Barnabas McGee & Nancy Carroll of Merigomish, Nova Scotia, Canada
Move to Canada, to Pictou, Nova Scotia
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| Eastern Canada today |
The map above of Eastern Canada will give you an idea where Nova Scotia is relative to other provinces of E. Canada.
The settlement they left for had been nicknamed Pictou "New Scotland" for the many settlers of Scottish descent.
Once there, Barnabas was awarded a large grant of land at Roger's Hill in Pictou. However, Rogers Hill is a good way from the seacoast.
Where is Pictou?
Today Pictou is a town in Pictou County, Nova Scotia. That may not be particularly enlightening. You may know of or visited Halifax, Nova Scotia, the capital of the Province of Nova Scotia. The map below shows Pictou's location relative to Halifax.
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| Province of Nova Scotia. Halifax in south, Pictou to north/east. |
First White Settlers of Merigomish, Nova Scotia, Canada
But Barnabas was not content with his location on Rogers Hill. Though he had a good amount of land, I would guess he -or they-wanted to be nearer the shore. And in the fall of 1776 or the spring of 1777 he moved to Merigomish, NS, and settled not far from the shore, but on the eastern side of a river. Oh happy day!
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| Merigomish Train Depot 1900s |
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| Shore Rd, Merigomish, NS |
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| Turn off to Barneys Road in Merigomish, NS |
Yes, the McGees now had land near the shore. And while Barnabas McGee and Nancy Carroll were officially the first white settlers of Merigomish which comes with its own bit of wondefulness, but it could be a bit lonely.
Barnaby's River, Merigomish - The river they settled by was later called Barney's River after Barnabas, some time around or after his death.
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From The History of Barneys
River—Early Days in East Pictou by HH Bruce for the Eastern Chronicle. 18
September 1886
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| From the book, Place Names of Nova Scotia |
Barnabas and Nancy had four* more children, and they were the first white settlers born in the area.
Work and Staying Fed
Barnabas (“Barney”) was said to be a cooper by trade (cooper makes barrels, casks and the like). He would likely have searched the northern forests for oak.
Eventually however, he (possibly for financial reasons?) turned to shipbuilding and fishing.
"A record from September 1788 says that he sold a good shallop [sloop] 'Nancy' about twenty-two tons, to Hugh Denoon of Merigomish, trader, for the sum of 45 pounds."
Also, there are many records of sales of land by Barnabas McGee. One record of him says that he:
"is still remembered for his hospitality to strangers and travellers."
Two Deaths & the Widow
Barney McGee and his son, Barnabas, set out one fall to sail to Newfoundland but never arrived.
They were shipwrecked and drowned. Their bodies weren't found until spring -- on the shore of nearby Cape Breton.
His widow Nancy was then on her own. And she made a name for herself.
She always ministered to the medical needs of her neighbors. For example, there is one record where she removed frozen fingers from the survivors of a ship wreck.
Nancy was often called upon to help out at the most inconvenient times.
When there was too much snow, she'd don snowshoes to facilitate her trek to help those in need.
Land Granted to the Widow McGee
Nancy was given a grant of 500 acres of land for her "public services" (I'm not sure what that means). She sold the land for 250 pounds.
Barnabas McGee Facts
* Born in County Ulster, N. Ireland
* Emigrated to PA
* Married Ann (AKA Nancy) Carroll of London, England
* Moved to Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada 1767/1768
and received a land grant on Rogers Hill in Pictou.
* Remained there for almost a decade.
* Moved in 1776 to become the first white family settled in Merigomish, Nova Scotia
* Death by drowning (he and son Barnabas)
Family
They had five children, including but not limited to Barnabas McGee and Polly McGee, as well as my husband’s 4th gr-grandfather, Charles McGee
Charles M McGee
B 24 Nov 1778 Merigomish,Pictou Co, Nova Scotia, Canada D. 28 Sep 1876 Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada
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