Grant, Peter and Mary (nee Chisholm)

Grant, Peter and Mary (nee Chisholm) | Student Researcher: Kirstie Jordan

PETER GRANT /
A native of /
Inverness Shire /
Scotland /
DIED /
June 10 1864 /
AE. 74 yrs. /
MARY /
wife of /
P. G. /
DIED /
JAN. 16 1859. /
AE. 54 yrs. /
Requiescat in pace.

Peter and Mary Grant are commemorated on this memorial stone and were among those who settled in this district in the first half of the 19th century. An 1823 Deed shows Peter Grant purchasing a piece of land from John McLean located at the Addington district of Sydney County[1]. This document indicates Peter Grant is resident of Antigonish Harbor. Despite no record of marriage being available, we find evidence of marriage by 1826 when another Deed shows Peter and his wife Mary selling property located at Hallowell Grant to Alexander McDonald.[2] The NS Census records below shows a breakdown of the Peter Grant household over the next few years.

For 1827:
Peter Grant | Farmer | Dorchester, Sydney County – 1827
Religion: RC; Males: 1, Females: 3, Servant (male): 1, Total: 5, Births: 1.

For 1838:

No. of Male Children under six years of age | 2
No. of Female Children under six years of age | N / A
No. of Males under fourteen years of age | 1
No. of Females under fourteen years of age | 3
No. of Males above fourteen years of age and not heads of Families | N / A
No. of Females above fourteen years of age | N / A
Total No. in Family | 8

St. Ninian does not have record of baptisms, marriages, or deaths for members of this Grant family despite their living in the Dorchester / Morristown District over many years. The maiden name of Mary Grant is identified in as Chisholm and one child of this marriage has been identified as William who married Margaret McKinnon of William’s Point.[3] The will for Peter Grant identifies remaining children of the union as Peter, Angus, Alex, Catherine, Ann, Margaret, John, and Mary.[4]

Mary Grant dies at an early age, but no obituary is published and a cause of death is unknown. We know from the following census the makeup of the household after her death. 1861 Census Sydney County, Morristown Polling District # 3; Abstract # 4. Line # 7; Peter Grant; Five Males; Three Females; Total Eight in household.

Peter Grant passes away in 1864 but once again, no obituary or cause of death is identified. Angus, one of the older sons in the family takes over the farm at Antigonish Harbor.[5] Angus Grant at age 35 marries 29 year old Mary Chisholm, daughter of Christopher and Lydia Chisholm of North River on April 13th, 1869.[6]

The household by 1871 consists of the following members Angus Grant age 38, wife Mary age 30, daughter May age 1, sister Margaret Grant age 30, sister Ann Grant age 28 along with Catherine Fraser age 60.[7] Angus dies in 1903 and his obituary reads as follows: “At the Harbor, Antigonish, on Monday August 3rd after a lingering illness, Angus Grant aged 69 years. He leaves a widow, two daughters and two sons to mourn their loss. RIP”.[8]

Another child of Peter and Mary Grant that we can identify Is William living at Mabou with his family. The members of this household include William Grant age 39 widowed, daughter Mary B. age 10, Catherine age 8, Peter age 6, Margaret age 4, twins Mary Eunice and Mary Catherine age 2, and Lydia A. age 1.[9] William’s wife Margaret passed away of miliary fever the previous year at age 34.[10] Miliary Fever is a term used to describe an infectious disease characterized by high fever and skin rash.[11] William marries for the second time to Sarah McKenzie and in short order Flora is born.[12] The family continues to grow over the coming years.[13]

Ann, a daughter of Peter and Mary Grant marries John Fraser, Carriage Maker of Lower South River in 1876.[14] Their residence is in Antigonish and by 1881 their household is expanding with the addition of three children.[15]

Peter, a son of Peter and Mary Grant appears to be living and working in Antigonish with the Murphy household at Sylvan Valley.[16] He moves to Boston and marries a woman by the name of Jane McDonald. The couple return to live in Antigonish where they have a family.[17] The Aurora reports the following obituary: “At Antigonish, on the 19th inst. After a brief illness bore with Christian resignation, in the 36th year of his age Peter Grant deeply regretted by friends and acquaintances. Requiescat in Pace”.[18]

Margaret, daughter of Peter and Mary Grant remains unmarried all her life and is found working as a housekeeper for a household on Hawthorne Street in 1901.[19] She dies May 21st, 1910 at age 81; old age listed as the cause of death.[20]

At this time there is no further information on the remaining offspring of Peter and Mary Grant. It is probable they left the area as part of the wave of outmigration in the late 19th century.

Additional Census Information:

[1] NS Property On Line; Book: 4; Page 517.

[2] NS Property On Line; Book: 6; Page 204.

[3] A Century Ago at Arichat and Antigonish by Douglas Somers Ormond; Page 11

[4] NS Probate; Wills 1821-1882 Vol A-C; Page 327.

[5] 1866-1867 Hutchinson’s Directory

[6] NS Vital Statistics; Marriage; Year: 1869; Book: 1803; Page: 20; Number: 41.

[7] Canada Census 1871; Antigonish County; Morristown; Household #57.

[8] The Casket 51-1903-34-5.

[9] Canada Census 1871; NS; Inverness Co; Mabou; Household # 78

[10] NS Vital Records –Death; Year: 1869; Book:1810; Page: 41; Number: 226.

[11] Glossary of Old Medical Terms

[12] NS Vital Records – Birth; 1876; Book 1815; Page: 31; Number: 41

[13] Canada Census 1881; NS; Inverness Co; Mabou; Household # 32.

[14] NS Vital Records-Marriage; Year: 1876; Book: 1803; Page: 63; Number: 18.

[15] Canada Census 1881; NS; Antigonish Co; Ant. Div 2; Household # 147.

[16] Canada Census 1871; NS; Antigonish Co; Ant Div 2; Household # 276.

[17] NS Vital Records – Birth; Year: 1873; Book: 1802; Page: 150; Number: 316.

[18] The Aurora; A6-1884-151-3 (Nov 26 1884)

[19] Canada Census 1901; NS; Antigonish Co; Ant. Div 1; Household # 101.

[20] NS Vital Records-Death; Year: 1910; Book: 2; Page: 53; Number: 313.

Pioneer Cemetery Heritage Project

It is only in recent years that we have come to the realization that we have neglected our ancestors and the contribution they made to our society. We must tell the story of these courageous men and women in words that will inspire our children to take pride in the mighty accomplishments of their forebears.

Grant, Peter and Mary (nee Chisholm)

Pioneer Cemetery Heritage Project

Burial Information