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MCEACHERN, JOHN: John was born in Scotland abt. 1784, and was 22 years of age when they left Tobeumory. Son of Donald and Sarah McEachern. July 1806 the family boarded the Brig “Humphreys” with their worldly possessions and left Scotland forever, bound for the New World, arriving in Charlottetown, PEI. In 1821, John became a Branch Pilot on the Miramichi River. 
 
John, passing in 1879 at 94 or 95 years of age is buried, presumably in the old St. Andrew’s Cemetery at the north end of St. Andrew’s Street at Water Street. A headstone for him has not been found, but as was the custom at a later time, his marker may have become a step for someone’s house “on the hill” at Chatham. 
 
Nancy (Ann) MacDougald became his wife 27 January 1812 as recorded at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Charlottetown. John was 28 when he married. Nancy was very young, perhaps 18 or 19 at the time of their union. It is believed she is the niece of Bishop Angus Bernard McEachern. 
 
The loss of another son and two young grandsons in the McEachern Storm on 23 of August may have been too much for Nancy, as she passed away some three weeks later, on 12 September 1873. at age 79. Buried at St. Michael’s in Chatham directly behind the church in the older part of the cemetery. Her headstone is still legible. 
 
John was a staunch Presbyterian all his life, while Nancy was equally committed to the Roman Catholic Church. Their son, Donald was raised as a Presbyterian, while the other eleven children across some 23 years went to the Roman Catholic Church. 
Why did John and Nancy with family leave PEI and why did they go to the Miramichi in New Brunswick? 
 
Bob McDonald feels they left because they owed money and had no alternative but to leave. No doubt this was part of the problem. Note that between 1808 and perhaps 1817, life for John and Nancy was normal. No lawsuits, etc. something changed for them and I suspect it had to do with religion and perhaps the passing of Sarah McEachern Sr. 
 
Apparently, John did not receive the grant of land he applied for, so must have lived in or near EscuminacVillage. Mrs. D.A. MacDonald Sr. of Black River Bridge, in one of her letters enclosed a note from Thomas Lewis that the house John McEachern lived in was bought by his Uncle Mr. John Lewis. John McEachern in 1848, now 64 years of age, bought a farm for 95£ in Auburnille on the Little Branch of the Bay Du Vin River from his son-in-law John McDonald Jr. 
 
The entry in the church records for St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Chatham, reads, ”a faithful member of his church, but sorely tried.” 
 
Bernetta McEachern, my cousin, explained this church record entry as follows. Apparently, John would steal Nancy’s beads so she would not be able to say her prayers. Sometimes she would tie knots in lengths of string so she could say her beads. Sixty-one years of marriage and twelve children did not change either in their beliefs. 
 
Date of Arrival: To the Chatham area about 1819.

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Donald, born 28 June 1813, baptised on the 13th of September 1813 at St Paul’s, Charlottetown. When he was 27 he married Janet Campbell in Chatham at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church by the Rev. Archibald. They lived at Tabusintac some 20 miles across Miramichi Bay from Bay du Vin and Escuminac. Possibly McEachern’s Wharf at Wishart’s Point is named for him or his family. In any case, Donald and Janet started a dynasty that continues today, having some thirteen children. Janet born about 1818 died about 1881, while her husband outlived her, passing after 1891. 
 
Isobel, born 1815 on PEI to Nancy and John. She married John (Stiff) McDonald about 1843. They had 5 children. She passed away in May 1901 (age 86) and is buried in St. Margaret’s Catholic Cemetery, St. Margaret’s, NB. 
 
Angus, the writer’s great grandfather. born c 1818 on PEI and just prior to the move to N.B. he followed in his father’s footsteps becoming a Branch Pilot on the Miramichi. Married Margaret Preston in Escuminac 6 Feb. 1842 at age 24. His bride was 19, daughter of William Preston and Clemence Guimond (Jimmo) Preston. They had eleven children. Margaret died 30 May 1895 at age 72. Angus passed away on 14 March 1902. His obituary stated he was the oldest pilot on the Miramichi, and one of the town’s most respected citizens. 
 
Allen was born 15 June 1820 and is so recorded at St. Anne’s R.C. Church, Baie Ste. Anne. Father Blanchet was the local missionary priest. It is noted that the father was absent. Apparently he would not attend a Catholic Church even when his son was being baptized. A violent storm late November 1827, claimed the life of seven-year old Allen along with a Patrick McRae of Chatham, when John’s boat broke from its anchor off Point Sapin and the two on board were lost. Why the seven-year-old was on the boat was not explained in the report in the Mercury, 20 November 1827. 
 
