Go to Cape Breton and Find.....Family?

Main Street Pictou Nova Scotia

 I visited Cape Breton Island knowing that my Gr Grandmother Mary MacDonald, who brought the family to the US through Boston, was from there. My Grandfather Gus Shorten was born in nearby Pictou. Via some research on Ancestry, I found earlier generations were all from this area. Something was up and I wanted to find out. Why did we know so little?

While visiting the Judique area (south of Port Hood), we stopped in the local museum which is largely the central location for local family history.  The docent immediately sat down with me to look over my compiled family tree.  She listened intently and then jumped up and gathered several books. Opening each to specific pages, she showed me annotations of the very people I had described. She looked at me and said, "you are very much a part of this community. Even more than I am!". 

After much conversation, the docent suggested that our family could have come over from Isle of Eigg Scotland on the ship Dunkeld in 1700's as Angus MacDonald (1710's - 1818). This Angus is considered a 'Pioneer' meaning an original Scot settler to the area. 

the story of Pioneer Angus MacDonald

One of his children, Donald MacDonald (you can't make this stuff up) married Mary Sara MacMaster.  She brings in the family who built 'the' stone house on the hill.

Mary Sara MacMaster's brother Red John of Creignish built this house.

Recently renovated home is back in the MacMaster family

The museum docent introduced me to Peggy from the MacMaster clan as my cousin from this connection.  Peggy Burke from Creignish is a talented weaver and comes from a family of music and dance.  Her shop is the old community store that her father ran for his uncle when the uncle broke his legs falling from the barn.

cousin Peggy from MacMaster clan - a weaver who made this MacDonald tartan

writeup of the stone house with original photo

Peggy's store, the old community store

Donald and Mary Sara had children, one of whom was Angus MacDonald (1818-1909) who married Jane Cameron from Judique. Her father, Daniel Cameron, came from Lochaber Scotland.

Angus and Jane were married in Mabou Catholic Church 1843. 

The Mabou Catholic Church today

clan tartans at the alter

clan tartans on each column, the altar, and entrance of the church

signs in Gaelic and English

One of Angus and Jane's children was named, wait for it....Angus MacDonald (1852-1903), born and buried in Judique.  He married Mary Ann MacDonald -probably her maiden name (1866-1938).  She was the community's midwife and is so recognized on her modern gravestone.  Her husband Angus named their community Centennial. Today, the road where the community and school are located is called Centennial Road between Judique and Creignish.

Angus McD's hand carved stone in Judique

The Centennial MacDonalds had 7 children, one of whom is Great Grandma Mary Jane MacDonald (1889 - 1985). She was born in nearby Long Point, next to Creignish, and died in Buffalo. Her siblings: John (1890-1955?) Flora (1893-1964) Alexander (1894-1961) Daniel (1897-1953) Catherine (1898-1942) Malcolm Alexander/Sandy (19??-1994).

Mary Jane MacDonald's birthtown

In a book at the museum, we read about what it was like going to school in Centennial.

Mary Jane MacDonald married Frederick Charles Shorten (1884-1938) who was born in Gibraltar when his British Army father was stationed there. The father, John Charles Shorten (1851-1924) was born in London of Irish parents and immigrated to Canada, likely through Halifax where he met his wife Alice Walsh (1850-1914) who was born in Salmon River Nova Scotia. Alice's father Patrick was from Newfoundland. 

one of the plants in New Glasgow

Mary Jane and Frederick Charles Shorten probably lived in Pictou or New Glasgow next door.  Frederick Charles was a steelworker and the plants are/were in New Glasgow which is minutes away.  Angus Shorten (grandpa) was born in Pictou - perhaps this is where the hospital was if they didnt actually live there. 
Frederick Charles died young of typhoid and is buried in a New  Glasgow cemetery.

Frederick Charles Shorten's gravestone in New Glasgow Irish cemetery near St. John Baptist church.

Mary had six children: John (Jack), Angus, Alice, Florence, Mary (Mamie), Lillian.  Mary found herself without a husband to support them, so she moved the family back up to the Centennial area where family could care for her kids while she went to Boston to work as a maid for a doctor and his family in Back Bay.  As she made enough money to send for a child, she did, until all joined her. They moved to Buffalo, likely due to job opportunities for the boys in the factories.

the backbay home where Mary MacDonald Shorten worked as a housekeeper