McMullen(in) Families of Halifax and Colchester Counties, Nova Scotia Prepared by Douglas Goff, 7748 Wellington Rd. 22, Guelph, ON N1H 6J2 Canada goff.doug at gmail.com www.gofffamilyhistory.ca Updated June 8, 20211 Archibald McMullen of Antrim, Ireland settled Antrim, Halifax Co., Nova Scotia, in 1821. Many of his descendants stayed in the Musquodoboit Valley, at least for a generation or two, except for son Hugh, who settled in Truro, Colchester County. John McMullen, also of Ireland, settled in Upper Stewiacke, Colchester County, in 1824. There is no direct evidence to link them, but they were of similar age and anecdotally there is indirect evidence to link them, perhaps as brothers. Due to the proximity of settlement, their descendants can be easily confused within South and Central Colchester Co., East Hants Co. and Northeast Halifax Co. records. I have researched the Archibald McMullen family to a much greater extent. In this report, I have kept the two families separated (John McMullen family starts on p. 276), and also indexed separately (Archibald McMullen family index starts on p. 235 and John McMullen family index starts on p. 298). Many sources have been used in the production of this report. The biography and descendants of Archibald McMullen have been documented by Carol McRobb, Terrace, BC, 1990 (Sixth generation, #312), and we have had many discussions since then. Her research into and account of Archibald is very thorough, as is her account of son Hugh, and his son Alexander Joseph, from whom she descends. I have borrowed heavily from her research in this account, and I gratefully acknowledge her efforts. Subsequently, new information became available from the family bible of William Joseph and Elizabeth (Fox) McMullin, courtesy of Marion (Frame) Piers of Gays River (d/o #222). The biography and descendants of Thomas Gotobed McMullen, another son of Hugh, are also well known, as T.G., and later his sons, became well-known and successful businessmen in Truro and in Alberta/B.C. Some of his descendants are still in Truro. I have added extensively to the other McMullen families, from primary records- census, grave markers, b.m.d. records (Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics), etc., and also much correspondence with various descendants. I must point out early on that in many records, the spellings of McMullen and McMullin have been used interchangeably within families. I have tried to maintain the spellings as recorded, but generally find there to be no logical distinction amongst the spelling usage. Undoubtedly, many errors remain. I produce this report, therefore, not as a complete document (no genealogy is ever complete), but I hope it will provide useful information to researchers in the future. I am more than interested in any corrctions or additions at any time. The author, Douglas Goff (Seventh generation, son of #278) is the 2-great grandson of Rachel (McMullin) McDougall, #21. Note: a few abbreviations used – NSHVS – the Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics, www.novascotiagenealogy.com; NEHGS – the New England Historical Genealogical Society; PW – Presbyterian Witness, as recorded in Punch, Terrance, Nova Sotia Vital Statistics from Newspapers. 1 Several additions and a complete renumbering to remove inconsistencies from the previous revision. Page 1 McMullen Families of Halifax and Colchester Counties The Descendants of Archibald McMullen of Antrim, Halifax Co., NS2 First Generation -------------------------------------------------- 1. Archibald McMullen. Born in 1780 in Antrim, Ireland. Archibald died in Antrim, Nova Scotia, on 16 Nov 1841; he was 61. Buried in Pioneer Cemetery, Middle Musquodoboit. This work is a combined effort. The biography and descendents of Archibald McMullen have been documented by Carol McRobb, Terrace, BC, 1990. Her research into and account of Archibald is very thorough, as is her account of son Hugh, and his son Alexander Joseph, from whom she descends. I have borrowed heavily from her research in this account, and I gratefully acknowledge her efforts. The biography and descendents of Thomas Gotobed McMullen, another son of Hugh, are also well known, as T.G., and later his sons, became well known and successful businessmen in Truro and in Alberta. Many of his descendents are still in Truro. Marion (Frame) Piers of Gay’s River has the bible of William Joseph McMullin and Elizabeth Fox, her great grandparents, and it provided much information on the first 3-4 generations (see below). I have added extensively to the other McMullen families, from primary records- census, grave markers, b.m.d. records (Nova Scotia Historical Vital Statistics), etc., and also much correspondence with various descendents. Archibald McMullen’s origin is described as Irish, from Antrim. The