John McKay/MacKay in Cape Breton

[waiteohman]

This is good JJ and thank you.

Myrna, this 1881 census is schedule 1 only. You would need to match the household number (227 in this case) with the same number in schedule 2. Schedule 2 would of had the house details, concession, lot, etc. Sadly it no longer exists for 1881.  You will need to locate him in an earlier census or later 1891 if he is still alive and on the same property then use both schedules. Being able to identify your John MacKay's concession/lot will allow you hopefully to match it up with one of those 1815 and 1825 petitions.

Sub-sub-series consists of census returns for the 1881 Canadian census: For the year 1881, only a microfilm copy of the first schedule - nominal return of the living - is available.

In 1871 nine schedules were compiled - personal census; agricultural census; nominal return of the living; nominal return of deaths within the last twelve months; public institutions; real estate; vehicles and implements; cultivated land, field products and plants and fruits; livestock, animal products, homemade fabrics and furs; industrial establishments; products of the forest; shipping and fisheries; and mineral products. All nine schedules are available on microfilm. The returns are from Nova Scotia (Volumes 1182-1248, Microfilm Reels C-10395, C-10540 to C-10570). You would need to know which reel your place is on. There is a finding aid; however, it is not online.

Might be easier to find on the 1838 census. Chimney Corner - INVERNESS COUNTY NS  -  M-5220 .

Just ask at your public library for an interlibrary loan.

Linda

[waiteohman]

There is a surname index to the 1871 census in print. It should help you identify the microfilm, I believe.

TITLE(S): Surname index to the 1871 census of Canada, Nova Scotia, Halifax County (excluding Halifax city)
PUBLISHER: Bridgewater, N.S. : Bridgewater Business & Information Services, c1995.
DESCRIPTION: v, 56 p. ; 28 cm.
NUMBERS: Canadiana:  960265325   
ISBN:  1896381049

Linda

[Gene-ee-us]

Thanks for that J.J. My apologies for being so slow. I have been rather distracted lately, but I did manage to have a look at the census references you posted. I haven't been able to work out who Margaret was, but there was a Margaret McKay who was the owner of the second next farm to the north of John and Flora's. She was quite likely a relative, but I don't know which one.

I knew that Flora had at least a couple of brothers, but she died before 1901 and it didn't occur to me to check if any of the brothers were still living If they didn't get to Cape Breton until 1827, and she had kids born in 1829/30, it seriously narrows the possible range of marriage dates.

The William living next door to John and Flora was their son William. The men in this family who married did so quite late in life. The Hector who was married to "Fibe" was around 50 when his first kid was born. Lucky for me! It's a lot easier to identify their parents when they still live at home.

Myrna

[Gene-ee-us]

Linda,
Thanks for the note about the 1871 census schedules. I had another look at some notes I made from it several years ago. No new clues there, but I did find out where they were. I went and looked at the land records and the land grant map on the Nova Scotia government site www.gov.ns.ca/NATR/library/histmaps.htm 

I think there must have been two different men named John McKay. The one in the 1817 land petition seems to have been a contemporary of Hector. On the land grant map, he has John McKay Sr, John McKay Jr. and Peter McKay. The line I'm looking for has no other men named Peter, so I think they must be two different lines, though it's probable that John Sr. was related to Hector.

The one in the 1825 petition was, most likely, Hector's son. I think he must be the one who was married to Flora McLean. Do you think it would be worthwhile to look up the farm in the land titles office? Would that give me the names of the people who have owned it over the years since it was granted?

Myrna

[waiteohman]

Hello Myrna

They should give the owner; however, I haven't used that source for mine yet.

I was thinking if you got the concession and lot information from the 1825 land grant and could match it up with Part 2 of a census that includes your John & Flora would work. Part 2 of the census includes the property information. You use the Part one dwelling # and find the matching dwelling on part 2.

Linda

[Gene-ee-us]

Hi Linda,
I guess I will have to get hold of one of the census films again. Some time ago, on  a trip to Ottawa, I wrote down all the information I could find from the 1871 census. When I looked at my old notes again today, I find that I don't have the lot and concession written down. I seem to recall that the location was not entered on the schedule, but I'll have to get the film again to be sure.

Thanks a lot for helping me look at this tribe again in a new light. I was almost ready to give up on them for a while, but I think I am ready to take them on again after all 
Myrna

[Andrew.rkelly]

Hello, I can help you with the Hector Maclean you are talking about this is my great, great, great, great grandfather.  I have the family history and tree from Isle of Rum and Coll Scotland for the Macleans.  I have the Maclean family tree to 1400's Isle of Coll.  Hector's father was Charles Maclean on Isle of Rum.  Charles father was John Maclean  whose Father was Charles Maclean from Coll Scotland.  John Maclean had Allen and Charles.  I am from Charles side. Hector had a wife Mary Mactonish from 1795-1891.  Hector came to Canada in 1829 in 1830 his brother Alex came to Canada.  if you need more information since I hold one of the largest data bases on all the Macleans and I have a rare book about the linage and history you can write to me. 

[Gene-ee-us]

Wow! Thanks for this! I haven't worked on this line for a while, so it was a lovely surprise.

I think I have finally worked out which John MacKay married John the Banker MacLean's sister Flora (almost certainly Hector's son), but I would be delighted to know more about Flora's family. And there were almost certainly (still mostly only circumstantial evidence) two different lines of John MacKay/McKay's living next door to each other. The one right next to Hector was probably his son, with his hundred acres. On the other side of Hector was William McLean, son of Roderick McLean and Ann McIsaac. I believe he was married to Hector's daughter, but I'm not sure of her name - possibly Mary or Margaret. So, this is what I have about the McLeans:

1. William (m. Miss MacKay) was the son of Roderick, who was the son of Murdoch MacLean and Marion McQuarry. Murdoch's father was said to be the son of John Gobha McLean, born at Kilmory. Unfortunately, I don't know anything more than names for their wives.

2. Flora McLean and her brother John the Banker were the children of Hector McLean and Mary McIntosh, which is what I know of them. I believe Flora was the youngest of the family, born around 1800, possibly on Rum. I think there were 7 children altogether in the family.

3. In another line in the same area, I have Annie Jane McLean, b 1897, who was the daughter of Donald Hector (Dan) McLean and Christie Flora MacKay. Dan's parents were Norman McLean (son of Donald Ban McLean & Annie MacDonald) and Ann MacKay (daughter of James McKay and Catherine McLean); Christie's parents were John MacKay (son of Allan & Catherine?) & Catherine McMillan (daughter of Malcolm McMillan and Mary McLean).

I would be delighted to have anything you care to share about any of the Broad Cove/Chimney Corner/Lake Ainslie McLeans, but these are three of the lines I'm most interested in.

Myrna

[Andrew.rkelly]

Hi Myrna;

Enclosed is a short piece on Hector in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia and Macleans back to the 1500's.  Also, my grandmother was a McQuarry. Yes, John the banker Maclean is Hector's son. See attachment.  Maclean is my grandfather's mothers side.  Also, the Macleans are related to the same Macleans in the movie, "A River Runs Through It!"  I am also a Davidson and Maclean as the Rev. Maclean stayed in Pembina, Manitoba in 1889 where we had farms we purchased in the 1880's.   Ok it looks like for some reason the Maclean tree from Coll is not working out as an attachment.


Andrew Kelly