GENEALOGY

Record Office Archivist, Hugh Hagan. Hagan recognized that "St. Johns" was Emigrants on the , 1771 actually Prince Edward Island, and that a passenger list from for A New Passenger List for Prince Edward Island 1771 was of great potential signifi- cance. Indeed, the passenger list pro- vides important evidence of a well known, but poorly documented, emi- ur knowledge of our history in for good, old-fashioned hard work, on gration to Malpeque, Prince Edward O Prince Edward Island is due to occasion, good fortune plays an impor- Island from . Moreover, it the collective and cumulative efforts of tant role in the process. Last summer, sheds some very useful light on our a great may people over a great many just such a stroke of good luck sup- early settlement history. years. Disparate sources — family tra- plied us with another piece of our his- ditions, oral history, archival docu- torical puzzle: important new evidence ments, community histories — are on the story of the early settlers The Emigration of 1771 woven together to form a cohesive pat- in Malpeque. tern from which we attempt to better The new evidence came to light The story of the Stewart-sponsored understand our past, and, ultimately, when a gentleman carrying out settlement of Kintyre families at ourselves. While there is no substitute research in the Scottish Record Office Malpeque has been told in many in Edinburgh stumbled across two pre- places, most recently in the last issue viously unknown passenger lists: one of this magazine.* It remains here only for North Carolina and the other for to see what the passenger list can add By Michael Kennedy "St. Johns." They were filed with a to our existing fund of knowledge. batch of loosely related documents First, some context. Lt. Col. Robert concerning administration in Stewart, whose family had been promi- late 18th-century Campbel- nent in southern Kintyre, was granted town, Kintyre. Fortunate- half of Lot 18 on Prince Edward Island ly, the gentleman (until 1799 known as St. John's Island) brought them to during the "Great Lottery" of 1767 in the attention of reward for his military service in the the Scottish Americas during the Seven Years' War. Unsuccessful competition with another mercantile house in Campbel- town evidently led the Stewarts to switch the focus of their business efforts from Kintyre to the develop- ment of their property in St. John's Island as a means of providing themselves with a secure T future. Members of the ft I C H >I O X B ,i v Stewart family emigrated Cape Avlesbuiy from Kintyre to the Island, and by the 1780s, /W., they had acquired the other half of Lot 18 from co-proprietor William <-/' MA L PEC Allanby, giving them 20,000 acres in the Malpeque area. From this base, they would play an influential role in the new colony's busi- ness and government.

*That is, James Lawson's "The Princetown Pioneers, 1769-71," in Number 38 (Fall-Winter 1995). W ' 'j&

