James Grant (abt. 1725 - abt. 1822)

Born about 1725 in Urquhart, Inverness-shire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Jennet Grant — married 13 Feb 1755 in Urquhart, Inverness-shire, Scotland

Descendants

Died about 1822 at about age 97 in Millstream. Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada

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Biography

This profile is part of the Grant Name Study.

James Grant is a member of Clan Grant.

James Grant migrated from Scotland, UK to Canada.

James Grant emigrated to Pictou aboard the Hector in 1773 with his children, and possibly his wife.^[1] His wife is not listed on the reconstructed passenger list.^[2]

Story taken from http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/pictou/pictou1.htm James Grant, one of the passengers on the Hector settled first in King's Co., N. S. He came from Glen Urquhart, Scotland. He was married and some of his children were born in the old country. He moved from King's Co. to Cariboo, Pictou Co., and lived there for some years. Before coming to this country he gained some knowledge of milling. By this time the Upper Settlement people began to raise considerable quantities of grain, especially wheat, but they had no mill to convert it into flour. So they persuaded James Grant to leave Cariboo and move to the East River. This he did, and settled at Millstream in 1790. He erected a mill on a stream issuing from Grant's Lake, on a site some twenty rods further down than the one now occupied by Grant's Mill. This was the first regular gristmill on the East River.

James Grant died in February, 1822, age ninety-seven. He is described as a quiet, peaceful man. He lived for some years before his death on a farm subsequently owned by Duncan McPhie. When James Grant died, there were twelve families in Millstream and Lime Brook: Duncan Grant, James Grant, dyer, Alexander Grant, miller, Robert Grant, elder, John Fraser, James Fraser, David McLean, Donald Fraser, Duncan McPhie, Donald Mor Fraser, David McIntosh, and Donald Cameron.

James Grant had four sons and two or three daughters. One of his sons, Duncan, died in 1847 and was buried at Springville Bridge, and was either the first or one of the first buried there. His sons, Alexander and Robert were men of influence and note and had much to do with the making of the life and the growth of the community. They succeeded their father in the milling business and were leaders in the Church and the State. Alexander Grant was married to Nellie McKay. The Rev. Robert Grant, the historian of the East River was their son. James, eldest son of Alexander Grant and Nellie McKay, was known as the Dyer. He owned woolen mills near Springville. His sons Alexander, John Walter, Hugh and Robert succeeded him.

Robert Grant was married to Mary, daughter of James Robertson. He had three sons; James, who owned a saw mill at the head of Grant's Lake and was for many years an elder under the Rev. Mr. McGillivray; Alexander Robert, who owned a gristmill on Millstream; and Dr. William R. Grant, a distinguished professor in Pennsylvania Medical College. One of his daughters, married John Fraser, Basin. Another was the wife of Colin Robertson, Churchville.

Sources

1. ↑ Patterson, Rev. George. A History of the County of Pictou, Nova Scotia (Dawson, Montreal, 1877), p. 454
2. ↑ MacLaren, pp. 31-34, "Passenger List of The Hector, 1773", attributed to Squire William McKay or one of his sons.

• MacPhie, Rev. J. P. Pictonians at Home and Abroad: Sketches of Professional Men and Women of Pictou County - its History and Institutions (Boston, Massachusetts: Pinkham Press, 1914), pp. 24-25.

See Also:

• http://trees.ancestry.ca/tree/38728604/person/19354569601/mediax/2?pgnum=1&pg=0&pgpl=pid%7CpgNum