Prince
Henry Sinclair,
Earl of Orkney leads the last Norse-Celtic Atlantic Expedition, landing in
New England in 1396, almost one hundred years before Columbus. Affiliated
with the legendary Knights Templar, stories persist that St Clair buried
remarkable treasures on Oak Island, Nova Scotia, possibly the Grail itself. He
landed at Chedabucto Bay, Nova Scotia, June 2 1398. In that same year, shipmate Sir
John Gunn died in Massachusetts, where his rockcut memorial and arms may still
be seen.
"While at
this area, one of Prince Henry's loyal attendants by the name of Sir
James Gunn, also from Scotland, died. In memory of the lost companion, the party
carved a marker on the face of a stone ledge. It consisted of various sizes of
punched holes, which depicted a Scottish knight, with a 39 inch long sword and
shield bearing the Gunn Clan insignia. The punch-hole method of carving involved
making a series of small impressions with a sharp tool, driven by a mallet.
Where glacial scratches or rock colorations existed, they were incorporated into
the man-made design. Some holes were larger and deeper than others, probably due
to the dulling of the carver's tool and centuries of weathering. In the words of
Frederick Pohl, 'the following are undeniably man-made workings: the pommel,
handle, and guard of the sword; below the guard the break across the blade that
is indicative of the death of the sword's owner; the crest above the pommel; a
few holes at the sword's point; the punched-hole jess lines attached to the legs
of the falcon; the bell-shaped hollows; the corner of the shield touching the
pommel; the crescent on the shield; and the holes that form a decorative pattern
on the pommel.' Now weatherworn and faint, one can see just enough of the
carving to visualize the rest of it.
"Of course, there
have been many investigations to verify the authenticity of this carving. There
remains little doubt that this memorial is not a hoax, nor some Indian marking,
but rather, the true monument created by Prince Henry Sinclair, nearly 600 years
ago!"
David
Thompson. The man who measured Canada ." Almost on his own, this
prodigious explorer surveyed most of the Canadian-US border during the early
days of the country. Covering 80,000 miles on foot, dog sled, horseback and
canoe, 200 years ago, Thompson defined one-fifth of the North American
continent."
Finnan
Mor McDonald Finnan Mor or "the Great Redchief" as his
Flathead companions called him, compare well with any of the American legends,
but what he did , battling afoot on June 2, 1827 for his life against a bull
bison, makes him, indisputably, the greatest frontiersman of them all. One
writer, Rowland Bond claims that Finnan McDonald actually dismounted and
‘bulldogged’ the wounded animal making it the most astonishing version of
the battle.
Alexander
Mackenzie, 1822-1892 a Perthshire-born Scot, second Prime Minister of
Canada
William
Mackenzie King, 1874-1950 Three -time Prime minister who was very proud of
his Scottish background
Alexander
MacKinnon Burgess Ottawa, Deputy
Minister of the Interior of Canada, was born on the 21st of October, 1850, at
Strathspey, Inverness-shire, Scotland. He is a son of John Burgess, by Ann
Davidson, nee Mackinnon.
Sir Guy Carleton ,born at Strabane,
County Tyrone, Ireland. He entered the British military as a young man and saw
action in Europe as well as North America. He became the Governor of Quebec in
1767 and eventually entered the peerage as Lord Dorchester.
Thomas Carleton, Colonel ,brother of Sir
Guy Carleton, he was born in 1735 in north of Ireland. In 1776 he came to Canada
and was appointed the first Governor of New Brunswick in 1784.
Sir Adams George Archibald ,born in
Truro, Nova Scotia, descended from Ulster-Scots who moved from Londonderry,
Ireland to Londonderry, New Hampshire and then who in 1762 came to Nova Scotia.
He was a delegate to the Charlottetown, Quebec, and London conferences that
created Canada in 1867. Later he was the first Lieutenant - Governor of the
Province of Manitoba and then Lieutenant - Governor of the Province of Nova
Scotia.