39 According to Jim Lawson, the Stewarts had begun recruiting settlers from Campbeltown and Southend in southern Kintyre in 1768-69. In 1770, the Annabella, owned by the Stewarts and commanded by Lt. Col. Robert Stewart's brother, Dugald, arrived at Kintyre Malpeque with a contingent of settlers, which, tradition holds, included his sister Annabella and her husband, also (and confusingly) named Robert Stewart. Shortly after her arrival, the Annabella was wrecked on the treach- erous sandbanks off Darnley, and almost all of the pioneers' precious cargo was lost. In response, another Stewart brother, Peter (then Provost Marshall of Campbeltown, but soon to be Chief Justice of St. John's Island), dispatched a fresh cargo in the sum- mer of 1771, along with new settlers. The vessel he chartered for the pur- pose was the Edinburgh, a 75-ton brig- antine used in the Kintyre-to-North Carolina trade by the Stewarts' mer- cantile rivals, the MacAlestars. On the 27th of July 1771, the Edinburgh cleared customs in Campbeltown and set sail for St. John's Island. The Kintyre area of Scotland. The port of Campbeltown is located at the head of an estuary at the lower end of the The List Kintyre peninsula. Our newest piece of evidence concern- ing this emigration, the partially com- plete passenger list for this sailing of finally, four names are recorded below probably end up being in the vicinity of the Edinburgh, was compiled on 9 July the main form, and include no amplify- 73, which would tally nearly exactly 1771 at Campbeltown, three weeks ing detail whatsoever. with other sources. In any case, the prior to the vessel's departure. The list The first thing that the passenger list minimum number of emigrants on the gives the names of heads of families, clearly does is to confirm those sources vessel is 61. the number of individuals in each party, that state that 70 additional immigrants The presence of a Mrs. Robert the rate of charge (70 shillings for a arrived from Kintyre in 1771. Although Stewart among the cabin passengers is berth in the hold, 90 shillings for a the customs clearance for the intriguing. Obviously, she is a person cabin), the total cost to each party, and Edinburgh (cited by Jim Lawson in the of some stature, since all seven mem- the name of the persons paying the last Island Magazine) recorded only 20 bers of her party have paid the higher fare, indicating whether they had paid passengers, it should be noted that fare for cabin berths. Is this Annabella A. MacAlestar in Campbeltown or were heads of families and total numbers of Stewart, sister of Lt. Col. Robert to settle accounts on St. John's Island. passengers are often confused with one Stewart and wife of Robert Stewart, Unfortunately, the list does not appear another in emigration documentation, who is supposed to have come out on to have been finished. Thirteen of the as appears to have happened in this the Annabella in 1770? The temptation entries are complete; three are lacking case. The total number of heads of fami- is to say yes, but it is impossible to be only the final total (which can be calcu- ly on the passenger list is 24, and the definite on that score. lated from the information that is total number of passengers is 61. If the recorded); eight have no information four men noted beneath the main body about where the fares were to be paid of the list represent incomplete entries The Montgomery Connection (although the fares for at least five of rather than crew members, then those these were probably pre-paid, since numbers become 28 and at least 65, The Edinburgh passenger list also they were sponsored by the Stewarts); respectively. Based on the assumption clearly resolves the confusion that that those four men were passengers, exists concerning the arrival of Hugh (Previous page:) The Malpeque area, and keeping in mind that the average Montgomery and Mary MacShannon, according to Samuel Holland's famous size of party brought out by each head the ancestors of Prince Edward survey of 1764-65. of family in the Edinburgh was three, Island's most famous author, L. M. the total number of immigrants would Montgomery. In fact, Hugh Mont-

40 A word of explanation with respect to this transcription is in order. "Do,/' means "ditto," i.e. "same." Hie monetary values are j expressed in pounds, shillings, and pence. In light of the prevailing misapprehensions concerning the use of "Mac" and "Me" in surnames, it should be noted that the standard Gaelic prefix "Mac," meaning "son," is frequently contracted as "Mc" or "M"' in records. The use of "Mc" in some modern surnames derives from this contraction and has no historic, ethnic, or linguistic signifi-

Aect Passengers to St Johns [Passage? Aboard?] the Edinburgh and payment of the Freight 1771 July 9

