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HUGH "BAN" MacEACHERN

Allan J. Gillis, 2004

HUGH "BAN" MacEACHERN ( -1804) of Kinlochmoidart and his wife MARY MacDONALD, along with six of their eight children, left Scotland for the Island of St. John (now P.E.I.) in May of 1772. They sailed on the brig Alexander which had been hired from John Buchanan & Co. of Greenock by Captain John MacDonald of Glenaladale to transport 214 settlers to their new home across the Atlantic. The MacEacherns left one son, Angus Bernard, behind as he was to begin his studies for the priesthood at a small local seminary that fall. After a journey of roughly six weeks the Alexander reached Charlottetown Harbour around June 25, 1772. From there the colonists proceeded up the river to Scotchfort.

The six MacEachern siblings who sailed on the Alexander were: I. EWAN, II. JOHN, III. DONALD, IV. CATHERINE, V. MARY and VI. ANNE. Of VII. ANGUS BERNARD and VIII. MARGARET, more later. The MacEacherns settled first on Captain John MacDonald�s Lot 36 in Queens County but later, along with some of their fellow Scots, moved east to Savage Harbour on Lot 38 in Kings County. Hugh "BBn" died in 1804 and is buried in the Roman Catholic cemetery at Glenroy, PEI.

The P.E.I. census of 1798 shows the following grouping of MacEacherns on Lot 38.

Abbreviations used:

I have yet to place his nephews Angus (Aeneas) and Patrick MacEachern. Thanks to Robert Pierce of PEI, I was able to place Isabella (MacEachern) Gillis in the proper spot.

WILL OF HUGH "BAN" MacEACHERN, SAVAGE HARBOUR, P.E.I.

Island of Prince Edward Decr the 31^st 1800-

In the name of God, Amen, I Hugh MacEacharn of savage Harbor Prince Edward Island North America Yeoman, being sick and weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God, calling into mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hand of Almighty God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth, to be buried in decent Christian burial, at the discretion of my executors: nothing doubting but at the general resurrection, I shall receive the same again, by the mighty power of God.

And as touching with such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

First, after my just debts are paid I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved wife Mary one third of my personal property forever, and one third of my real property during her natural life time.

Secondly, I give to my beloved son Angus MacEacharn, whom I likewise constitute, make and ordain the sole executor of this my last will and testament all that piece or parcel of land at said Savage Harbor commonly known as Big-field or Dail mhor and the adjacent tract bounded on the east by the division line between my lands and those of my grand children the orphans of my deceased son Donald MacEacharn and on the south west by Savage Harbor Bay untill the two lines meet at the Spring below my son Hugh MacEacharn�s house.

Thirdly I leave and bequeath unto my two sons Hugh and John MacEacharn the rest of my lands at said Savage Harbor to be divided between themselves with equity with the interference of any excess [?] for the said Angus MacEacharn my son.

Fourthly I bequeath unto my grandson John MacDonald three cows out of my personal property. And I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every former testaments wills legacies bequests, and executors by me in any ways before named and bequeathed and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.

In witness whereof I have herewith set my hand and seal this thirty first day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred. Signed, sealed, published, pronounced, and declared by the said Hugh MacEacharn as his last will and testament in the presence of us, who in his presence, and in the presence of each other have hereto subscribed our names his

Hugh McEacharn X

mark

F. Dingwell [?]

John McKay

Robert McKinis [sic]

N.B. The above will has been explained in Galic verbatim to the Testator before us.

Robert McKinis [my gt.-gt.-gt.-grandfather, Robert MacInnis "Clachair": AJG] John McKay

[This is the father of Bishop Angus Bernard MacEachern, first Bishop of Charlottetown. Robert MacInnes "Clachair"was married to Hugh�s daughter Mary. Is this John MacKay the same John MacKay who was a stepbrother of Neil MacDougall of Judique Intervale? If so, both of these men settled in Judique.]

Transcribed by Allan J. Gillis, Ottawa

WILL OF BISHOP ANGUS BERNARD MacEACHERN

In the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen.

I, Aeneas Bernard MacEachern Bishop of Charlotte Town Prince Edward Island British North America considering the uncertainty of this transient life do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following

1. I order that when it will please God to call my soul to himself my body be interred along side of the Remains of my dear Nephew the Revd Aeneas MacEachern Acolite at St. Andrew�s in a decent manner.

