Chisholm Ancestry
This document has been prepared to establish that Roderick Rory Chisholm son of Colin of Lietre is in fact the 4th Great-grandfather of Paul Goodridge, as well as Kenneth Chisholm his cousin. There are two issues that need to be resolved to establish this connection beyond that written as local history.
1-Colin Chisholm Pioneer settler of Long Point, Nova Scotia is son of Roderick.
2-Colin Chisholm Pioneer is 3rd Great-grand father of Paul and Ken .
Issue 1:
Table 1 defines the known members of Roderick’s family. Based on Medlam and MacKenzie documentation we know that Colin, William, Helen and sons of Alexander (Rory, William, Colin and John Mor) all emigrated to Canada. We know that Alexander of Knockfin was Colin Chisholms’ son, reference MacKenzie page 157, and that he is the Alexander killed by a falling tree leaving Helen as a widow with 4 children before 1810. We can establish the 1810 date based on the 1811 census, Table 2 and Land grant Item 561 where Helen petitioned for the land.
Land grant records establish that Alexander (Rory) and William (Rory) were brothers. Reference Item Numbers 562, 3265 and 3319 Grant 562 establishes the initial grant to William (Rory) for Lot 41. Grant 3265 is very explicit in establishing that Colin (Alexander, Rory) and James (Alexander, Rory) were brothers and that William (Rory) was their uncle. Table 1 Ref 3, states that Colin and John were sons of Alexander. MacKenzie on page 222 documents the four brothers who were the sons of Alexander (Rory). Rory and William both moved to Rear Judique. Colin married Mary MacDonnell and left no issue. John Mor was married in Scotland. He and his wife Miss (Isobel) MacKenzie resided on the old William Chisholm property. He had a number of children of which Alexander and John moved to River Denys. This is confirmed by the 1871 census where Alexander (Tailor) is defined as a tailor in the census. Based on Grant 3265 and 3319 we know that Colin lived with his uncle William for a period of time before his death in 1822. MacKenzie also documents the arrival of John in 1824 as specified in Grant 3265.
We can now conclude that Alexander and William were Roderick’s children.
History of Inverness has always defined that Alexander (Colin), Colin (Rory) and William (Rory) were the Pioneer settlers of Long Point. We have established that they acquired land along St.GeorgesBay that is adjacent to each other and was first occupied within the same period. Reference Grant Items 30, 561, 562 and 2326 defined below. The 1811 Census, Table 2 establishes their residence on these defined lots. The 1813 Census, Table 3, further documents their residence as well as providing a profile of their families. If we accept that Grant Item 30 refers to William Chisholm [there were no other William Chisholms’ listed in the 1811 census], then we can speculate that the brothers would have been his five other brothers left in Scotland. It then appears that Colin and Alexander, Helen’s husband were the only ones to take up grants first initiated by William.
I believe that we can reach a reasonable conclusion that Colin, William and Helen were children of Roderick Rory Chisholm.
Table 1
Roderick Rory Chisholm Family
Name / Spouse / Medlam Notes / MacKenzieColin / Flora MacRae / EmigratedUSA - NFI / Ref 1
Alexander / Mary MacRae / Note 3 & Note 7 / Ref 2 & 3
Duncan / Margaret Bain
William / Engineer – Emigrated to Canada - NFI / Same
John / Janet Chisholm / Note 6 / Ref 4
Archibald / Catherine daughter of Colin Chisholm
Helen / Alexander Chisholm of Knockfin / Note 2 / Same
Catherine / Duncan MacRae
Ref: Medlam Charts – Chart Ltr9 Chisholm Surname
Ref. MacKenzie “History of Chisholms” pages 135-136
Note 2 – Helen and Alexander emigrated to Nova Scotia in 1801
Note 3 – William and Roderick (Alexander’s sons) both emigrated to Nova Scotia NFI
Note 6 – In 1854 several descendants of John and Janet emigrated to Australia
Note 7 – John (son of Alexander) and Isobel emigrated to Cape Breton Island
Ref 1 - Who went to America and was lost sight of.
