Cameron Family History written by Uncle Hugh (Rev. A. H. Cameron)
The ancestral tree from which our branch of the Cameron family sprang was rooted in the rural district of Scotland near Inverness. From a few old letters it has been learned that in the year 1767 one Evan Cameron and Mariam McLean his wife were living in Western Aigas in the parish of Kilmorack, mission of Strathglass. There is the record of rent paid for several successive years. The amount between 1767 and 1770 was £ 12s 6 4/12 d. sterling, which was paid annually at Beaufort, to John Forbes, factor. Ten years later they are still at Western Aigas, but the rent is now £1.12.6 4/12 sterling paid at Belladrum to James Fraser, factor. In 1786 the amount paid was £1.14.3½ to William Taylor, factor at Balblain [Balnain]. There is no further information about them until 1803, when they received from the missionary minister, Murdock Cameron, a certificate of church membership which states that Evan Cameron and Marion McLean have resided in the parish of Kilmarock [Kilmarnock] since infancy and as far as known have behaved themselves soberly, honestly and inoffensively, free from all scandal and censure. This certificate was given them in view of their intended emigration to America. Some time in that year they embarked for the long voyage but in a great storm the ship was wrecked on the coast of Loch Broom. The passengers were saved but with the loss of all their effects. Impoverished by their misfortunes they returned to their former home and somewhere in the locality Evan and Marian spent their remaining days.
Evan Cameron had at least two brothers and two sisters. The first brother, John (Oak) had a daughter, Annie, who was married and had two sons. John’s family also included a daughter Janet, a son Hugh who lived near Aberdeen and another daughter married at Avoch.
Another brother of Evan Cameron, our great grandfather was William, commonly known as Crocknashallivac (Sorrel Hill Farm). He had four sons, Alexander, the eldest, died when comparatively young. One of his sons came to Nova Scotia several years ago with three children one of whom is Eneas Cameron*, the efficient principal of Yarmouth Academy. William’s second son, Angus (Black), came to Nova Scotia and settled at East River St Mary’s. William, another son, came to Nova Scotia and settled at Linacy Glen, Fraser Mt., Pictou County. A fourth son, Duncan, married a daughter of Alex Fraser, a lame tailor, who lived in the wood above Eskadale House and resided at Kirkhill. There was also a daughter of William Cameron named Isabella who married a son of a man in Comor ----, Strathglass, called the Red Prince. In 1858 Isabella lived in Aigas but her husband was in Alexandria, North America. One son, Evan is mentioned who was anxious to come to Nova Scotia but as far as know never left Scotland.
*Eneas died in 1903
Evan Cameron also had a sister Annie of whom Thomas Cameron of McLellan’s Mountain was a son. To Thomas were born four sons and four daughters. Two of the sons lived at McLellan’s Mountain and the other two, Hugh and Thomas at the Grant’s Mills, Pictou Co., Nova Scotia
Evans sister Mary married Colin Douglas. They came to Nova Scotia on the Hector.
There were six children in the family of our great-grandparents, Evan Cameron and Marion McLean, Alexander, Donald, Angus, Catherine, Christy and Mary.
Alexander, the eldest, married Mary a sister of Hugh Fraser (Big) who lived across the river from our hold home. The first record of Alexander locates him at Bunchral but after a serious injury which unfitted him for work he moved to Kinlane. In 1858 he was still living but had moved to Curkton by West Bunchrue, cared for by his daughter Catherine who dutifully for his sake gave up her plan to come to Nova Scotia. John (Black), a son, came to Nova Scotia and located on the farm above the church at East River Saint Mary’s. Another son, Evan, a blacksmith, coming from Cromarty in a vessel fell overboard and was drowned. Within four weeks of this tragic event Donald, another son, a confectioner, died in Glasgow after a few days illness. Some sympathetic people in Inverness raised a sum of money for Donald’s widow with which she built a small house in that city where she carried on a grocery business on a small scale. Beside Catherine there was a daughter who married John McBean, a carpenter, who lived at Milburn by Inverness.
Donald, the second son of Evan, our great-grandfather came to Nova Scotia and settled at West River St. Mary’s. He had two sons and five daughters, Hugh, Evan, Marion, Catherine, Margaret, Christy and Nancy, none of whom are now living. 1902
Catherine, Evan Cameron’s oldest daughter, married Lachlan McIntosh, a laborer, who received for his toil 14d per day in the summer and one shilling in the winter. He found much comfort however in the nearness of his work to his home and that he had steady employment. Two sons were born to them. Evan, a tailor, fresh from his apprenticeship and with ample pride in his skill had a bad attack of the American fever; and Lachlan. They lived at Balnafroig by Inverness.
