Early
McVichie/MacVichie Emigration
Some families who emigrated from Scotland to Canada between 1815
and 1817 did so in response to the special emigration policy proclaimed
by the Right Honourable Earl of Bathurst. He was one of the principal
Secretaries of the British government at the time. By this policy
the British government encouraged families from Ireland, Scotland
and England to emigrate to Canada if the would-be emigrants could
meet certain conditions:
- The British government offer was to provide free passage to
those families who would make a deposit of 16 pounds sterling
for each male member over 16 years of age, and who could provide
a certificate of good character for the head of the family.
- For every female member of a family who was a wife, a deposit
of 2 guineas each was required.
- To those families who could meet these first requirements,
in addition to free passage the British government offer would
provide each family with 100 acres of land on arrival to Canada.
Our direct ancestors Mac/McVichies took advantage of this Emigration
offer and set up as tenants in a home and farm on Lot 6, 2nd Concession
of Lancaster Township, Glengarry County in Upper Canada which is
now the province of Ontario. They later received a document stating
this was a donation of Crown Land, and also were allotted a 100
acres on the third concession directly north of this Lot.
Duncan MacVichie and his wife Helen Robertson emigrated to Canada
in the summer of 1817. As of this update, the port they left from,
and the name of the ship they sailed on are not known. Sadly, a
2-year-old son named John died August 2, 1817 on the way over to
Canada. Fortuitously, a newborn son Peter was born on the boat
in the Lachine area the night before arrival in Canada. He is in
the top left picture. His brother Donald in the top right picture
was age 12 on arrival. Their mother Helen is in the top centre
picture.
They arrived at Montreal, Québec on Sept. 17, 1817.
Sadly again, a 7-year-old son named Duncan died on December 20th
just 3 months after they arrived. |