Ref 2 - John, son of Alexander, and Isabel, daughter of John MacKenzie, Lietre, with issue a large family now in CapeBreton, Dominion of Canada. William and Roderick, Alexander sons, both of whom went to NS.
Ref 3 - MacKenzie page 222 states “Four brothers, Rory, William, Colin and John Mor sons of Alexander Chisholm of Scotland a brother of Pioneers Colin and William Chisholm emigrated to Long Point some time after the arrival of the first Pioneers. These four brothers did not arrive at the same time, John Mor was a passenger to America in the ship “Dunlap” in 1824.”
Ref 4 - John, son of John, who emigrated in early life and of whom nothing is known.
Table 2
1811 Census – Families living in Long Point.
Males / Females / Nbr Not / Over / Males / Girls / M & FHead of Family / 14-60 / 14-60 / Married / 60 / <14 / <14 / Maids
Angus MacDonald / 1 / 1 / 6 / 1 / 4 / 2 / 0
Colin Chisholm / 1 / 1 / 5 / 0 / 3 / 2 / 0
William Chisholm / 1 / 2 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Helen Chisholm / 1 / 2 / 3 / 0 / 1 / 1 / 0
John Chisholm / 3 / 1 / 2 / 0 / 6 / 0 / 0
Alexander Chisholm / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 2 / 1 / 0
Colin’s Family: Alexander, Rory, Jessie, John & Anne.
William’s Family: 1 female 14-60 would be the servant
Helen’s Family (Widow of Alexander): Alexander, Colin, Ellen & Isabel [MacKenzie Page 219]
John and Alexander were most likely brothers noted in 1802 petition for land in Judique and do not appear to have any relationship to the Roderick Rory Chisholm family.
Table 3
1813 Service Rolls for Judic (Spelling per the census record) and 1818 Cape Breton Census
Name / Age / Occup / Acres / Lot / Grant / Women / Boys / Girls / 1818 ChildrenAngus MacDonald / 40 / Farmer / 270 / 43 / Lease / 1 / 4 / 2 / 8
Colin Chisholm / 45 / Farmer / 300 / 42 / Lease / 1 / 4 / 6 / 8
William Chisholm / 40 / Farmer / 240 / 41 / Lease / 1 / 2 / 0 / 2
Helen Chisholm / Farmer / 500 / I & K / Purch / 1 / 2 / 2 / NFI
John Chisholm / 50 / Farmer / 300 / 40 / No Title / 1 / 8 / 0 / 4
Alexander Chisholm / 36 / Farmer / 200 / No Title / 1 / 2 / 1 / 5
There were 11 other Chisholm families included in the 1818 Judique census in to the addition those of our primary focus.
Item No. 29:
In 1802, John & Alexander Chisholm, petitioners are brothers who came from Scotland a year before. They settled on a lot in the rear of Alexander Chisholm, Sr., who purchased land from Michael MacDonald. John Chisholm has a wife and five children. Alexander Chisholm supports his widowed mother. A note states that 300 acres were allotted to John and 200 acres to Alexander at Judique.
Item No. 30:
In 1802, William Chisholm, petitioner arrived from Strahglass in the Highlands of Scotland in the fall of 1801. He asks permission to occupy land on the Gut of Canso. This lot was formerly licensed to Patrick Redmond who, it is said, has not yet left Ireland. Note: Petitioner is to have 300 acres if his brothers join him within 12 months; otherwise only 150 acres.
Item No. 561
In 1810,Helen Chisholm petitioner, two reports of Crawley to McKinnon indicated two plans for Lot K, 257 acres, St.GeorgesBay and Lot I, 196 acres St. George’sBay.
Item No. 562
In 1810,William Chisholm petitioner, a report of Crawley to McKinnon indicated there was 240 acres, lot 41, at Long Point near Judique, in St. George’sBay.
Item No. 1878
In 1818, Colin Chisholm, petitioner, age 52, a native of Scotland, has a wife and nine children. In 1802 he paid 40 for a crown lease of a certain lot. He now asks for a lot in the rear of John MacMaster’s Big Judique. Receipt for 40, dated Jan., 1802, from Donald & Michael McDonald.
