McLellan Family

McLellan Family

I have been researching my McLellan ancestors for a number of years, with little success so far.

I know the names of my great great great grandparents: Kenneth and Flora McLellan, who lived in the Dorchester area of Antigonish County in the early 1800's. Their son, Angus McLellan migrated to the Canso area, married and raised a family there. The following is a very basic record of the descendants of Angus.


Angus McLellan was born March 22, 1827 the son of Kenneth and Flora McLellan, Antigonish. From the various documents available, there is a discrepancy in his year of birth.

On the 1871 Census his age is given as 44, which would make his year of birth 1827, which agrees with the 1901 census. The 1881 Census has his age as 56, which makes his year of birth 1825. (I have found the 1881 Census to be the least accurate with ages). I almost couldn't find him listed on the 1891 Census - he was entered as Angus McLean, age 60 (b.d.1831). I believe that sometimes, the Census taker estimated people's ages, especially those who were older.

The Census of the Township of Dorchester (Antigonish) for the year 1827 listed Kenneth McLellan with 3 males and 1 female in his family, so that would mean that there were the husband, the wife and two sons. His religion was Roman Catholic. His occupation was a farmer. He had 20 acres of land cultivated, and his land had produced 15 bushels of grain and 3 tons of hay that year. He had 4 horned cattle, 7 sheep, 3 swine, and he grew 100 bushels of potatoes.

Probate record of Kenneth McLennan, dated May 18, 1835:

The Real Estate of the late Kenneth McLennan consists of one hundred and sixty acres of land in the Township of Dorchester, which was valued at 110 lbs.

Names of whom he owed money to included Francis McLennan 32:14:6, and Hugh McLennan 1:19:0, among others. Total debts amounted to 187:3:7. Monies expected to be recovered included 7:10:0 from William Cameron, Sales of Hay, etc. 5:18:0, Supposed value of a Horse and other articles in the hands of Francis McLennan, 15:0:0.

A death notice from a newspaper clipping (1915) states:

ANGUS MCLELLAN
The death of Angus McLellan, one of Canso's oldest citizens, took place on February 20th, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. James R. Lumsden, with whom he has lived for some years. Mr. McLellan had reached the age of 93 years and was able to be about, up to within a few days of his death. Mrs. James R. Lumsden, Mrs. Samuel Swaine and Mrs. D.A. Munro, residing in Canso, are daughters, while other members of his family reside in the United States. The funeral was conducted by Rev. C.R. Freeman, of the Baptist Church. (If the clipping was accurate, his birth would have been in 1822.)

Angus married 1st) Margaret Ann Kirby, daughter of Benjamin and Sophia Kirby. She was born on Oct. 14/1833. The 1871 Census gives us her age - 37, which makes her year of birth 1834. 1881 Census gives her age as 48, which makes her year of birth 1833. By the times of the 1891 Census she had died and Angus was remarried to Louisa.

He married 2nd) Louisa Barss, widow, on July 11, 1884, at Canso. She was born Oct. 6/1853, and much younger than Angus. (She was only 3 years older than his oldest daughter). There were no children from the second marriage.


Children of Angus and Margaret

Sophia Jane McLellan b: Sept. 1/1856
Kenneth McLellan b: Mar. 7/1858
Rebecca Ann McLellan b: Sept. 6/1859
Mary Ann ? Alenia ? McLellan b: Mar. 28/1861
John Alexander McLellan b: May 25/1864
Emily Myra McLellan b: Dec. 31/1862
George Milligan McLellan b: Jan. 21/1866
Charlotte McLellan b: @ 1867
Jessie McLellan b: @ 1869
Lucy McLellan b: @ 1870
Grace McLellan b: @ 1874
Benjamin McLellan b: Jan. 19/1878

John Alexander and Emily were born at New Harbour. The father, Angus' occupation was listed as fisherman.

The 1871 Census gives Angus' occupation as Ship Caulker.

The name was spelled McLennan on the Methodist Circuit records of Kenneth, Rebecca Ann, John Alexander and Emily. On Mary's records, (same church) the name is spelled McClennan. Obituary notice: spelled McLellan.

It is possible that the 1871 Census listed Rebecca Ann McLellan twice: once under her parents and once under her grandparents, with whom she lived. (Benjamin and Sophia Kirby). Rebecca is shown as age 12, under Angus McLellan; Ann McLennon, age 11, is shown under Benjamin Kirby.


SOPHIA McLellan
Age 30 on the 1891 Census; a Domestic living at home.


KENNETH McLellan was a blacksmith (1881 Census)


REBECCA ANN
Ann McLellan married James R. Lumsden, a fisherman, on Jan. 15/1879. He was the only son of Benjamin and Lucy (Nickerson) Lumsden, Canso. The 1901 Census gives her birthdate as 16 Sept. 1859.


MARY
Mary married (2) James P. Hanlon on Nov. 18, 1879. Born in 1851, he was one of ten children of James and Mary (Hawbolt) Hanlon. He was an engineer at the Light Station on Cranberry Island off Canso for many years.


JOHN McLellan was a fisherman (1881 Census)
From a list of Nova Scotia fishermen lost as sea whose names appear on a memorial at Gloucester, Mass. - John McLellan, 35, single, Canso, Norma at Grand Banks, June 20, 1901.


EMILY
Emily McLellan (called Emma) married Samuel Swaine, Jr., son of Samuel Swaine, Canso, on Jan. 6, 1887. He died Dec. 21/1915, of heart failure.
Children:
1) Margaret Swaine b: Aug. 6/1889
2) Arthur Swaine b: May 10/ 1891
3) R. Judson Swaine b: Feb. 6/1883
d: April 14/1916 W.W. 1
4) Edward/Edmund Swaine b:Mar. 29/1894
5) Benjamin Swaine b:Dec. 11/1896
d: 1916 W.W.1
6) Jessie Swaine b: Mar. 31/1899

1) Margaret married John Parks, Melford.

2) Arthur Swaine enlisted in ____, 40th Battalion

3) Judson Swaine enlisted in the 40th Battalion, crossed to England and transferred to the 25th Battalion. Had been in the trenches in Flanders only a few weeks and was killed. A memorial service was held for him (and his cousin Percy Lumsden) was held on April 30th, 1916, at the Baptist Church, Canso.
He had at one time been a secretary of the Free Men Bible Class, a member of the Sunday School.

4) Ed Swaine also enlisted. He spent the winter of 1915 at Halifax, was invalided home to Canso.

5) Benjamin Swaine, the youngest of the family, enlisted with the 193rd, and trained in Canso. He was in active duty in France with the 85th Battalion In November (?), 1916 (?), he was killed while sitting with two comrades in a billet. One of the other boys was cleaning his rifle and accidentally shot Ben in the head, killing him instantly.


6) JESSIE McLellan married Daniel Lonzo MUNRO on July 10, 1890.


GEORGE McLellan.
Not on the 1871 Census, nor the 1881 Census. A fisherman re: the 1891 Census, age 23, lived at home. One year older than Lucy. No doubt mixed up with another child, probably George Milligan.


CHARLOTTE. No further information at this time.


LUCY
Listed as a Domestic on the 1891 Census. Lived at home. Lucy McLellan married Lorenzo Goodwin, a widower, on Aug. 26/1899. He was born at Argyle Sound, son of Phineas and Deborah Goodwin.


GRACE McLellan
Listed as a Domestic on the 1891 Census; lived at home. Not at home on the 1901 Census.


If anyone can help with information on any members of this family, please contact me.

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Patsy Lumsden

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