Elizabeth McGrath - Born in a Field of Heather

Over the years I have come to know a wonderful bunch of people who are dedicated to the search for their family roots.  They are generous and often come into your life at serendipitous moments when you need them most.  Such is the case with William T. Hill.  We are related in several different ways, but primarily our connection is as descendants of Donald Chisholm and Elizabeth McGrath of  Inverness, Scotland.  We reconnected this week over the Chisholm family history and one sentence in his work caught my attention.  It stated that the matriarch of the Nova Scotia Chisholms, Elizabeth Mc Grath was born in a field of heather on the battlefield at Culloden Moor on April 16, 1746.

Clan Chisholm Cairn at Culloden

What a romantic and dramatic start to a life that would prove extraordinary from beginning to end!  Elizabeth was the daughter of Alexander and Ann McGrath and grew up in the spectacular hill country around Glen Moriston that runs between Loch Ness and Loch Cluaine in the highlands of Scotland.  She would have thrilled to the tales of the Jacobite rebellion and the escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie right by her house to safety from the Butcher Cumberland.

In 1772, Elizabeth married Donald Chisholm of nearby Strathglass, son of John Daniel Chisholm of Culloden fame.  He and his clansmen stood shoulder to shoulder with their fellow Jacobites and suffered terrible casualties during that April battle.  Donald was a farmer and had his heart set of removing to North America where he had heard about the wonderful land available for the asking.

Sailing Ship Glasgow

In 1775 - on the brink of the American Revolution, Elizabeth, Donald and their little son, John climbed aboard the sailing ship "Glasgow" and headed out upon the waves towards New York.  Along with about 40 other young souls, they set out for a new land enduring a voyage in cramped, dirty quarters with poor quality food and primitive living conditions.  To make matters worse, on arrival in New York they were told they were not wanted unless they were willing to join the British sponsored 84th Regiment, Royal Highland Emigrants.  They were promised care and accommodation for their families (half rations for the women and 1/4 rations for the children)  for the duration of the war and free land in Nova Scotia when the war was over.

Sounding like a great solution, the families continued on to Halifax where the men began training, including the young boys of 11 years or so - who were to become drummer boys.

Soldier of the 84th Regiment
Royal Highland
Regiment

Elizabeth and her family went on to the Bay of Fundy region, where they were among the first farming families to settle in the area since the expulsion of the French.  They settled in an area they called Highland Village and while Donald took part in the Revolutionary War, Elizabeth began to build a new home.

At the wars end the land became their own, lush and bountiful in a place with equal beauty to her beloved highlands.  She had three sons, and finally a daughter, Polly who all prospered and produced families of their own.

Elizabeth died sometime after 1782 quietly leaving a life that started in a dramatic way and finished half way around the world with great challenges, great adventures and great achievements in between.  She was my 6th Great Grandmother.

The Thrilling Adventures of Captain James Hunter O'Brien and his wife Eva McDougall

Example of a 19th Century Barque

Eva McDougall was a woman with a keen sense of adventure.  As the youngest daughter of a family of  9, she had few responsibilities and was free to read and explore the red, rippled beaches along the Bay.  She was my 3rd cousin, twice removed, both of us descended from James Johnson and Elizabeth Patterson, early settlers in the Lower Village and Grantees of Truro Township on the Salmon River in Central Nova Scotia.  She grew up listening to the enthralling tales told by her father, Captain James McDougall of his life at sea.

James Hunter O'Brien was one of the many O'Briens' who originated in the Noel area of Hants County, Nova Scotia along the south side of the Bay of Fundy.  Born in 1853, he came from a long line of seafaring men who originated in Londonderry, Northern Ireland and came to Nova Scotia as part of the Ulster Scot migration of the 1760s.

James first went to sea at 14, and married Eva 10 years later in Boston.  As a young man, he served aboard the sailing vessel "Esther Roy" under Captain Thomas Roy of Nova Scotia.  On all  their voyages, the Captain's wife Jane travelled with them around the world. So when James became Captain of his own Barque "William" and later "Robert Morrow", it was only natural that his own wife, Eva would accompany him.  In fact the "Robert Morrow" was specially outfitted to suit family life.

It is told that James had, many times, to prove himself on the high seas against a mutinous crew and that the family is still in possession of his nicked and scratched cutlass.

Eva, herself took to life at sea like a natural.  She came within hours of delivering the couple's only son, Leonard on board the vessel and was back sailing before the child was a few months old.  Eva had attended Normal College in Truro, and she taught her son his lessons so well that when he was fourteen he was accepted into college with the highest marks on his entrance exams.


Cargoes they carried consisted of coal, wheat, oil, turpentine, lumber, steel, iron, machinery, cotton rosin, liquors, hides, fruit sugar etc. At one time the ship was frozen in at Rotterdam, Holland for the winter, the crew and family enjoying months of skating. The first locomotives used in the Monte Video, South America Railway, were taken there by Captain O'Brien, while he was First Officer on the "Euroclydon".

James and Eva witnessed the formal opening of the first Brooklyn Bridge in 1883 immediately after their marriage and sailed next day with a dangerous cargo, Naptha, to Bordeaux, France. On their next voyage, while nearing Dunkirk the ship was driven by a gale into the North Sea and was in great danger of being lost on the treacherous "Glodwin Sands". Although Eva knew of the peril, she calmly retired to rest, while her husband did his best to save the ship. In the morning the danger averted Captain O'Brien praised his wife for courage assisting him by not hindering him while on duty.

Mrs. O'Brien had many pleasant experiences as well as dangerous. While the ship at one time was discharging cargo at Bombay, India, Eva noticed a distinguished looking Hindu attentively watching proceeding. She invited him on aboard showing him over the ship, then served tea. On leaving he informed her that his rickshaw would call next day to convey her, accompanied by the Captain. There they were extended every courtesy in true oriental fashion.

About this time a terrific cyclone struck their ship in the Indian Ocean, which caused the cargo of oil to list. Water poured into the cabin forcing Eva to bail it out to keep young Leonard from drowning. She saw the only life boat washed overboard, with all it contained. Fortunately the ship survived, arriving at Peuang and Singapore.

The family visited many places on their numerous voyages such as Guano Islands, Cape Horn, Chile, Rio de Janero, Dublin Belfast, Capetown, Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, France, Belgium, Sweden, Liverpool, Rotterdam, Buenos Aires, Mobile, Ceylon, Panama, crossing the oceans many times.

In 1898, James and Eva decided to move their life on to dry land and settled in Berkeley, California.  James became a successful hotelier and played golf with his son, Leonard three times a week until a week before his death in October 1940 at the age of 88.  Eva died soon after.

From a tiny Nova Scotian village to the entire world - these two and their son lived an exciting and colourful life.  How fun to go back and discover it.