Crowdis, Jr.
DRUMMER ON FOOT
Author: Don MacFarlane and Ray MacLean
A series of over 90 articles appeared in The Casket, a Catholic newspaper published in Antigonish, Nova Scotia under the pen name Drummer on Foot. The articles were published beginning April 4, 1912 and continued up into 1918. Most deal with the pioneer families who settled in Antigonish County in the early decades of the 19th century. They show the inter-relatedness of these families. A connection in one family is almost certain to lead to relationships with several others. Drummer on Foot took these families from their pioneer ancestors through four and five generations up to the time of publication.
Now these articles will appear in book form for the first time. Edited by Dr. Raymond MacLean and Donald MacFarlane they offer the family historian and anyone else interested in 19th Century Antigonish County an invaluable research tool.
Families described in detail include: Fraser, Boyd, Gillis (Oban), MacFarlane, MacGillivary (Bridge), Cameron, MacGillivary (South River), MacPherson, MacDonald (Glas), MacDonnell (Garaidhnich), MacGillivary (An Uillet), MacLean (Sliochad Dhonnachaidh), MacIsaac, MacDonald (Bard Na Ceapoch), Gillis (Silochd Aonghais Mhoir), MacLellan (South River), MacGillivary (Dunmore), MacDonald (Sliochd Dhoumnuill 'ic Allein), MacDonald (Fraser's Mills), MacDonnell (Fraser's Mills), Gillis (Fraser's Mills), MacIsaac (Fraser's Mills) and many others. Dozens of additional families who inter-married are also enumerated (almost 200 surnames). Over 1100 marriages are chronicled. Because of the intermarriage of many of these families some of these are duplicates.
Locations where settlers are described in detail include Fraser's Mills, Boyd's Settlement, South River and Dunmore, as well as many other locations in Antigonish County. Some families are traced through to Cape Breton and even to the United States.
In many cases Drummer gives the Scottish origins of the pioneers.
Drummer on Foot has been identified as William Cameron, a native of Antigonish and related to many of the people he describes.
THE ISLAND: New Perspectives on Cape Breton's History 1713-1990
Author: Kenneth Donovan
Ten new studies on the history of Cape Breton Island, ranging from the North Atlantic world of the 18th century to the political
and economic troubles of the 20th century.
Individual chapters consider the wreck of the Chameau in 1725, Scottish settlements and rural economic life in the early 19th
century, the cultural awakening of the 1840s, the role of women in the Great War, the impact of immigration and industrialization
on the urban centres, the fortunes of labour politics in the coal towns and the continuing crisis of public ownership in the steel
industry.
Handsomely illustrated and co-published with the University College of Cape Breton Press.
320 pp.
ALDER POINT, Cape Breton: A brief history of how life was in the 1930's, 40's and 50's
Author: George T. Fraser
"ALDER POINT" is a short history describing the recollections of a typical Cape Breton lad who 'went away' but whose heart remains in Cape Breton Island and will forever.
It describes what and how it was growing up in a small fishing village during the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's.
Of particular interest is a compilation of those men and women who joined up to fight in World War Two
all from this very small community, the number is amazing.
Some articles include
Pioneer Families; Early Memories; 1939 - Declaration of WWII
Crop Pits; Bootleggers; Catastrophic Events
School Teachers and St. Joseph's Parish Priests
"Lest we Forget" (Alder Pointers who served in WWII)
Home Remedies; Traditional Foods; Hauling Bootleg Coal
110 pages, cerlox binding with card stock covers, first printing , Nov. 2007
BEHIND THE HEADLINESThe Godwin Family of Halifax
Author: Catherine Anne Godwin
Adversity and courage marked the lives of the Halifax descendants of John Godwin and Caroline Levens of Westminister, London, England.
A family deeply affected by two Halifax explosions (1857 and 1917) also had intriguing stories to tell about the Chisholm castle in Scotland and a plantation in Jamaica.
87 pictures, 63 pages, 8 generations.
Very few copies available.
May be borrowed from the Cape Breton Regional Library or the Halifax Library.
HIS LAND WAS HIS GOLDJohn Browner And His Descendents
Author: Catherine Anne Godwin
230 pictures and many interesting stories provide a glimpse of the seven generations of descendants of Hanora Elvert and John Browner, Irish immigrant who settled in Lingan (Bridgeport, Dominion) in 1820.
It is believed but not documented that John was a native of Templeudigan, County Wexford, Ireland.
