Every summer for the past 30 or more years I have been privileged to meet descendants of the Earltown Gaedhealtachd who have come to the area to find where their ancestors lived and were buried. I usually get to tour three or more families each year.
Today I was delighted to meet my fourth cousin once removed, Shannon Hawkins, her husband Kade, and four of their eight children from Idaho. Shannon was originally from California and Kade is from BC with roots in Saskatchewan.
Pictured left to right: Shannon, Jace, Talie and Bethany Hawkins behind the stone of Shannon’s g.g.g.g.great grandfather, Hugh MacLeod of Urachyle, Strathbrora and West Earltown, first adult buried in the cemetery, (1830). (Missing, Kade and Andrew)
Shannon’s great-great-great-grandparents, William B. and Lillian (Sutherland “Ban”) MacDonald, lived for a decade on a remote farm on MacLeod Road, The Falls. In the 1870s, they lived at Kavanagh’s Mills and then moved to East New Annan in the 1880’s. William died in 1882. His widow and most of his children migrated to Boston and then on to California in the decade that followed. Their daughter Christy, while in Boston, met an enterprising carpenter, John V. MacNeil, from Christmas Island, Cape Breton. They moved to Los Angeles, where “J.V.” made a name for himself as a successful building contractor. Christy MacNeil never forgot her humble roots at The Falls, and kept in touch with my great-grandmother for many years.
Today, in the full splendor of autumn, we had a hike along the river to Murray’s Cemetery, where many of our ancestors rest. We also made the pilgrimage to MacKenzie Cemetery to the grave of our common ancestors, Alex MacDonald “Macadie” and Christy Baillie “Buidhe”.
Even more awesome was discovering that two of Shannon’s daughters teach Highland dancing, one in Florida and one in Idaho. Talie, pictured above, won 2nd runner-up in the 18-21 category at the 2026 US national championships, while Bethany won 1st runner-up in the 14-15 category. They are competing in both NS and NB while touring the Maritimes. I believe one of the sons is also light on his feet. If the ancestors were listening to the conversation in the cemetery, I’m sure they were beaming.
