William “Ban” Sutherland, commonly known as Billy Ban, was also a native of Clyne and a son of John Sutherland and Margaret MacKay.  Ban or Bahn is Gaelic for blond or fair-haired.   This descriptor was essential as there were three first settlers within a mile named William Sutherland: William “Ban”, William “Caribou” and William “Ruidh” or red.   By 1868 there were three Williams living in a row: William Ban, William Caribou and William Sawyer all of whom were visible from the stoop of William Ruidh across the river.  Add to this Rev. William at West Earltown ,  Willie Cairn and Billy Buidh in Balmoral, followed a few years later by Gib’s Willie across the river.   As an elderly interviewee quipped several years ago, Will Sutherlands were standard equipment in those days.

In addition to carving out a farm on the side hill, he conducted classes before a formal school came to the district.

The descendants of this couple will be fully featured in a future post but for now we will notice that they had eight children:  Christy Sutherland in Idaho,  Jane MacKinnon in Malagash,  Lillian MacDonald “MacAdam” at East New Annan and later California, Hughena MacDonald in Bayhead, three children who died young plus John “Ban” who inherited the homestead and, with Mary Henderson, produced thirteen children.

Donald MacLeod

As mentioned previously,  Donald MacLeod acquired the western 100 acres of the Moore grant which was located on the west side of the river.  The farm was almost entirely cleared to support the large family therefore woodlots were acquired further afield.

 He married Barbara Gunn in the mid 1830’s.  Barbara was born in Strath Halladale in the far north of Sutherlandshire.  Her parents,  William Gunn and Dorothy MacKay, emigrated around 1830 to Pictou County and a few years later acquired an uncleared farm immediately to the south of Hugh MacLeod’s grant at West Earltown. 

This couple had ten children:

1. Marion  (1838-1865) was married to James Nelson of Balfron. Her marriage was tragically cut short by her untimely death a couple of months after the birth of their twin sons.  Donald and Barbara partially raised the two boys.
2. Hugh – died in infancy
3. Dorothy or Dolina (1840-1924) married George Sutherland “Ruidh” across the river.  They had a family of eleven
4. William MacLeod 1843- 1908 to be noticed later
5. Catherine MacLeod 1845-1917  married John Urquhart, Merchant, at Urquhart’s Bridge in Balfron
6. Hughena  1847-1916  married William Gaillie Fraser of Durham and lived in Truro where William, or “WG” as he was known, was an accountant.
7. John died at the age of 2
8. Donald, known as Dan, 1857-1922, to be noticed later
9. John, 1858-1933,   heir to the main homestead
10. Alexander  1864-1906  married Charlotte MacCulloch.  Alex was employed by the railway out of Truro and was killed in a train accident in Bible Hill leaving a widow and young son, Daniel.

William MacLeod, oldest surviving son of Donald, was given the southmost 50 acres of the farm.  The homestead still exists as the Ferguson-Lemoine property.    William married Georgina Sutherland “Square”, daughter of   Gilbert Sutherland “Square” and Marion Campbell. Her childhood home was located near the junction of the Gil Sutherland and Spiddle Hill North roads.

This couple had nine children:

1. Dolina  1867-1909  who married John Sutherland “MacIan” of West Earltown.  They lived at Balfron near Urquhart’s Bridge.  After her death John married Marion Urquhart and moved to Vancouver.
2. Marion 1868-1950   was known as Minnie.   She married Alex Murray “Corrigan” of Spiddle Hill.  When their family was young, they moved off Spiddle Hill to the old Murray bonesetter farm down by the river near Murray Cemetery.   They had a family of eight children: Donald Murray of Pictou, George William who died in his early twenties, Anna (Mrs. Archie Cameron), Gilbert (Beatrice MacLeod) on the home place, John R. in Massachusetts, Aubrey in Ontario, Jean (Mrs. Gordon Baillie) and Christene (Mrs. Archie MacDonald).
3. Barbara (1872-1952) married Donald S. MacKay “Uhr” of Kavanagh’s Mills.  They lived in Watertown, Massachusetts, where Donald was manager of an elevator company. They had four children.
4. Jane 1873-    married Robert MacKay, Tailor, of Earltown. They lived in Marshville and had a family of three.
5. Dorothy died in infancy
6. Alexander  1879-1939
7. Catherine 1880-1960 married Dan Baillie of  Spiddle Hill.  They lived at The Falls where Dan operated a sawmill.   They had two children, Jean and MacLeod.
8. Christena 1883-1973  married George MacKay “Achany” of The Falls. They operated the general store at The Falls before moving to Tatamagouche where they also ran a well known store.  Until recent years it operated as MacKay Brothers.   They had five children.
9. George 1886-1966    who was well known as Geordie MacLeod.  He continued to farm the home place until his retirement. He married Anna Ferguson of West Earltown.  They had five children,   William in Ontario,  Donald in Ontario and later the homeplace at The Falls, Avis (Mrs. Lloyd Dickie in Middle Stewiacke), Georgine (Mrs. Ross MacKay, Balfron) and Roy in Ontario.

Dan MacLeod, son of Donald, married Margaret Baillie of West Earltown.  Their first home was near Wallace but they returned to The Falls when the Sutherland farm to the west and above that of his father became available.  Dan was an elder of St. Andrew’s Church.  His obituary sums up his character: “The late Mr. MacLeod was very kind hearted and hospitable and his home was always open to the way-farer, and the stranger was often entertained there.  He never turned any one away hungry from his door.”

Dan and Maggie had three children:

1. Daniel   1883-1953 was unmarried and lived with his unmarried uncle and aunts,  Alex, Georgie and Bessie Baillie, at Kavanagh’s Mills.
2. William John (Willie John) 1886-1959
3. Barbara  1886-1932  who lived in Brookline, Ma., where she was a domestic. 

Willie John lived his entire life on the family farm.  He married Sadie Hayman of Balmoral and had  Harold of Tatamagouche,  Christene Morrow, Helen Loughead and Kathleen Geddes all of Truro.

John MacLeod, son of Donald,  retained the original homestead of 50 acres.  He married Elizabeth “Betsy” MacKay, daughter of  John MacKay “Black” and Janet MacDonald “Salt” of Balfron.  The writer’s father and aunt often spoke of when they were youngsters visiting  John and Betsy  at their home.  They were very fond of children and went to great lengths to entertain their young guests.   Their family:

1. Barbara   1882-1971  married W.R. “Rod” Murray of Rossville
2. John          1885-1891
3. Dan Robert 1888-1970 married Mabel Murray “Og” of West Earltown.  They lived in Trail, British Columbia
4. Jessie        1889-1987  married Alex Gunn of Brule
5. John Will  1891-1971  never married
6. Marion       1895-1918
7. Catherine 1898-1967   married Gordon Murray “Og” of West Earltown.  They lived for a few years on his father’s property on Cnoc Na Guidhe before moving to Upper River John Road.
8. Alexander  1902-1989   never married and lived in Trail, British Columbia

John Will was a unique and kindly character in the writer’s youth.  He retained many of the old ways, particularly in speech, and had his own sense of humour.   He was often on the receiving end of pranks played by his first cousin  Geordie who lived across the field.   John Will drove an old Model A Ford into the late 60’s.   The old car was driven slowly.  Whenever one of the students at our school at Balfron noticed the car approaching from The Falls, the teacher was alerted and we would be dismissed to go outside to watch John Will creep by and toot the horn.   On one occasion a young businessman originally from the area went to see John Will about buying the Model A.   In hindsight it was probably unwise of the young fellow to arrive at the MacLeod homestead driving a bright red Corvette.  When asked whether he would consider selling the Model A,  John Will glanced out the window at the Corvette and replied,   “I think the car you already have out there is plenty good enough”.