The book contains 'Bits and Pieces' of Browner information that does not seem to fit this particular family but may be of value to others researching "Browner".
130 pages. May be borrowed from the Cape Breton Regional Library or the Halifax Library.
Angus McKinnon, Pioneer Settler of Northside East Bay
Author: Catherine Anne Godwin
This 56 page book details the descendants of Angus McKinnon, Northside East Bay (b 1800 PEI) and Ann MacMullen of MacAdam's Lake (b 1806 PEI).
The link to Scotland has not been documented.
The book cover bears a pen and ink sketch of the original McKinnon homestead (still standing) and a copy of Angus' signature.
Many changes have occurred within the McKinnon family since the book was published in 1994. May be borrowed from the Cape Breton Regional Library.
NANA, MY GRANDMOTHER ANNE GILLIS
Author: Robert Gillis
What began as a stop to drop off the newspaper blossomed into a very special responsibility that lasted nearly 25 years. I visited her daily since I was five years old; I helped shop for her, took care of household repairs as I got older, watched out for her, and just spent time listening to her talk about her life. Over the years I developed a very special love for Nana, and a great respect and affection for the elderly.
The matriarch of our family, Anne Gillis could be stubborn, melancholy, and gloomy. She was always generous, the most honest person IÕve ever met, religious, good-natured, and kind. Nana was human and not perfect, but she was a loving woman who made a profound difference in my life for which I will always be grateful.
After Nana died, I started jotting memories about herÑthings I wanted to remember, stories she told, family facts and trivia, and little anecdotes. I discovered that after such a difficult personal loss, writing was the best therapy. I hadnÕt intended to write a book, but the memories just flooded into me and I kept writing. Over time, I found that there could be no better way to mourn Nana, and accept her passing, than by celebrating her life.
While this book chronicles NanaÕs life and times in Glendale before I was born, much of it is devoted to my life experiences with Nana, such as the unique problems Nana faced as a landlady, my relationship with Nana over the years, Nana growing older, and my first year after Nana died.
It's a very special story, and one I would like to share with you.
GROWING UP IN LUNENBURG COUNTY , NOVA SCOTIA
Author: Reginald H. Gaetz
A great little book on what it was like growing up in Lunenburg County during the Depression Years.
This is the personal story of a boy growing up in the Depression Years of the 20's and 30's. To many, those were years of deprivation due to hunger and money shortages.
In this case, he did not know they were in a Depression. His mother and father worked hard and were never in need, and they always were able to find enough money to pay the bills.
Everything was cash on the barrel head and no credit was asked for!
It is a story that we can relate to any part of the Maritimes during these hard years. Not only was it in Lunenburg that the people suffered but life was the same for many people during these deprssing time. This book gives us an insight of how it was in the 20's and 30's.
Published by: Langille's Print, Bridgewater, NS . 105 pp.
EUROPEAN ORIGINS AND COLONIAL TRAVAILS
The Settlement of Lunenburg
The Settlement of Lunenburg
Edited by: Paul and Eva Huber
Between 1750 and 1752, the British recruited about 2700 so-called "Foreign Protestant" settlers for Nova Scotia from Germany, Montbeliard and Switzerland.
This was the first organized settlement in territory that later became part of Canada of people who were neither French nor British.
In 1753, 250 years ago, the majority of these people were resettled, founding what is today a "UNESCO World Heritage Site": Lunenburg.
After the expulsion of the Acadians two years later and until the arrival of other immigrants in the 1760s, these settlers made up the largest group of Europeans in mainland Nova Scotia.
Author: Steve Taylor
This past year has seen the renewal of many historical links between Skye, Cape Breton and Prince Edward Island .
As I have carried out research over the last several years for my book "The Skye Revivals" I have been amazed again and again as I have discovered the links between these islands, especially on a spiritual level. Indeed as most of you are no doubt aware, the spiritual and social landscape of our islands cannot be understood without an appreciation to these factors.
Today on our own island few are aware of the evangelical revivals which took place between 1812 and 1814 and later between 1839 and 1843. Prior to these awakenings Skye was essentially a semi pagan island which, because of its remoteness, had not been touched by earlier evangelical awakenings on the UK mainland.
The earliest Skye awakening, certainly since Columban times, dates to the earlier period we have mentioned. The first awakening was due, in great measure, to the labours of a local blind evangelist, Donald Munro. Donald had been converted as a result of a very brief visit to the island in 1805 by a Haldane missionary, John Farquharson.