Reverend William McMurray, born near
Portadown, County Armagh, Ireland in 1810 and brought to Canada following year
with parents. He trained as a missionary and became Rector of Ancaster, Rural
Deacon of Lincoln and Welland in Ontario and Archdeacon of Diocese of Niagara.
He was a member of the Council of Trinity College, Toronto and on visiting
England the Archbishop of Canterbury bestowed on him the honor of special
preacher at the services under the Dome of St. Paul's.
Hon. William McMaster ,born in 1811 in
County Tyrone, Ireland and came to Canada in 1833. He established successful dry
goods business in Toronto and then became a Director of the Ontario Bank and the
Bank of Montreal. He was the founder of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.
He was a member of the legislature and after confederation in 1867 was chosen a
Senator to represent Ontario. He also became treasurer of the Upper Canada Bible
Society.
James Baird Anderson, born in Belfast,
Ireland in 1812 and came to Saint John, New Brunswick in 1840 where he was a
prosperous merchant for 25 years before retiring. For many years he was also
connected with the Saint John Mutual Fire Insurance Company. and was made a
Justice of the Peace in 1865.
Reverend James Bennet ,born in Lisburn,
County Down in 1817 and finished his education at the Royal Academical
Institution, Belfast. He was ordained to the charge of a church in County
Armagh. In 1854 he moved to Canada to became Minister of the Saint John
Presbyterian Church in Saint John, New Brunswick. He was also editor of a church
magazine called the "Canada Presbyterian".
John George Bowes, M.P.P. born at
Clones, County Monaghan, Ireland in 1812. He came to Canada in 1833 and was
elected Mayor of Toronto from 1851-3, also Member of the Provincial Parliament
for Toronto from 1854-8.
Dr. John Gardner Robb ,born in Belfast,
Ireland in 1833 and educated at Royal Belfast Academical Institution and at the
Queen's College. He was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of
Belfast in 1857 and in 1874 came to Canada as Minister to Cooke's Presbyterian
Church in Toronto. He became known as the "Champion of Evangelical
Protestantism".
Timothy Eaton, born in Clogher, County
Armagh, Ireland in 1834. He left Ireland for Canada in 1854 and was the founder
of the T. Eaton Company Limited in Toronto which became Canada's largest
merchandising retailer with stores across the country.
Sir Sam Hughes, M.P. ,born in Darlington
Township, Ontario in 1853 and son of John Hughes of Finton, County Tyrone,
Ireland. He was elected Member of Parliament for Victoria County, Ontario from
1892 - 1921. Also was Minister of Militia at start of WWI and a prominent
Orangeman.
Adam Crosby, M.P. ,born in Belfast,
Ireland in 1859. He came to Canada was was elected Mayor of Halifax, Nova Scotia
from 1902-4 and Member of Parliament for Halifax in 1908.
Edward Frederick Clarke, M.P./M.P.P.
,born at Bailieboro, County Cavan, Ireland and came to Canada in the 1860s. He
was Mayor of Toronto from 1888-91, Member of Provincial Parliament in Ontario
from 1886-94 and Federal Member of Parliament for Toronto West from 1896-1905.
Alan Blakeney born in
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, descended from Ulster-Scots who settled in South
Carolina, USA and moved north to Nova Scotia. He became leader of the provincial
New Democratic Party of Saskatchewan in 1971 and Premier of the province serving
until 1982.
Alexander McDonellwas born in
Glengarry,
Scotland, in
1762. After
ordination at
Valladolid, his life was devoted to his
Gaelic
kinsmen in
Lochaber and
Canada.
When they were evicted in
1792 he led
them to
Glasgow and later formed them into a British regiment, the
Glengarry Fencibles, being himself appointed their
chaplain, the first
Catholic
British Army
chaplain in centuries. When the regiment was disbanded Father
Macdonell appealed to the government to grant its members a tract of
land in Canada, and in
1804
160,000 acres (650 km²) were provided in what is now
Glengarry county,
Canada.
Father Macdonell accompanied his clan, founded churches and schools and
organised the settlement. In
1812 he
raised another regiment, the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles which
went to the defence of Upper Canada. In
1819 he was
made vicar Apostolic of Upper Canada, which in
1826 was
erected into a
bishopric. Five years later he was appointed to the
legislative council. He founded a
seminary at Saint Raphael's and a college at Kingston, and by his
zealous labours merited the title of Apostle
of
Ontario.
