John MacIsaac (Òg) (Eigg Mountain Settlement History)  (Map Location)

 

The site is west of Rory’s Lake north of the stream that once flowed out of the lake to the Northumberland Strait before the “Moat” was created to divert water to Antigonish.  According to the Teasdales, the pioneer at this site was Young John MacIsaac (aka “òg,” Gaelic for “young”).  He had sons Rory (of Rory’s Lake) and Donald.  Johnny Donald MacIsaac (i.e. son of Donald) would be Young John’s grandson (pictured in the photograph with two horses).  He is the ‘J. MacIsaac’ indicated on the Church Map of 1879.  (“John MacIsaac, brother to my great great grandfather, J stands for John on the Church map.”)  This is inconsistent with Rev. MacGillivray who reports that the two sons of Young John (Rory and Donald) were living on the old homestead in 1890-92 (MacLean, et al., 113).  Rory MacIsaac is listed in the 1891 and 1901 censuses (presumably having taken over the farm by 1891).  Rankin (299) also claims that Lauchlin and Young John “remained at Maple Ridge.”  [Perhaps Johnny Donald was the first to build on this site and is the one listed on the Church Map?]  Lame Angus’ niece (in one of the photos) was born at this site.  Her great grandfather and father farmed this site.  (Kenton and Charlie Teasdale, Interview, Eigg Mountain, October 16, 2004.)

 

I searched the site on November 9, 2005 and found no evidence of the house; however I did find what might have been the site of the barn as well as some rock plies, one of which is enormous.

 

 

Reference List

 

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

Rankin, Duncan Joseph. A History of the County of Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Toronto: Macmillan Co. of Canada, 1929.