Farquharson himself was a simple and uneducated man whom his earlier tutors had given up as a hopeless case educationally! However, he was a mighty man of God and had earlier seen revival under his ministry in Perthshire. Farquharson is believed to have emigrated directly from Skye to Cape Breton in 1805, although I have been unable to establish any further details regarding him.
It was in north Skye that awakening first came, after some years of prayerful work by Munro and a few others. "Great power", it is reported, followed his meetings between 1812-1814. It was commonplace, just after the meeting had started, for "great melting's to come upon the hearers".
In the language of the age one writer records - "then the silent tear might be seen stealing down the rugged, but expressive, countenances turned upon the reader - the convulsive and half suppressed sigh might next be heard - female sobbings followed - and, after little, every breast was heaving under the unaccountable agitation which moved the spirits of the assembled multitudes. .... Sometimes those affected cried aloud; but this was not common: at other times they threw themselves upon the grass, in the utmost distress, and wept bitterly".
During these events even regular eating times were ignored and the people would go to extraordinary length to be at meetings where they could hear the Bible being read. Another feature of this revival was the singing - the people did not know how to stop when they were engaged in praise! Yet another feature was that, "The utmost cordiality and brotherly love prevailed - every man feeling his heart more tenderly drawn out to his neighbour". There was also a great desire to testify to others as to what the Lord had done.
Of that work it is recorded that, "several hundred professed to have returned to the Lord, and the genuineness of their conversion was evident by the change of life that had accompanied their profession". It was also reported that, "some who had been noted for their wickedness became eminent as Christians".
This revival was said to be "principally confined to those not much advanced in life - of the age of fifteen, and under, to thirty".
Relatives of Donald Munro subsequently emigrated and were instrumental in the spiritual life of Prince Edward Island and other parts of North America.
The next revival in Skye was not for some thirty years. However, a strong and steady evangelistic work was carried on during the intervening years particularly through the instrumentality of circulating evangelical Gaelic Schools that had been introduced to the island.
It was as the result of the work of a Gaelic Schoolteacher that the second awakening broke out. Norman MacLeod had been appointed to a district called Unish, in a remote northern part of the island, in 1839. During the year he taught at Unish little was accomplished in the spiritual betterment of his pupils. However, on the Sunday before he was due to leave he gathered the people, challenging them from the scriptures. As he did so they were deeply affected.
One writer record what happened next "The most extraordinary emotions appeared among the people; some wept and some cried aloud as if pricked in their hearts, while others fainted and fell down as if struck dead".
The meeting carried on throughout the night and the people continued to be affected in the same manner. Instead of leaving on the Monday as he had intended, Norman remained for a further sixteen days holding services "reading and praying almost continually". The people attended the services "with so little intermission day or night, that he could get only about two hours sleep every morning".
This awakening subsequently spread throughout the whole island. A minister who visited the island in 1842 noted that the revival, "exceeded in intensity and extent anything of the kind in modern times."
During September 1842, at a communion weekend in the north of the island, it was independently reported that, "between 12,000 and 15,000 attended and hundreds fell down as if they were dead."
By 1843 it was judged that the results of the revival were "real and enduring" and that "on the most reliable information, there are few families in the whole Island of Skye, containing a population of 25,000 souls, where there has not been one or more individuals seriously impressed".
These awakenings, as we have indicated, had an impact far beyond the shores of Skye. As a result of emigration the spirit of revival would also spread out to many other countries particularly the Canadian Maritimes and other parts of North America. Indeed, one of Americas best known evangelists of the 1920's, George W MacPherson of the Tent Evangel, New York, was as a descendent of Skye emigrants to Margaree, Cape Breton in the 1830's.
For those of you interested in learning more on this subject could I recommend my book and/or CD? The book is essentially a summery of events while the Multi Media CD contains additional text, extra chapters with full source references, photographs and music. The CD also contains a complete section of six chapters entitled "The Scattering" which is largely devoted to the detail of families and personalities in Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, and other parts of Canada who were connected with spiritual life in Skye. All chapters in the CD book are printable. For anyone interested in research might I suggest that the CD will be of most value.
The book and CD can be ordered on the Web Site http://www.skyerevival.org.uk
All prices quoted include p/p to Canada and the USA.
Lark Szick or Norm MacDonald
© Copyright All Rights Reserved. March 11, 2003, Updated Feb 26, 2007