2. I leave in Trust to Angus MacEachern Duncan Currie and Allan MacEachern of Tuidnuge East Arm, Bras d� Or Lakes, Cape Breton two hundred acres of land at said Tuidnuge granted in my name for which Land the Inhabitants said East Arm paid sixty pounds currency to be occupied by such a clergyman as the Right

Revd. Doctor Wm. Fraser will be pleased to establish, and keep in the service of said Mission, as well as for a school that the said Doctor Fraser and successors in office may think to set up on the said premises. I also leave at the disposal of the aforesaid Rt. Revd Doctor Fraser an Island at the Narrows called and known by the name of Christmas Island for the use of the clergyman whom the said Doctor Fraser may employ at said Narrows, Bras d�Or Lakes, Cape Breton.

3. I leave and bequeath unto my beloved Nephew Eugene MacEachern now studying in the Urban College Rome five hundred acres of land of which I have a Grant, situated on Lewis Basque�s Cove near the Indian Chapel Cape Breton, in order to enable him the said Eugene MacEachern to educate in part by means of what Rent or Rents he may receive from such land some such student as he may fix his eye on.

4. I leave for the use of the clergyman whom my successor may appoint for the Mission of east Point Lot No. Forty seven (47) of this Island, one hundred acres of land, on which a Chapel and Glebe house are built, as well as for a school which may be established on said hundred acres of land.

(1^st page) Aeneas Bernard MacEachern Bishop of Charlotte Town

5. I leave to John MacEachern son of my late brother Donald MacEachern ninety acres of lands on Lot No. Forty six (46) which lands are now in his possession on the following terms, ie He shall not, neither shall his children have power to dispose of said ninety acres of land to any one out of their own family, neither said land be subject to any debt, that he John MacEachern may contract nor to any debt that his Heirs may contract. For which tract of ninety acres beginning at a Post 20 chains west of the the Division line of Lots 47, and 46. he the said John MacEachern will annually pay or cause to be paid on or before the seventeenth day of March yearly Fifty shillings currency in good wheat at the market price to my aforesaid Nephew Eugene MacEachern now in Rome.

6. I leave to my Nephew Benjamin MacEachern ninety acres nine chains wide adjoining the lands in the occupation of his cousin John MacEachern as aforesaid. Also to the said Benjamin MacEachern son of my late brother Hugh MacEachern another tract of land say two hundred, and from ten to twenty acres of land west of the lands in the occupation of my Nephew Donald BBn MacEachern, for which he the said Benjamin MacEachern will account, with his brother the above mentioned Eugene MacEachern for the purpose of raising any person whom he may think fit in education. I moreover transfer to the aforesaid Benjamin MacEachern one hundred and fifty acres which I held under lease from the late John Cambridge formerly of this Island between his own last mentioned land and John MacDonald�s west of said 150 acres of land lot 46 for which land he Benjamin MacEachern shall pay, annually to the Heirs or Representatives of the aforesaid John Cambridge Five pounds sterling money together with His Majesty�s Quit Rents.

7. I leave unto the use of the Mission of St. Margaret�s twenty acres of land which I hold of the late John Cambridge, together with ten acres bestowed on me by Allan MacDonald Gernis now in U. Canada, with this proviso that as long as John Gillis and my Niece Isabella Gillis of Hay River lease to hold said tract on halves they may have it.

(2^nd page) Aeneas Bernard MacEachern Bishop of Charlotte Town

8. Whereas my brother John MacEachern has broke through his agreement with me respecting his claim on one hundred acres of land occupied by my late Father Hugh MacEachern Senr and has occupied that part of said land called the High farm, and by so doing has abandoned his son Donald (BBn) MacEachern, to whom I was to let one hundred acres on Lot 46 if the said John MacEachern his Father would quit all claims to our Father�s lands, (of the purchase money of which my late brother Hugh MacEachern and myself paid above one half). But things having taken a turn from the non performance on the part of the said John MacEachern my brother I am not disposed to let Donald (BBn) MacEachern have any claim or right whatsoever to the land on which he now lives. But leave it that is to say one hundred acres to my above named Eugene MacEachern for the same purpose as before mentioned. Yet I leave and bequeath to the said Donald Ban MacEachern the value of ten pounds currcy in cattle. His cousin Eugene MacEachern may settle with him as he may think fit.