| Passenger Names | By Whom Paid Cabin Hold Rate P. A. MacAlester Bills pay* j Exchan Bills Total1 PayleatSt.Johns Hugh Montgomery himself 0 • i 70 17.10.0 i 0.0.0 0.0.0 17.10.0 I Neill Montgomery Hugh Montgomery MMRRR t Do 1,10.2 2.11.7 I 0.0.0 4.1.9 Joseph MacLean Proot. Stewart MMMR i Do. 3.10.0 0.0.0 0.0.0 3.10.9 James Woodside himself •Nl MRRi Do. 7.0.0 0.00 0.0.0 7.0.0 Janet Finlay herself MNiWS^ Do. 3.10.0 I 0.0.0 0.0.0 3.10.0 Alex MacKay Sailor himself NH HMM Do. 10.10.0 0.0.0 i 0.0.0 10.10.0 ! Neil MacKay for [?] himself Do. 7.0.0 o.o.o i 0.0.0 7.0.0 Archd. MacKay Neill MacKay MNiMft i hisBror WIMRM I Do. 3.10.0 0.0.0 0.0.0 3.10.0 John MacVicar himself MR W§SB Do. 3.10.0 0.0.0 0.0.0 3.10.0 Hector MacShenaig his father RM ^^M Do. 3.10.0 0.0.0 0.0.0 3.10.0 Dun: MacWilliam himself Do. 14.0.0 0.0.0 0.0.0 14.0.0 d RM ^^B Dug. Campbell in part Pse. RM RRRl Do. 3.0.0 0.0.0 0.0.0 Neill Shaw himself as under RM RRNI Do. 10.3.10 5.8.8 1/2 1.4.6 1/2 Neill MacCallum himself RM HHi Do. More Mackay Indented RM RRRl Do. Mrs. Robert Stewart Proot. Stewart MR •NH 90 Capt. Jn.o Colvil himself RM IHRI 70 ' 24.10.0 0.0.0 0.0.0 24.10.0 Jn.° MacLarty Proot. Stewart 70 3.10.0 0.0.0 0.0.0 3.10.0 Jn.° MacGugan RM RRMI Do. 7.10.0 or WMMMHHPIM MRR M Jn.° MacKay Sen. INMHNNMi MR RRRl Do. 7.10.0 Arcfr'.MacKenzie •Ml Do. Dugald Stewart ^^^^^^^M MR 90 John MacKay Taylor NNNMHRMR HRIMR I [i.e. tailor] Proot. Stewart 70 Mr. Craig MRI ^ M 90 Hector MacEachine MMBRMMHI Rty|| MRI Neill MacLeonan And.*'Willson Peter MacDougall

A transcription of the actual list for the Edinburgh (SRO SC 54/2/106. Reproduced by kind permission of the Keeper of the Records of Scotland). gomery's name is the first on the list. A better supported tradition, which nied Hugh and was one of the other Although 1769 is frequently cited as is recorded in Malpeque and Its People, four in the party, meaning that three the date of the arrival of the Mont- 1700-1982, claims instead that Hugh rather than six children came with gomerys at Malpeque, the tradition is Montgomery and Mary MacShannon them. However, a Neill Montgomery, not a well developed one. It seems to arrived at Malpeque in 1771 with their listed separately from this group, had be the case that the frequent citation five children (one child, Nelly, having his fare paid by Hugh. Although he is of this date owes less to the strength died in infancy). The passenger vessel not mentioned in the Malpeque histo- of the tradition in Malpeque, than to list confirms that date, but there are ry's genealogy of the Montgomerys, the fact that, when confronted with only five people noted in the he may have been an adult son or conflicting and uncertain information, Montgomery party, of whom only close relative. That would make six there is a natural tendency to cite the Hugh, as head of family, is named. We Montgomerys in all aboard the data that appears most impressive, in can only assume, based on reliable Edinburgh, but still only three or possi- this case, the earliest possible date. family tradition, that Mary accompa- bly four children.

