MacGillivray_John(Andrew’s Son) – (Eigg Mountain Settlement History)

John MacGillivray was born about 1795 the son of Andrew and Janet MacDonald MacGillivray. He married Catherine Smith and they had at least 7 children – we know of six – Ronald, John, Charles, Flora, Alexander and Angus. Two of the children became priests.

In the 1838 census John and Catherine have two boys under 6 years of age, 2 girls under 6 years of age, 2 boys between 6 and 14 years of age and a girl between 6 and 14 years of age. Their farm had 50 acres cultivated and 50 acres as “wilderness” land. They had 10 cattle, a horse, 7 sheep and 4 pigs.

In 1871 their farm of 100 acres was owned and they had 60 acres developed and 20 acres in pasture. They grew spring wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, flax seed and flax. The farm had 3 horses, 6 milk cows, 8 horned cattle, 20 sheep and a pig. The farm produced butter, cheese, wool and homemade cloth and they had cut 15 cords of firewood the previous year and had harvested 10 spruce logs.

They had a house, 2 barns, a plow, a carriage/sleigh and 2 wagons/sleds.

John MacGillivray died June 26, 1872 of a “liver complaint”.