The Highlanders of Waipu
Chapter VIII - St. Ann's: A New Settlement

St. Ann’s harbour is a spacious well-sheltered bay on the north-east coast of Cape Breton, and not far from the town of Sydney. In those early days there was very little settlement on the island, so that homes had to be carved out of the primeval forest. Then, too, the winters were long and cold, for the island is much exposed to the fogs common to the Banks of Newfoundland and the icebergs of the Arctic regions. When those Pictou migrants settled at St. Ann’s, the country was so rough that it involved enormous labour ere they converted patches of it into agricultural land. They, however, had nearly two years’ training in the art of log-cutting, and knew something of the denizens of the Canadian woods. They had carried their bush tools and simple agricultural implements with them, so they were enabled to start home-making immediately upon landing. What stout hearts these people must have had. No wonder if despair should occasionally seize them and make them feel indifferent to their fate. What discouragements, what sufferings, what heartburnings they must have endured. Their circumstances, however, compelled them to make haste in selecting their sections and begin the building of homes. They took up blocks of land near the entrance to the harbour where Englishtown is now, and thence up to the mouth of the North River. Norman saw to it that each household had its own block of land with suitable spots selected whereon to build their huts. They worked in gangs, so that in a few months every family had a rude home to shelter them. When all were settled Norman selected a block of land extending for about two square miles at the head of the harbour called South Gut. Here he fixed his home, and with the help of his people soon erected a spacious cabin. While all this was going on some of the older men were busy fishing and hunting. Fortunately there was an abundant supply of fish in the waters of the harbour and various animals in the forest. These things and the few stores they carried with them enabled them to eke out an existence. There were no roads, no trade or commerce in the neighbourhood, so that they were compelled to depend entirely upon their own efforts. One of their first tasks was the building of a suitable sea boat wherewith they could visit some trade centre and procure supplies. At this work Norman excelled, and ere the summer had passed he constructed a model boat which they called the "Mary" out of compliment to his wife. In her they traded up and down the coast as the weather permitted and their requirements demanded. How true it is that "necessity is the mother of invention," and how by the stimulus of this one man the new settlement of St. Ann’s faced and overcame the many difficulties and hardships of Canadian pioneering.

During the autumn and winter they were busy preparing patches of land for the growing of potatoes and grain. The virgin soil and forest sheltered country readily responded to any attempts at cultivation. Lack of meal and a few groceries were their greatest wants. They had learned at Pictou the art of curing skins, so that they were well served with various articles of fur clothing for the Winter season. Timber they had in abundance, so that log fires never ceased burning. Immediately they had settled down, Norman converted his cabin into a school-house and church. It was decided that he should devote all his time to the teaching of the children and the holding of religious services; while the people attended to all his farm work. In the summer of 1821 he convened a meeting of the people and proposed that a suitable church and school be erected. To this proposal they readily assented, so that ere another winter arrived they had a comfortable church and school erected at Black Cove near to Norman’s home. The patches of land they had cultivated responded with excellent crops of potatoes, oats, wheat, and vegetables. Every family ground its own meal with the steel hand-mill. Many of them were familiar with the quern, or ancient Scottish stone mill; but the steel mill was less cumbersome and more easily manipulated. A few head of cattle were secured from new settlements further up the coast. They had now practically surmounted their preliminary difficulties, and some degree of comfort appeared in every home. They were a very isolated community, who had to live almost entirely upon their own resources. Of money they practically had none; but that was of little consequence so long as food, clothing, and shelter could be procured. They were accustomed to the helping of each other in their old Highland homes, and this same custom continued in their new home. Indeed, their position and circumstances in Canada cultivated in them an unusual degree of Christian Socialism. They were indeed strangers in a strange land. They had the advantage of one language, one race, one misfortune, and one religion. All these things united them, so that they lived practically as one family. Money had no attraction for them as they had no means of spending it. Then, too, were they not the victims of money? Did not their chiefs and landlords in Scotland cast them out to secure money? Were they not sold for sheep and deer? How, then, could they look with favour upon that which encompassed their trials and sorrows? Did not their teacher and preacher often quote to them the words of the Greek poet Sophocles regarding gold?—

Gold is the worst of ills
That ever plagued mankind; it wastes our cities,
Drives forth our natives to a foreign soil,
Taints the pure heart, and turns the virtuous mind
To basest deeds. Artificer of fraud
Supreme—and source of every wickedness.

The Ordination took place accordingly that afternoon, and Norman McLeod’s name was entered on the roll of the Presbytery of Genesee.

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