McMullen’s were not, however, Irish, at least not for many generations. They were of the Scots-Irish. It was Queen Elizabeth I who tried to bring Ulster, a Gaelic and Catholic stronghold, more firmly under English control, and to do so by transplanting numerous English families to Ulster lands. James I renewed this plan in 1640, with the tranplantation of Scots to Ireland. These Scots, however, never integrated and were continually in religious and political persecution and strife. Many emigrated to the US, and never fully integrated there, either, being unaccepted by the Americans. Thus the Scots-Irish in both New England and in Ulster were easy targets for British recolonization of Nova Scotia after the Expulsion of the Acadians, and numerous Scots-Irish families arrived in the 1770’s, 1780’s, and 1790’s. Archibald McMullen’s first land petition, dated Aug. 22, 1821, stated that he was born and brought up in the North of Ireland and had just arrived from Ireland with a wife and five sons, the eldest nearly 20 years of age, for the purposes of seeking Crown Land to settle upon. On this petition, James Knowland, Chairman of the Nova Scotia District, noted “The petitioner Archibald McMullin (sic) is well recommended to me as having maintained for many years in his native country the character of a sober, honest, and industrious man and as such I take the liberty of recommending his application to his excellency for a grant of lands.” By Dec. 22, 1824, he had a house and 24 acres of his land cleared. He failed to apply for the land grant within the allotted period, so it expired and he had to reapply. He stated the reson for his delay as “he had not the means of paying the fees for the respective officer.” The 200 acre parcel became his by Nov., 1826. His first neighbours were Thomas Sargent and John Kerr. Some time prior to 1825 his first wife Rachel died. When he applied for Crown Land in 1821, he was “married”, but his wife’s name was not given. When he made out his will, 16 Sept. 1841, he was married to Mary. He left his farm and stock to her, and after her death, to his son Hugh. He named William Logan, Samuel Kerr and his son Alexander as executors. He died 16 Nov. 1841. He may have been buried on his own land or in the Pioneer Cemetery, Musquodoboit. 2 Indexed beginning on Page 235. Page 2 McMullen Families of Halifax and Colchester Counties Halifax County Land Grant Map No. 074, Crown Land Information Management Centre, https://novascotia.ca/natr/land/grantmap.asp I have highlighted Archibald McMullen’s land grant, as well as the Guysborough Road and the landmarks of Devon and Antrim. Wyse Corner and Lake Egmont also provide landmarks. The grant was on the Antrim Road north of the Guysborough Road. This can be seen on Google Maps today, https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Antrim,+NS/@44.9586336,- 63.4266245,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4b5bd67c89a20c65:0x35a533981d9ccc34!8m2!3d44.9639458!4d- 63.3521483?hl=en A document at the Colchester Historical Society archives (anonymous, undated), stated that Hugh McMullen (sic) was the son of Archibald McMullen of Antrim, Ireland. Hugh was born Aug. 17, 1812 in Antrim, Ireland and came to Nova Scotia when he was nine. The document further stated that Archibald d. Oct. 1847, at the age of 67 (b. 1780). However, from Carol McRobb, he died 1841, age 61, so the transcriber missed 1’s for 7’s. Another attached document listing births and deaths of the family of Hugh and Rebekah (which appears as though perhaps it was transcribed from a bible?) listed Archibald McMullen, died Oct. 11, 1841, aged 67 (note difference from above death year). It also lists Thomas Gotobed, Sarah Gotobed, as well as Hugh, Rebekah, and all their children, but interestingly, no wife of Archibald, suggesting Hugh’s mother may have died much before Archibald and the details had been forgotten. Although he was claimed to be “married” when he came to Nova Scotia, no record of his wife was found, but her name Rachel is mentioned in the records of marriage of their sons. Archibald remarried again in 1825 to Mary Thompson (Hugh was 13). In "History along the Old Guysborough Road", by N. E. Gray and A. A. (Blois) Smith, 1987, p. 62, it is stated that "The first school was built at the foot of Nuttle Hill (Antrim) in 1830. Both the school and the church were built on property owned by Archibald McMullen. Since 1830, three schools have been built on this site. The last school closed in 1965 and was sold to Ross McMullen, a great grandson of Archibald McMullen", although it seems like there were more intervening generations than four. Page 3 McMullen Families of Halifax and Colchester Counties The 1851 Nova Scotia census includes Alexander, Hugh, James, Joseph, and William McMullen (sic), all of Halifax County.