41 Another story connected with the one of the Stewarts (unfortunately, the servant, though it is not clear to Montgomery's emigration, one that terms of the agreement and any rela- whom. It should not be assumed, how- Lucy Maud herself repeated, is that tionship are not known);** Janet ever, that these 11 passengers were in the Montgomerys were actually bound Finlay and John MacVicar, both of a contract with the Stewarts that bore for Quebec. When the vessel stopped whom paid their own passage, seem to any resemblance to indenture, particu- for water at St. John's Island, Mary be the only passengers travelling com- larly as one, Mr. Craig, was given a MacShannon, who had been desper- pletely independently of the others. cabin berth. It is quite possible that it ately seasick during the Atlantic cross- Of the remaining single passengers, was the Stewarts who were in contract ing, refused to proceed further, and we have already seen that Neill with them, offering them free passage convinced her husband and family to Montgomery was sponsored by Hugh in order to entice them to emigrate settle at Malpeque. The passenger list Montgomery, who was almost certain- and to bring their skills and capital to strongly suggests that this tradition is ly a relative. Archibald MacKay was the young colony. Unfortunately, we inaccurate, for it clearly states that the sponsored by his brother Neill, who can only speculate until more evidence passengers were bound for St. John's was travelling with one other person in is found. Island. Moreover, the list records that his group, likely his wife, and Hector Hugh Montgomery had paid for his MacShenaig was sponsored by this own family's fare in Kintyre, and had father. Although Hector's father was Conclusion arranged to pay the balance of Neill not aboard the Edinburgh, there is a Montgomery's, on St. John's Island. good possibility that Hector was relat- There are a great many questions sur- No other destination is mentioned in ed to Hugh Montgomery's wife, Maty, rounding the early emigrations from the passenger list. On the other hand, who was also a MacShenaig.*** Argyll to Malpeque. Some of them will the story should not be dismissed The passengers paid anywhere never be fully resolved. But by supply- lightly. Its popularity and plausibility from £3.10 (the average fare for a sin- ing us with names and concrete infor- may indicate that the facts surround- gle passage at that time) to £24.10, mation, the passenger list for the ing another emigration from this peri- depending on the size of their party. Edinburgh has already provided us od have simply re-attached themselves Of the 61 passengers for whom the with some new answers. It has also to what became a famous lineage. details are available, the vast majority, increased our understanding of the 46 — including 11 Stewarts — paid general pattern of emigration to Prince their full passage. In the case of the Edward Island in the late 18th century. The Nature of Emigration Stewarts, all payment seems to have At the same time, the passenger list been handled by Peter, who had made demonstrates the importance of oral The passenger list also gives valuable the arrangements for the vessel. Two and literary historical sources, even as insights into the more general aspects groups, accounting for a total of five it highlights that both may be inaccu- of emigration from Kintyre at this passengers, paid partial passage with rate and should be handled carefully. time. It demonstrates that the settlers the balance payable in St. John's Above all, "reading" the passenger list tended to be in family groups, which Island. The payment entry for Dugald emphasizes that it is the combination was typical of Highland emigration, Campbell appears to state "in part of sources that ultimately reveals a but less usual of emigration from other Pse." ("in part Passage"?), and this, more complete picture of our past. areas during this period. Of the 61 coupled with his total fare of £3 for That being said, it will only be after documented passengers, only 9 pas- himself and one passenger, most likely local historians integrate this new sengers are listed as travelling singly, his wife, might indicate that Campbell material into the existing framework of and of those, only 6 have no immedi- was a sailor who was given a reduced community and family histories that its ately obvious familial connections with fare in exchange for working as a full potential will begin to be realized. the other passengers. Some of the lat- crewman during the crossing. ter have other connections to their fel- Of the remaining 12 passengers for low emigrants. More MacKay* was whom documentation is available, 11 Sources indentured (presumably as a maid to were sponsored by the Stewarts and Mrs. Robert Stewart, whom she imme- one, More MacKay, was an indentured The passenger list for the Edinburgh diately precedes in the list); Joseph was filed in the Scottish Record Office MacLean, Jonathan MacLarty, and Mr. **The name is difficult to decipher but appears as SRO: SC 54/2/106. A great deal of Craig had their passage sponsored by to be "Proot. Stewart," possibly a contraction for the credit for recognizing its signifi- "Provost," the position held by Peter Stewart, cance must be given to my friend who had chartered the vessel. Hugh Hagan, who is Scottish Record *"More" is probably an anglicisation of the Gaelic Office Archivist and a researcher at name "Mor," which is sometimes given in transla- ***The O'Senogs were one of the families of the University of Edinburgh, mi tion as "Marion," although it bears no actual rela- hereditary harpers in Kintyre who had been tionship. Several of the MacKays on this list also granted lands by the MacDonald Lords of the suggest a Gaelic cultural orientation, because of Isles for their services. Although still known col- the use of nicknames. These names, such as loquially in Kintyre as "Shenogs," their name, "Sailor" and 'Tailor," may relate specifically to the like many from Kintyre, has appeared in a large individual or be derived from a more general fami- number of forms over the last 500 years, such as ly nickname. In Gaelic-speaking areas, surnames McMaschenach, McCosenach, McShinnocht, are rarely used and these more usefully descrip- Mclschanoch, McCochennan, MacShenaig, tive nicknames frequently take their place. MacShannon, and Shannon.

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