Alexander
McDonellwas born in Glengarry, Scotland, in 1762. After
ordination at Valladolid, his life was devoted to his Gaelic kinsmen
in Lochaber and Canada. When they were evicted in 1792 he led them to
Glasgow and later formed them into a British regiment, the Glengarry Fencibles,
being himself appointed their chaplain, the first Catholic British
Army chaplain in centuries. When the regiment was disbanded Father
Macdonell appealed to the government to grant its members a tract of
land in Canada, and in 1804 160,000 acres (650 km²) were provided in
what is now Glengarry county, Canada. Father Macdonell accompanied his
clan, founded churches and schools and organized the settlement. In
1812 he raised another regiment, the Glengarry Light Infantry
Fencibles which went to the defense of Upper Canada. In 1819 he was
made vicar Apostolic of Upper Canada, which in 1826 was erected into a
bishopric. Five years later he was appointed to the legislative
council. He founded a seminary at Saint Raphael's and a college at
Kingston, and by his zealous labors merited the title of
Apostle
of
Ontario.
(from wikipaedia)
Robert Hill Hanna, V.C. born at
Aughnahoory, Kilkeel, County Down, Ireland in 1887. He came to Canada in 1905
and enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1914. Three years later while serving at
Lens, France, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for capturing an enemy position
and saving the lives of his fellow soldiers. He was also an Orangeman, having
joined Loyal Orange Lodge # 2226 in British Columbia prior to WWI.
Regiments bearing Scottish names,
their ranks filled with men wearing the "bonnet, kilt, and feather"
have played an important part in Canadian military history whether they fought
as Scots in the British army with Wolfe, Amherst and Carleton in the 1750's
through to the American Revolution, or as Scottish Canadians in defense of their
own country. The post-WW2 period to the present day has seen many
reorganizations and amalgamations of Scottish militia units until now only 14
proud regiments remain on the Canadian Army List. They are, in order of
precedence:
Alexander
Milton Ross For decades, millions of enslaved Americans thought
of Canada as the Promised Land. The Underground Railroad, a clandestine
organization of routes and safe houses run by hundreds of courageous people,
brought tens of thousands of fugitive slaves to freedom. One of the courageous
people, Alexander Milton Ross, was a Canadian from Belleville. Dr. Ross traveled
extensively through the deep south during the 1850's using his international
reputation as an ornithologist to gain access to many plantations where he
secretly held meetings to organize and facilitate the escape of hundreds of
enslaved people. His friendship with such famous abolitionists as Harriet Tubman,
Frederick Douglass and John Brown is part of the story of the Underground
Railroad.
Prince
Edward Island Prince Edward Island’s Celtic heritage is still very
much alive, underlying many tourism and holiday-related events. This significant
presence is due in large part to the fact that, in the early nineteenth century,
people of Scottish origin comprised the vast majority of the colony’s
population.
Scots
in Canada, from Abraham Martin (Heights of Abraham); The Fraser highlanders
in Quebec; The Glengarry Settlement; The Perth settlement; the Lanark and MacNab
settlements; The Huron and Bruce settlements; Sir Richard McBride; and
others.
Cape
Breton During the period 1775 - 1850, some twenty-five thousand
Gaelic-speaking Scots from every region of the Highlands and Islands established
thriving pioneer communities throughout Cape Breton and Eastern Nova Scotia.
Stories of The
Irish in Newfoundland, from St Brendan; to Shelia Nagueria, the Irish
princess who settled in the Carbonear area in the first decade of the
seventeenth century; Lord Falkland, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, who was planning
to found a colony at Renews in 1623; and some local histories.
The Irish in
Atlantic Canada Certainly the area with the largest concentration
of Irish immigrants, both today and in the past, is the city of Saint John, New
Brunswick. When it comes to Irish in North America, people generally think of
Boston, but Saint John has as much, if not more, of a connection to Ireland as
the Massachusetts city. Saint John was one of the primary ports where immigrants
to the new world landed in North America. Starting around 1815, many Irish
immigrants, mostly tradesman, came to the city and stayed there forming the
backbone of the city's workforce.
