Sparky's Epic Adventure Across North America (Pictou NS)

HMS Hector Heritage Quay

Aug 1st: Sparky and I were on our way toward Halifax, but of course, I can't stay on the boring freeways for too long and detoured off to Pictou. 

Years ago, when I was intensely interested in genealogy research, I traced the Irish side of my dad's family back to when they arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia, back in 1721. 

However, I wonder if I got the right location, because according to a large historical display in Pictou, it was colonized by 200 Scottish Highlanders, arriving on board the HMS Hector on September 15th, 1773. 

That might have to be a wintertime project; recheck the dates and the port of entry for our Lyons ancestors.

HMS Hector under restoration

I can't begin to imagine the hardships of crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a ship like the Hector. The hull of the original ship is under restoration, and a full-size replica is housed inside the Hector Heritage Quay in Pictou.

Wikipedia: 

HMS Hector's most famous voyage took place in 1773, with a departure date around the second week of July, carrying 189 Highlanders who were immigrating to Nova Scotia. 

Pictou, Nova Scotia

The vessel's owner, Mr. John Pagan, along with Dr. John Witherspoon, purchased three shares of land near Pictou, Nova Scotia. Pagan and Witherspoon hired John Ross as a recruiting agent for settlers willing to emigrate to Pictou with an offer of free passage, 1 year of free provisions, and a farm. 

The settlers (23 families, 25 single men) were recruited at Greenock, Renfrewshire, and at Loch Broom, Ross-shire, with the majority being from Loch Broom. 

Celebrating the Scottish colonials

The settlers that boarded Hector were poor, "obscure, illiterate crofters and artisans from Northern Scotland, who spoke Gaelic." The school teacher, William McKenzie, was one of the few passengers on the Hector to speak both Gaelic and English.

Hector was an old ship and in poor condition when it left Europe. The arduous voyage to Pictou took 11 weeks, with a gale off Newfoundland causing a 14-day delay. Dysentery and smallpox claimed 18 lives amongst the passengers. The vessel arrived in Pictou Harbour on September 15, landing at Brown's Point, immediately west of the present-day town of Pictou.

Definitely not a journey for the faint of heart!

~

Sparky and I will be exploring the fascinating city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, for the next few days.

Cheers, Lynda and The Sparkinator

Pictou, Nova Scotia - love the colourful chairs