Big Archie MacDonald (b.? 1849-?. d. by 1878) (Eigg Mountain Settlement History)  (Map Location)

 

Rev. MacGillivray notes an Archie Mor MacDonald (“mor” means “big” and also “of high rank” in Gaelic; a better translation might be “great”), from Glenaladale, Scotland, as among the early settlers to Eigg Mountain  MacLean, et al., 113).  Big Archie built a cabin at this site near where Powers Brook crosses the Eigg Mountain Main Road, around 1849, then replaced that with a house in 1850-60.  He was beaten to death as the result of a feud.  The site is marked on the Church map of 1879 as “Mrs. McDonald,” presumably his widow. 

 

Archie's son James is listed as the head of the household in the 1891 census, and that is the name that appears on the online map. According to the Teasdales, the place was abandoned 1899-1900. 

 

Charlie and Kenton tell the story of his death as follows.  Big Archie was in Antigonish where he got into a fight with a neighbour (a MacMillan, probably the father Donald) from the Mountain.  Big Archie beat him “fair and square,” but Donald’s pride was wounded.  He and his son Alex left town early and hid in a tree overhanging the Connors Mountain Road which leads up to Eigg Mountain.  There they waited for Big Archie, and when his wagon passed below them leapt down and beat him nearly to death.  His daughter Margaret was in the wagon with him and she, hysterical with fear, ran to their home to get help.  Whatever help she got was too late – Archie died later of his injuries.  When she grew up, that daughter married Alex.  Perhaps she forgave him; perhaps she blamed the father, Donald. (Kenton and Charlie Teasdale, Antigonish, December 2, 2004).

 

The house site is at the edge of a former field overlooking the Power’s Brook gully.

 

 

There are two cellars on the site; the larger is 39 feet to the north of the smaller.  The foundation measures 26 ft. X 24 ft. with a cellar 16 ft. X 24 ft on the southwest side of the footprint.  The short side is oriented 130° (in other words southeast).

 

 

 

 

The above photo is of the east corner of the cellar looking southeast.  It may be a damaged set of stairs (in which case the building likely faced northwest or southwest toward the gully).  May 2, 2007.

 

 

The above photo is of the cellar looking southeast.  May 2, 2007.

 

 

The above photo was taken from within the cellar also looking southeast.  May 2, 2007.

 

 

Reference List

 

MacLean, R. A, et al. History of Antigonish. Antigonish, N.S: Casket Printing & Publishing Co, 1976.