John, Jr. born 12 October 1822 at Escuminac N.B. John Jr. married Catherine Leitch from PEI 9 November 1851. She was the daughter of Colin Leitch and Anne (Smith) Leitch, both of PEI. John, Jr. drowned in the McEachern Storm 23 August 1873, age 50 leaving behind a large young family to be looked after by his widow. Two of their sons Hugh and Colin were also lost in the McEachern Storm of 1873. Catherine survived him by some 43 years passing away 27 June 1916 and was buried at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery, Chatham. Apparently she did not remarry. 
 
Sarah, born 12 May 1824 at Escuminac. She married Alexander McDonald 18 November 1844, age 20, at Baie Ste. Anne, NB. Sarah and Alexander had at least two children. 
 
Mary Elizabeth, born 1st December 1826 at Escuminac, married Angus McDonald, 10 November 1845; a year after her sister Sarah married Alexander. Mary and Angus left N.B. and moved to Colorado, U.S.A. with their five children, all born on the Miramichi River. Mary passed away 10 December 1904 at 88 years of age and was buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Denver, Colorado. Her husband predeceased her 15 November 1893. 
 
Elizabeth (Jannet), born c 1828/1829. She married Christopher Leonard of Chatham, N.B. on 30 August 1863 and is now using the name Elizabeth. There was one child recorded in Chatham, 23 December, 1872, a daughter Clementina who died at age 1 yr. 9 months and is buried at St. Michael’s in Chatham, beside her godmother Isabella McDonald, 5 October 1874. It is believed both Elizabeth and her husband emigrated to the U.S. and is buried in Denver, Colorado. 
 
Clemence, born 30 July 1830 at Escuminac married Hugh Keenan on 2 May 1848 at St. Louis de Kent. 
 
Marjorie born 28 March 1832 at Escuminac married Alexander James Fraser 10 January 1854 at Escuminac. He was from Bartibogue on the north side of the Miramichi River and was the son of Donald Fraser and Christine Annabella (MacDonald) Fraser. Lived in Rexton, N.B. They had 11 children the first of who did not survive. Marjorie died on 3 January 1919, at her home, and was survived by her husband, 2 sons, and four daughters; two of who lived in the U.S. Alexander passed away four months later on 7 April 1919. 
 
Allen Charles, Jr., born at Escuminac c 1834. He married Isabella (Ellen) MacDonald, 25 years of age on 5 November 1863 at Indian River, PEI. The bride’s parents were Donald MacDonald and Margarite MacDonald, both of PEI. There were eight children from this marriage. On 2 August 1880, he remarried in Chatham to 
 
Mary Regan-Hurley, born in Ireland about 1851. He was 44, she 29 or 30. There were five children from this union. Allen Charles, “the greatest sailor who ever sailed the Miramichi” and “the man who could not be drowned” met a watery grave in 1890, leaving a very large family for his wife to look after. 
 
Ann born c 1836. She married John McKinnon 19 August 1861 in Newcastle. Interestingly, John was the son of Simon McKinnon and Janet (McEachern) McKinnon from PEI, hence her first cousin. They had three children, all born on PEI at Summerside. Both Ann and John died in Colorado and are buried in Denver. A petition for land at Escuminac Point to the governor of New Brunswick dated 21 January 1824 states he lived on PEI for 12 years and more recently five years at Escuminac. Also his family in 1824 consists of his wife and five children, 4 boys and one girl. Allen and John Jr. are both recorded in the church records at Baie-Ste-Anne, N.B. very near Escuminac. On 21 February 1821, suit was brought against John McEachern for monies owed to the estate of Lord Selkirk for land in Lot 57, presumably the farmland purchased in 1808. It is noted that John is absent in New Brunswick.

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faye.baisley

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2020/10/19

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NB Genealogy Association-Miramichi
Research Database v1.1    CBT Technologies
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Research Database v1.1 CBT Technologies

First families

Details for this first family

NB Genealogy Association-Miramichi Research Database v1.1 CBT Technologies Search Help

Research Database v1.1 CBT Technologies

First families

Details for this first family

NB Genealogy Association-Miramichi
Research Database v1.1 CBT Technologies
Search Help