9. I leave and bequeath to my sister-in-law Mary MacEachern Relick of my late brother Hugh MacEachern the use of one end of my stone house, at Savage Harbor, if she chooses to live in it, during her natural life time, together with one third of the proceeds of what crops of all kinds may be raised on the plot of Ground willed to me by my late Father at said Savage Harbor, and after her death to my above mentioned Nephew Eugene MacEachern, so as to prevent any person from having it in his power to dispose of it, or sell said land, and house. He Eugene MacEachern may settle with his brother as he may please.

10. I allow my Nephew Donald MacEachern senr son of my late brother Hugh MacEachern together with his bothers Joseph and Donald MacEachern junr the use, and occupation of a tract of land which I own due south joining lands purchased by my late brother Donald MacEachern from the houses of my Nephews children of the late Patrick MacEachern 12 chains broad, and running on parrallel lines south untill it includes my swamp to the old Road

(3^rd page) Aeneas Bernard MacEachern Bishop of Charlotte Town

Savage Harbor Mill Creek, and bounded on the East by lands in the possession of the late John MacEacherns children; also a tract of wooded land which I own north and west of land occupied by the late Allan MacDougal, & MacEacherns of Savage Harbor. But not to be disposed of or alienated by any means.

11. As to seven hundred acres which I own at Ceann a Bhaidh Lot No. Thirty eight (38) I leave that at the disposition of my aforesaid Nephew Eugene MacEachern to be leased by him on easy terms to his brothers Donald and Joseph MacEachern, and to my brother John MacEachern of Ceann a Bhaidh, who has no claim whatsoever on me, as far as lands are concerned, one hundred acres on which he now lives for such a rent as the above said Eugene MacEachern may think proper.

12. I leave two lots of land which I own on Lots 49 and Fifty on one of which a chapel is built, the other 4 acres two of which are out of the late John MacDonald�s land, and the other two acres joining the former two acres, out of the late John Haley�s land on Lot Forty nine, for the use of the clergyman at Vernon River.

13. I leave and bequeath to my Niece Isabella Gillis all the Marsh which I own on Lot No. Thirty seven.

14. As an explanation my brother the aforesaid John MacEachern will cut that piece of marsh hay annually, which he these two years past has cut between his own house and the Creek. But at no time whatsoever shall the said hundred acres and marsh in the possession or occupation of him the said John MacEachern my brother, be liable to any debt that he has contracted, //////////.// prior to the date of this my last Will and Testament or hereafter by securities or Bonds, or any other ways of contracting debt. For it is my will that no part or parts of any lands belonging to me be liable to any debts except those due to His Majesty or due to any of whom I hold lands.

15. I leave and bequeath unto my aforesaid Niece Isabella Gillis one hundred acres of land which I bought of Mr. Irving of Charlottetown on Lot No. (45) Forty five fronting on the S. Sea commonly called the channel with this exception that when the line shall be run between Lots Forty six and ///// No. Forty five (46 & 45) and the

(4^th page) Aeneas Bernard MacEachern Bishop of Charlotte Town

the road changed above the Hollows west of Donald MacPhee�s house near the supposed line between Lots 45 and 46, she the aforesaid Isabella Gillis will allow twenty acres free of all expences to the Inhabitants from Sourrie to the West River for a chapel, and Glebe house grounds, above the aforesaid Road when altered, so as to have eight chains front on the East side of my aforesaid hundred acres of land, which is in all ten chains front on the shore and on hundred ///// chains on paralell lines to the rear. Also my beds and blankets at St. Margaret�s (at said St. Margaret�s) with my furniture.

16. I leave and bequeath my big mare called gealachas to my beloved Nephew Benjamin MacEachern together with two oxen rising five years and two cows, such as his mother may think fit for his use.

17. I leave and bequeath to my sister-in-law Mary MacEachern in some recompense for her attachment to my interest, and her arduous task of managing the affairs of this house, my young black mare called Moina with all my sheep and two cows, together with half of all the beds and bedding belonging to me in this house: the rest of which Bed clothing she will dispose of to my sister Margaret MacIntyre, and others.

18. I order that all my Chests of drawers be carried to my new house at the Place called after this, Kingearloch, instead of Ceann a Bhaidh. also all the articles of silver in this house, and household furniture, of all sorts, to be delivered to my Nephew Eugene MacEachern, when it will please God to send him back to this Island.

19. I leave the use of my brown, rising four year old, horse called Harme to my beloved Nephew Donald MacEachern Junior, which horse he is not to swap or change with any person, or dispose of as the horse will belong to the farm on which he Donald MacEachern lives.

