MacIsaac_Stephen – (Eigg Mountain Settlement History)

Stephen MacIsaac was born about 1823 in Nova Scotia the son of John MacIsaac and Catherine (MacDonald) from Moidart. (See Rankin pages 296-297). He married Mary Campbell on February 28, 1855 and by 1871 had 5 children at home: Catherine (May 25, 1859), John D (1861), Hugh Angus (January 18, 1863), Donald (January 29, 1865) and William (November 9, 1867).  Stephen owned a 100 acre farm with 70 acres improved and 30 acres in pasture. In 1871 the farm had a horse, 4 milk cows, 8 horned cattle, 20 sheep and 3 pigs. They grew spring wheat, barley, oats and potatoes and had a one acre garden where they grew beans.

Stephen died at the age of 53 years on May 20, 1876 of consumption and was buried at Arisaig.

In the 1881 census the widow Mary was living on the farm with all four sons farming and daughter Catherine at home. In the 1891 census John MacIsaac was living alone. Not sure what happened to the others in the family.

John MacIsaac son of Stephen and Mary died at the age of 35 years in 1896 at Doctor’s Brook.