Many Irish also found their way to the island provinces, Prince Edward Island
and Newfoundland. These two areas bore the most resemblance to Ireland, much of
the coast-land of Newfoundland is similar to the Irish coast. Irish settlers
found both provinces ideal for the kind of agriculture and fishery they were
used to; even today these two provinces are Canada's largest producers of
potatoes. And New Brunswick was not the only province that was referred by some
as New Ireland. Because of Prince Edward Island's similarity to Ireland, it was
suggested by many that it be called "New Ireland", but this effort did not
succeed either.
Grosse Isle and the
Irish Memorial National
Historic Site commemorates three significant aspects
of Canada's history: first, the importance of immigration to Canada,
particularly through Quebec City, from the early 19th century until World War I;
second, the tragedies of Irish immigrants, especially due to the 1847 typhus
epidemic; and finally Grosse Isle's role from 1832 to 1937 as a quarantine
station for the Port of Quebec, long the main point of arrival for immigrants
coming to Canada.
"Children of the Gael died in their thousands
on this
island having fled from the laws of foreign tyrants
and artificial famine in the years 1847-48.
God's blessing on them. Let this monument
be a token to their name and honor from the
Gaels of America.
God Save Ireland."
(inscribed in the
Gaelic on the above memorial...this English translation is markedly softened)
From the
Irish in Canada by Gail Walsh-
Read the Journal of Gerald Keegan, a
fascinating story of an Irishman and his family's trials as they, having no real
choice, left Ireland, their voyage to Canada, and the heartrending conditions on
Grosse Isle....The Irish
Holocaust...submitted by Emmit Bondurant.
"While at
this area, one of Prince Henry's loyal attendants by the name of Sir
James Gunn, also from Scotland, died. In memory of the lost companion, the party
carved a marker on the face of a stone ledge. It consisted of various sizes of
punched holes, which depicted a Scottish knight, with a 39 inch long sword and
shield bearing the Gunn Clan insignia. The punch-hole method of carving involved
making a series of small impressions with a sharp tool, driven by a mallet.
Where glacial scratches or rock colorations existed, they were incorporated into
the man-made design. Some holes were larger and deeper than others, probably due
to the dulling of the carver's tool and centuries of weathering. In the words of
Frederick Pohl, 'the following are undeniably man-made workings: the pommel,
handle, and guard of the sword; below the guard the break across the blade that
is indicative of the death of the sword's owner; the crest above the pommel; a
few holes at the sword's point; the punched-hole jess lines attached to the legs
of the falcon; the bell-shaped hollows; the corner of the shield touching the
pommel; the crescent on the shield; and the holes that form a decorative pattern
on the pommel.' Now weatherworn and faint, one can see just enough of the
carving to visualize the rest of it. 
Sir
John MacDonald , a Glasgow-born Scot, was Canada's first prime Minister, one
of the Fathers of Confederation and credited with the creation of the Dominion
of Canada. In other words: "the Father of Canada". 
Alexander
Mackenzie, 1822-1892 a Perthshire-born Scot, second Prime Minister of
Canada 
William
Mackenzie King, 1874-1950 Three -time Prime minister who was very proud of
his Scottish background
Apostle
of
Alexander
Milton Ross For decades, millions of enslaved Americans thought
of Canada as the Promised Land. The Underground Railroad, a clandestine
organization of routes and safe houses run by hundreds of courageous people,
brought tens of thousands of fugitive slaves to freedom. One of the courageous
people, Alexander Milton Ross, was a Canadian from Belleville. Dr. Ross traveled
extensively through the deep south during the 1850's using his international
reputation as an ornithologist to gain access to many plantations where he
secretly held meetings to organize and facilitate the escape of hundreds of
enslaved people. His friendship with such famous abolitionists as Harriet Tubman,
Frederick Douglass and John Brown is part of the story of the Underground
Railroad.