20. I leave on this Farm of St. Andrew�s a horse called Bob for the use of the farm, but not to be drove by the students, on their private business, also two milch cows, and two breeding swine.

(5^th page) Aeneas Bernard MacEachern Bishop of Charlottetown

21. I leave and bequeath to my loving Nephew Benjamin MacEachern all my tools for Carpenter�s work or otherwise save and except such as may be requisite for the house and Farm of Kingearloch, such as carts, harrows, forks, ploughs, and sleighs, with a crow Bar, hoes, and spades.

22. And whereas I owe this seventh day of March 1835 twenty five Pounds currency to Mr. Irving of Charlottetown of the purchase money of the hundred acres of land, which I bought of him, I order, in case I do not pay him myself, to have said balance paid to him out of my property, which being done my said hundred acres of land on Lot No. Forty five (45) will remain clear of all demands, except the King�s Quit Rents when demanded. said Lot of 100 acres is bounded on the East by 200 acres bought by Mr. Pleace formerly of this Island from the Division line between Lots 46 and 45.

23. It is my unalterable intention and resolution that no part of my landed property be sold, or leased out of my own family, and that any bargains made by any of those to whom I will the use, or usus fructus,, of any parcel or spot of said lands shall be null, and void, when alienated out of my family.

24. Whereas all the Vestments, altar linens, chalices, Missals (except a large one), oil stocks, Pixis, and Tabernacle in this chapel of St. Andrew�s are my own private property I ///// leave them, and all my Albs etc. at the disposal of my above mentioned Nephew Eugene MacEachern, now in Rome.

25. I leave for the use of Joseph MacEachern son of my late brother Hugh MacEachern that piece of land on which he now lives, from the line of the lands in the occupation of my brother John MacEachern his neighbour on the west side, to the spring below said Joseph�s house and thence to run on a straight line, /// two chains East of the said Joseph MacEachern�s byers, and having continued two chains past the said byers or stables to run then South fifteen degrees West untill it reaches the rear of my aforesaid lands of seven hundred acres.

(6^th page) Aeneas Bernard MacEachern Bishop of Charlotte Town

26. I leave and bequeath the use, and usus fructus of a tract of land adjoining and being East of the aforesaid line running as specified from the spring to within two chains of Joseph MacEachern�s stables, and then continuing on the said afoesaid variation untill one hundred acres are completed, to my Nephew Donald MacEachern Junior. But leave no power to him the aforesaid Donald MacEachern, or his brother Joseph MacEachern, any power to dispose sell or lease any part or parts in above two tracts of land.

27. I leave unto the said Donald MacEachern Junr and Joseph MacEachern, and to their mother my sister-in-law Mary MacEachern the use of all the Marsh from John MacEachern my brother�s marsh unto // the line of Allan MacIntyre�s lands west of said Marsh, in equal shares. But no way to be alienated or disposed of. I also leave to the said Donald MacEachern Junr and to Joseph MacEachern the use of the cows belonging to me on the(ir) premises on which the said Donald and Joseph MacEachern live, In that Tract of Marsh is comprised Island mor and Island beg marshes.

28. I leave and bequeath to my little Nephews sons of my late Nephew Patrick MacEachern the use of that part of my lands due south, and adjoining the lands of my late Brother Donald MacEachern on which they have built, and improved, as far as said improvements have prior to this date been carried on, and then thirty feet for a Road south of their improvements, and adjoining them from the west line of lands held and owned by my Brother John MacEachern to the east line of the High Farm so as to have a road for all parties from Scotch Savage Harbor, to Savage Harbor Run: But at the same time they the said sons of my late Nephew Patrick MacEachern must keep a road of the same width to the Big Spring in or nearly so of the house in which they now live, so as to have a communication without interruption with the shore of Savage Harbor Bay.

(7^th page) Aeneas Bernard MacEachern Bishop of Charlotte Town

29. I leave and bequeath to my Nephew Eugene MacEachern now in Rome all my Mathematical instruments, Thedolite, Gold Crop, Watch and silver seal, to be kept at Kingearloch house untill he may call for them which house and all my furniture of all description will be at his disposal including an eight day Clock in said house, and other articles, all my Books in different languages.

[sic]

***********

NOTES:Added by Allan J. Gillis, 2004

Bishop Angus Bernard MacEachern (Feb. 8, 1759-Apr. 22, 1835), b. Kinlochmoidart, Scotland; s/o Mary MacDonald and Hugh "BBn" MacEachern. Missionary priest for P.E.I., Cape Breton, much of eastern Nova Scotia and parts of New Brunswick; first Bishop of Charlottetown.