Item No. 2326
In 1820, Colin Chisholm, petitioner, asks for a grant of land at Judique for which he holds a crown lease. This petition was signed by Alexander Chisholm on behalf of his father. Report of Crawley to Crowdy: Lot 42 at Long Point near Judique, 214 acres.
Item No. 2327
In 1820, John Chisholm, petitioner, age 54, emigrated from Inverness, Scotland, 18 years before with his wife and five children. He asks a grant of the land at Long Point he has occupied since that time. Report of Crawley to Crowdy: Lot 40, second range, Long Point 340 acres.
Note john born 1820 aged 54, must be born in the same year as Colin aged 52 in 1818
Item No. 3265
In 1829, Janet Chisholm, petitioner, is the widow of the late William Chisholm of Long Point, who died in 1822 without children. A nephew, Colin Chisholm lived with them, and continued to live there until his death in 1824. Colin’s brother John, came to the country in 1824. He received 200 acres at Judique, but is also applying to the petitioner’s land as a right from Colin. Petitioner has brought up two orphans, Alexander and Catherine Forbes, now aged 23 and 20 years. They have worked on the farm without pay, as dutiful children, and petitioner feels that they have certain claims on the land. She enters a caveat against the claim of John Chisholm.
Item No. 3319
In 1836, John Chisholm, petitioner asks a grant of lot 41, Long Point. This was willed by an uncle, William Chisholm, to the petitioner’s brother Colin, with life interest to his widow, Janet. Colin has since died and has willed the property to the petitioner.
Note: MacKenzie on page 223 indicates that John Mor was married in Scotland to Miss MacKenzie and that they resided on the old William Chisholm property at Long Point. The survey map shows that the original lot was divided into 2 sections, one showing William on St.GeorgesBay and the other John to the east. It is possible that Janet received a section in the final resolution.
Issue 2
Based on the 1818 Census, Table 3, we know that Colin had 8 children where 4 were boys based on the 1813 Census, Table 3. Then Land Grant Item 1878 issued in 1818 states that he had 9 children. This agrees with the list of his children established by both the “History of Glendale” and “History of Inverness County” shown in Table 4.
MacKenzie page 220 states that Archibald and John moved to River Denys. “History of Glendale” on page 19 states that to local tradition three brothers John, Archie and Rory (sons of Pioneer Colin Chisholm) settled in River Denys. John’s family is documented in both MacKenzie, Page 480 and Glendale, Page 19. In 1871 there were five Chisholm families living in the River Dennis (Census spelling) census district; two that were sons of Colin (Rory), two that were sons of John Mor (Alexander, Rory) and one that is a son of John Chisholm, Sr. that would be the John Chisholm listed in the 1811 census for Long Point.
Based on MacKenzie page 477, in 1837 Neil MacIntosh conveyed property in River Denys to Archibald Chisholm (Colin) of Long Point. Based on MacKenzie page 480, in 1838 Rev. Dougald McKichan conveyed Lot 37 together with a rear and adjacent lot to Colin Chisholm (Senior) (Rory’s son) of Long Point. Colin’s son Rory acquired the part now owned by his nephew John who was John Chisholm’s (Colin, Rory) son. Rory’s brother John acquired the part now occupied by Alex J. McLennan grandson of this John. John married a daughter of John McEachern. A son, Alex, was married to a Miss MacDonald of Little Judique and moved to Pennsylvania where he died.
Table 5 documents the 1871 CapeBreton census for this family that were still at home. Table 5 further documents the status of the children who were no longer with the family in 1871. We find that Rory, John’s brother was a widower and living with his brother John.
Next, Table 6 tracks Alexander Chisholm, son of John (Colin, Rory) and his family based on census records (NS 1881, NS 1891 and US 1900).Again, MacKenzie states that Alexander moved to Pennsylvania and his obituary further documents his birth in River Denys. His obituary also document the death of his daughter Mary. Ronald was Paul’s grandfather and John Barton, his brother, was Ken’s grandfather.
In conclusion I submit that the above documentation for land transfers, along with a confirmation of their residencies based on the 1871 census, establishes that John Chisholm was the son of Colin Chisholm and father of Alexander Chisholm.
