Peter and Margaret McLean
Narrated by their great, great granddaughter Lois McLean
Spirit Walk at Crown Cemetery
September 17, 2012.
Good evening: My name is Margaret McLean, wife of Peter McLean,
originally from Baileguish District of Badenoch, Invernesshire, Scotland.
In 1831 our eldest son Donald, along with Donald Martin, Peter Grant, John
Kennedy and Mr. and Mrs. McBain sailed from Greenoch, Scotland to
Canada. They came via Montreal to Glengarry, where Martin, Kennedy and the
McBains spentthe winter. Donald and Peter Grant came on to Crook's hollow
[now Greensville] and worked for the winter.
In the spring of 1832 they went north looking for suitable land on which to settle,
travelling through Galt to Elora. Here they paid an Indian a penny to take them
across the river.
After looking they felt this was too far back and too stony.
They next came south down through Guelph along the Aboukir Trail [now Brock
Road and Highway 6] where they met two woodchoppers, the Nicoll Brothers.
They took them to Stalhs on Lot 35. Rear Concession 8.
The Stalhs knew of unclaimed land a little north of them, so went with them to
select lots. Donald claimed Lot 31 Front and Rear of Concession 9. Here they
built a shanty and the McBains joined them, with Mrs. McBain keeping house for
them. That year they cleared enough land to plant a little wheat.
In 1833 Peter and I and the rest of our family along with several other families left
our homeland for the wilds of Upper Canada.
When we arrived Donald gave Lot 31, Front Concession 9 to us and kept Lot 31
Rear Conc. 9 for himself. He also chose Lot 30, Rear Concession 9 for his brother
Alexander, Lot 29 Rear Concession 9 for his brother John, and Lot 29 Front
Concession 10 for his brother George.
Since George was not interested in farming he gave this lot to his sister
Margaret [Mrs. Hanning]. There are still two of these farms owned by our direct
descendants.
Although Peter and I knew that we would never see our homeland again, we were
happy to think our family would have a chance to prosper in a new land.
Our son George, along with Peter Clark built a grist and saw mill in Morriston.
When this mill burnt, he built the Aberfoyle Mill which still stands to-day.
Son Donald was a member of the first cemetery board of Crown Cemetery.
Son Alexander laid one of the corner stones of the East Presbyterian Church, now
called Duffs.
Our daughter Anna married Rev. Wm. Meldrum, the first minister of Duff's
Church.
Peter always made it known that when his time came he "didna want to be
trundled in a cart to his final resting place, but carried shoulder high as his fathers
before him". He was the last to be borne to Crown Cemetery in this way.
Time does not allow us to tell of all the accomplishments our family and
descendants have made to the community, church and township.
Now we would like to thank you for visiting with us to-night.
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