2. "Tuidnuge": today called "Tweednoodge", from the Mi�kmaq "Tewitnochk". The whole area is now East Bay.

Angus MacEachern (Aonghas mac Dhbmhnaill, �ic Ailein, �ic Aonghais, �ic Alasdair) was a native of South Uist who emigrated to P.E.I. He moved from there to North Side East Bay in Cape Breton in the year 1814. (see: WEB, p.299)

Allan MacEachern, a brother of Angus above.

Duncan Currie, possibly the Duncan Currie (WEB, p.36) or the elusive Duncan Currie mentioned on p. 58 of the same volume.

"Doctor William Fraser": Rev. William Fraser (1779-Oct. 4, 1851), First Bishop of Arichat (now the Diocese of Antigonish), a native of Craskie, Strathglass, Scotland.

3. Eugene MacEachern, student at the Urban College, Rome, in 1835. Ordained in Rome; died at sea on his voyage from Rome to Philadelphia. The principal heir of his uncle, Bishop MacEachern, he died intestate.

6. Hugh (Ebghann/Ewen) MacEachern, brother of Bishop Angus Bernard, came out to P.E.I. with his parents on the Alexander in 1772. He was one of the petitioners for land at Judique in 1789. He settled for some time at Indian Point, Judique North, but later sold his land to the MacDonnells and MacDonalds and returned to P.E.I.

7. Allan MacDonald Gernis: Allan MacDonald "Geirinish"; Geirinish is a hamlet in South Uist, Scotland. It appears this Allan MacDonald left P.E.I. for Upper Canada (now Ontario). There is a Gernish Street in Alexandria, ON.

11. Ceann a Bhaidh: Ceann a BhBigh (Head of the Bay)

15. Sourrie: Souris

16. Gealachas: Whitey? Perhaps from "gealachd" (whiteness)?

18. Kingearloch: Ceann GeBrr-loch (Kingairloch), his new name for Ceann a BhBigh. This was not the first time that Angus Bernard MacEachern wished to have this name applied to a MacEachern property. According to the late Colin S. MacDonald of Kingston, ON, ..., Bishop Angus B. MacEacharn of Prince Edward Island, when applying for a grant of 500 acres at "Laugh at the Yankees" (Louis Cove, Cape Breton), asked that it be named "Kingairloch". The explanation probably is that his forbears had been MacLeans of Kingairloch, Morven, Argyle, who for some reason had gone to Kinlochmoidart. The MacLeans of Kingairloch were known as "Siol Eachuinn."[sic] Also, the late Dr. Alasdair MacLean of Raasay and South Uist put forth a very reasoned argument that the South Uist MacEachens were of the same stock. See article #3 above.

20. "students": Bishop MacEachern had turned his house at St. Andrew�s into a "college" for the basic training of youths who felt they had a vocation for the priesthood. They would finish their ecclesiastical training in Quebec, Rome or elsewhere. His nephews Angus (Aeneas) and Eugene would have been two of these.

24. "pixis": pyxes, containers used to hold the reserved sacrament on the altar or to carry the Holy Eucharist to the sick.

27. "Island mor and Island beg": Eilean Mor agus Eilean Beag (Big Island and Little Island)

28. "little nephews": grand-nephews

29 "Thedolite": theodolite, a surveyor�s instrument for measuring horizontal and vertical angles

Sources:

CEN= A History of the Catholic Church in Eastern Nova Scotia, Rev. A. A. Johnston, Antigonish, 1960

CPE= The Early History of the Catholic Church in Prince Edward Island, Rev. John C. MacMillan, Quebec, 1905

HIC= History of Inverness County, John L. MacDougall, Truro, 1922

MJI= The MacDougalls of Judique Intervale, Allan J. Gillis, Ottawa, ms.

MP= Mabou Pioneers, A. D. MacDonald, privately printed, ca. 1952

MPII= Mabou Pioneer II, Reg Rankin et al, Mabou, 1977

The Scottish Catholics in Prince Edward Island, Memorial Committee, Charlottetown, 1922

WEB= A West Wind to East Bay, Allan J. MacMillan, Sydney, 2001

West Highland Emigrants in Eastern Nova Scotia, a paper by Colin S. MacDonald of Kingston, ON, read before the Nova Scotia Historical Society by Dr. H. L. Scammell, Nov. 7^th, 1958