The Parish of Princeville
when formed in the early part of the last century was known as the Parish
of River Inhabitants. It then included Glendale and the adjoining
sections. The first
church was built near the River about half a mile below where the Long
Stretch Steel Bridge now stands. There was also a Cemetery nearby. It was
at that time and for a number of years afterwards in charge of the Parish
Priest of Judique.
The present church was built about the year 1852. The pastor at that time
was Rev. Alexander McDonald. He was succeeded by Rev. Allan McLean. In the
year 1861 this mission was joined to Creignish and was placed in charge of
Rev. Archibald McKenzie, who was ordained in that year. In 1875 Glendale
was made a separate parish with Rev. Donald McIsaac in charge. In the year
1882 Princeville was joined to Glendale parish.
In 1884 Rev. Duncan P. McDonald was appointed
parish priest of Princeville and Lower River Inhabitants. He was the first
and only resident priest on this mission. During his incumbency the church
property was improved and some of the land brought under good cultivation.
He was succeeded in 1889 by Rev. Colin F. McKinnon, P. P. Creignish. In
1891 Rev. Ronald McDonald, P.P. Hawkesbury, was given charge of this
parish and in 1894 Rev. Alexander McDonald now at Inverness. In 1896 Rev.
Hugh Gillis, the apostle of temperance, (now Monsignor), was appointed
parish priest of Hawkesbury, Princeville, and Lower River. Father Gillis
resigned in 1907 and Rev. John J. McNeil was appointed in his place. In
1908 Rev. Donald McPherson, P. P. Glendale, had charge of Princeville, and
in November 1909 the present pastor, Rev. Peter Rankin was appointed
parish priest of Creignish and Princeville.
This parish, like other parishes in this
County, always had priests who were assiduous and zealous in the discharge
of their duties towards their parishioners in matters both spiritual and
temporal.
THE MACDONALDS OF GLENORA,
RIVER INHABITANTS.
Alexander MacDonald, son of Donald MacDonald, was born in South Uist,
Scotland and emmigrated to Cage Breton in the year 1790. 3e took up a farm
of 600 acres on the western side of the River Inhabtants, at the place now
called Glenora. He died in 1861. His first wife was Catherine McDougall of
Rear Long Point. They had issue me son and one daughter, namely: Angus and
Margaret, Angus married Isabel McVarish and had three sons, Angus, Donald
and Alexander, and six daughters, Mary, Annie, Katie, Margaret, Catherine
and Sarah. Margaret
married Donald MacDonald (Og) of Creignish, and had We sons and three
daughters.
Alexander's first wife died and his second wife was Mary MacDonald. They
had issue: one son, John and three daughters, Catherine, Mary and Anne.
John married Margaret McIsaac and had issue: three sons and four
daughters, viz: Malcolm, who died in Seattle, Washington, in 1892;
Alexander, who died in 1894 and John on the old homestead. The daughters
are Catherine, wife of John Cameron, Annie, wife of Alex M. MacDonald,
Mary, wife of Angus MacDonald and Mary Jane, who died in 1894. Catherine,
Alex's daughter married Alexander MacDonald of Creignish, and had one son.
Mary married Alexander McIntyre, and had a family of four sons and four
daughters. Ann died in the year 1911.
THE LACEY'S OF GLENORA.
James Lacey emigrated from Ireland about the
year 1800 and took up a farm at River Inhabitants Forks (Glenora).
He married Janet McPherson of Askilten and
they had a family of four sons and four daughters. The sons were
Alexander, John, Thomas and William.
Alexander married Mary McLeod of Big Brook and
had issue: seven sons and two daughters, namely: Alexander (Captain) lost
at sea, William, John, James, Malcolm, David and Dan. The daughters were
Elizabeth and Ellen.
William's first wife was Katie McInnis of Queensville by whom he had two
sons and two daughters. His second wife was Mary McDonald of Princeville
by whom he had one daughter. John (Sailmaker) Port Hawkesbury married
Susan Philpott and had issue two sons and five daughters. James, who was
councillor for the district at the time of his tragic death in April 1919,
married Katie McDonald of Queensville and had issue: five sons and two
daughters. Malcolm died in early manhood. David died in British Columbia
in 1917, Dan was last heard of in Alaska about twenty-five years ago;
Elizabeth died in 1918; Ellen married John McDonald (Butcher) Princeville
and had one son and one daughter.
THE McARTHUR'S OF PRINCEVILLE.
John McArthur emigrated from Mull, Scotland,
and took up a farm at Princeville. His wife's name was Ann McLachlan. He
had a family of three sons, Neil, Alexander and John and two daughters,
Janet and Grace.
Neil, married Ann Cameron and had a family of six sons and three
daughters, namely: Alexander, Donald, Duncan, James, John and Archy, Mary,
Ann and Maggie.
Donald married Annie McIntosh and had issue three sons,: Neil, James and
Finlay and four daughters, Mary, Jessie, Margaret and Martha.
Duncan married Mary Jane Cameron and had five
sons, John, Neil, Dougald, Abraham and Allan and three daughters: Annie,
Margaret and Mary Jane.
Alexander (Neil's son) died in the United
States. James married
Flora McDonald and had one son and one daughter.
John Neil's son was drowned at sea.
Archy took up a farm in Manitoba where he
still resides. Mary
Neil's daughter married Lauchlin McFadden, River Dennis and had a family
of five sons and two daughters.
Ann Neil's daughter married Allan McColl,
Glendale, and had issue: five sons and two daughters.
Maggie Neil's daughter married Charles Smith
of Gloucester and had a family of three sons arid two daughters.
THE McINTOSH'S OF PRINCEVILLE.
John McIntosh emigrated from Glenelg, Scotland
with his family about the year 1790 and took up a farm at Princeville
where some of his descendants still resides. His wife was Ann McLennan. He
had family of three sons and two daughters. The sons were Neil, Donald and
Angus. The daughters, Flora and Mary.
Neil married Janet McArthur and had issue: six
sons: John, Donald, Neil, James, Angus and Finlay and five daughters,
Mary, Annie, Flora, Margaret and Sarah.
John and Donald both died in Provincetown,
Mass. Neil married
Janet McLean and had a family of two sons and four daughters. The sons are
Donald, Angus (deceased) and Dan. he daughters are Mary, Annie, Hannah and
Katie. James ex-Councillor
first married Mary Cameron and had a family of three sons: Neil, James and
Dougald, and two daughters, Katie and Flora.
James' first wife died and he married the
second time - Christy McPhail of River Dennis, by whom he had one daughter
Mary. Angus and
Finlay died at home. Flora, Neil's daughter first married Donald McKinnon:
after his death she married the second time - John B. McLellan, Kingsville
and had two daughters.
Mary Neil's daughter married David McPherson,
Askilton and a family of five sons, namely: Alexander, John, Dan, Allan,
and William. Sarah
married Hugh Cameron Lake Horton and had two sons and two daughters. |