Angus, our grandfather, married Jane Cameron whose family lived at Crunnaglag. To them were born in Scotland two children Mary and Evan. They lived on a farm called Balla Noadh (New Farm or New Field) New Town in the mission of Strathglass, parish of Kilmarock. With his little family, Angus, in 1815, came to Nova Scotia and settled at East River St. Mary’s on the old homestead. There were born other children – John, Alexander, Angus, Marion, Margaret and Donald.
Marion and Margaret married Baxter men.
With Angus came also Mary, his sister, the youngest of Evan’s family. Before leaving Scotland she resided at Ruiclarach in the parish of Kilmarock. A church certificate was given her July 29, 1815, at leaving by James Nichol, missionary minister of Strathglass, signed also by Hugh Cameron and John Forbes, elders. Forbes could not write but duly attested his signature by his mark. Mary lived with her brother Angus and died at the old home aged about 100 years.
Of our ancestors on grandmother’s side it is difficult to get much accurate information. Her father’s name was John Cameron, commonly called the Earl. The home was Crunnaglag. John Cameron died before his daughter Jane left Scotland. His wife’s name was Mary Fraser. She survived her husband many years.
Jane married Angus (Ban)
A brother of Mary Fraser, our great-grandmother, was Donald Fraser who for a time was engaged in the brewery business in Inverness. His enterprise did not prove successful. The reason given was that “he was a quiet man and hath not much to say and barley is dear.” The name Brewer followed him through life. After his death his widow lived on a large farm near Colloden House. Hugh Fraser of Ballnaglaick who is spoken of as a man of wealth and a great farmer was their son.
Hugh Fraser of Boblaine appears to have been a brother of Mary Fraser. Two daughters are spoken of – Mary and Annie. Thomas Fraser whose son came to be a farmer at Crunnaglag was another brother. There were also two sisters. One married a man named John McLean by whom she had several children. A son, Simon McLean, lived at Fairly who had two daughters, Janet and Margaret. In 1858 Janet was living in Inverness and Margaret had gone to Upper Canada. The other sister married a man named McKay. One son is spoken of, Alexander McKay of Strathcannon?, a blacksmith.
To John Cameron (Earl) and Mary Fraser were born three children – Jane, our grandmother [Angus’ (Ban) wife], Alexander and James. Alexander married a daughter of Donald Fraser (Brewer), his cousin. His life seems to have been full of changes. The letters refer to him first on a farm at Glacknahavin? Later he cultivated one half of the farm at Crummaglag, where he prospered until the gangers made a raid on the place and discovered illicit malt in the barn for which he was obliged to pay a fine of #200. It was claimed that the malt belonged to and was hidden away by the servant lad but Alexander was obliged to pay the bill. We next find him dispossessed of his farm at Whitsunday 1842 when he turns longing eyes toward Nova Scotia. But his next venture is in the brewing business in Inverness, probably in the interests of his father-in-law, Donald Fraser (Brewer). A few years later he is reported as having charge of his mother-in-law’s farm at “Aultturley?”, for miles east of Inverness, near Colloden House. His family consisted of eight children: Isabella, Mary, Hugh, Ann, Jean (named after grandmother), Medley, Mary and Margaret. Isabella and the first Mary died in early youth. James for a number of years, probably through his mother’s lifetime, cultivated one half of the farm at Crunnaglag. In 1858 he was still living there and unmarried. He seems to have been a broadminded, intelligent man with a good knowledge or the Bible, a better education that the other members of the family and no bigotry. After giving up the farm he became keeper of the forest of Erchless Castle, probably game keeper. He wages were 20 d per day but he managed to save from his farm operations and his wages a considerable sum of money and had at one time quite a bank account in Inverness.
Nearly all of our ancestors were farmers living upon rented land, poor, honest, contented and God fearing. Even Alexander, the Brewer, was devout and doubtless made a good honest brand of whiskey and was considered honorable and respectable by ministers and elders who would be willing at any time to sample his wares and say a grace over them as long as their arm.
Further information can probably be obtained by consulting the records of Strathglass and the files of a Celtic magazine published in Inverness by Alexander McKenzie, historian, to which Colin Chisholm of Strathglass contributed a number of articles containing much of parish history. Colin Chisholm may still be living as the articles referred to were written not many years ago.
Written by Rev. Angus Hugh Cameron in 1902.