Table 4
Colin Chisholm’s Family:Names found in “History of Glendale” Pg.19 and MacKenzie Pg 220
Name / Spouse / DOB / CommentsAlexander / Jessie Chisholm / 1802 / Reported to be first white child born in CB
In1820 signed land grant petition for father
Rory / Miss MacDonald / 1804 / Age in 1871 census vs. Age in 1881 census
In both he was living with his brother John in River Denys
Jessie / Hugh MacLean / 1806 / Hugh was 21 and not married in 1818. Best estimate for Jessie based on his BOD of 1797.
John / Mary MacEachen / 1808 / Age in 1871 census was 63
Colin / Miss MacMaster / 1810 / Colin had 4 sons before 1813, therefore estimate.
Archibald / Jessie Forbes / 1812 / Age in 1871 census was 56, but Colin had 4 sons before 1813 therefore his date adjusted
Anne / 1815 / Born between 1813 and 1818
Duncan / Margaret MacDonnell / 1817 / Born between 1813 and 1818
Catherine / 1819 / Eight children in 1818 and nine in 1818 land grant petition. Therefore she becomes his last child.
Table 5
John (Colin, Rory) Chisholm’s Family: Names found in “History of Glendale” Pg.19 and MacKenzie Pg 480
Comments based on 1871 Census River Dennis [North Mountain District Family 7]
Name / Spouse / DOB / CommentsColin / Janet Cameron / 1840 / Age 30 1871 census
John / Isabel MacLellan / 1841 / Age 28 1871 census
Anne / Allan Livingstone / 1843 / Age 26 1871 census
Margaret / Archibald MacLennan / 1846 / Born 4/12/1846 – no census record
Alexander / Mary MacDonald / 1848 / Married 1/2/1869before 1881 census
Mary / Neil MacLennan / 1850 / Born 10/15/1850 – no census record
Flora / Alexander MacDonell / 1852 / Married 1/20/1870before 1881 census
Ellen / Angus MacDougall / 1854 / Age 17 1871 census
Catherine / Angus MacDonald / 1859 / Age 12 Listed as twins 1871 census
Effie Belle / Archie MacLennan / 1859 / Age 12 Listed as twins 1871 census
Table 6
Census for Alexander Chisholm (John, Colin, Rory) and family.
NS - 1881 Census / NS - 1891 Census / USA – 1900 CensusJudique JUD 3 / Port Hood – PHd 1 / PotterCounty
Family 75 / Family 77 – Note 1 / Stewardson, PA
Name / Age / Name / Age / Name / Age / DOB
Alexander / 33 / Unknown / Died 2/27/1898 / Abt. 1848
Mary / 28 / Mary / 36 / Mary / 47 / 12/25/1851
Ranald / 10 / Ronald / 18 / Ronald / 26 / 8/8/1871
Mary / 9 / Mary / 17 / Died April 1894 / 12/25/1873
John (Barton) / 8 / John (Barton) / 15 / John (Barton) / Note 2 / 10/5/1875
John Angus / 5 / John Angus / 13 / John Angus / 20 / 8/5/1877
Agatha / 2 / Agatha Isabel / 11 / Agatha Isabel / Note 3 / 2/1/1880
Flora Ann / 8 / Flora Ann / 19 / 10/15/1882
Daniel / 2 / 8/3/1896
Note 1 – Based on Alexander’s obituary he came to the US 16 years before his death with his brother-in-law Dan R. MacDonald. This would mean that he left NS in 1882 or 1883 just before or after the birth of Flora. This left Ronald as Head of Household in the NS 1891 Census. Mary died in April 1894 in PA. Thus, we know he rejoined his family before this date and that Dan was born in PA.
Note 2 – In 1900 he was working as a farm hand for Luftin O’Connor in Austin and living there.
Note 3 – In 1900 she was working as a servant for Harry & Grace Chancey and living there.
Roderick
Colin b 1763 should this not be 1766?refer Item 1878
John 1808-1895
Alexander 1848-1898
John Barton 1875-1962
John Walter 1913
Ken Walter 1950