The (brief) History and Legacy of Gaelic in the Eastern Townships of Quebec

 

Crossing, Ness, Gisla, Balallan, Druim a’ Bhac, Lac McIver, and Bosta. Numerous Presbyterian cemeteries filled with "Macs" echo the presence of the Lewis people, making the area feel reminiscent of Lewis itself.

 

One of the most famous Quebec-Hebrideans was Donald Morrison, known as “The Megantic Outlaw” or “The Canadian Rob Roy.” He is renowned for holding the record for the longest manhunt in Canadian history. Today, in Lac Megantic, Donald Morrison is still remembered and celebrated by both French and English residents.

 

Gaelic Influence in Quebec:

From the 1880s to the 1920s, the Eastern Townships of Quebec had the second highest number of Gaelic speakers in Canada, making Gaelic the third unofficial language of the region. Gaelic was also the first European language of the Canadian West, thanks to Sir Alexander Mackenzie, a native Gaelic speaker born in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, who was the first white man to cross North America.

 

The last Gaelic church services were held in Scotstown in the 1970s, marking the end of an era as only a few dozen Gaeltachtds remained. As the final service concluded and tears filled the room, the reality of the fading Gaelic presence set in. The departure of young Quebec-Hebrideans left another sad chapter in the history of the Gaels, underscoring the cultural and social challenges faced by the Lewis people in Quebec.

 

Join us in preserving and celebrating the rich heritage of the Hebridean Scots in Eastern Canada. Explore our resources, publications, and community initiatives to keep the history and culture of the Gaels alive.

Hebrides.ca UIDH Publications -

Understanding Croft/Cemetery Books

 

Our Croft Books provide an extensive encyclopedia of every family cleared from Lewis and sent to the Eastern Townships of Quebec. Each family is assigned an ID-address number, village or township, and the head of the family, covering three to four generations from 1838 to 2000.

 

These books feature fictional addresses based on the Lewis Croft system. For example, my grandfather’s maternal ancestors came from 7 Fivepenny Ness, with earlier generations from 13/14 Skigersta, Ness, and North Rona. When visiting the Historical Society in Habost, Ness, I can cross-reference 7 Fivepenny with 13/14 Skigersta to trace the entire family tree through multiple generations. This journey through dates, marriages, and village records extends across Lewis, Quebec, and beyond.

 

Quebec Crofts Book

In the Eastern Townships, a similar croft system was non-existent. Thus, I mapped the original families from Lewis to their first settlements in the Eastern Townships, creating a unique numbering system based on each township or village.

 

Lingwick (Township) Crofts: Lingwick-Gould, Galson, North Hill, Red Mountain, Victoria Hill, and Fisher Hill

Winslow (Township) Crofts: Stornoway and Winslow

 

Due to the close-knit nature of the Lewis families in Quebec, the first three generations rarely married outside their villages and religious communities, intertwining the entire Lewis settlement. Some families left relatives behind in Lewis, including parents, siblings, and cousins, which are documented along with personal notes and stories.

 

Each family is allocated a croft number within their village and township. For example, if a family member from #11 North Hill marries and moves to #15 Winslow, it starts a new family and a new chain, linking all Quebec Croft Books together in an organized manner. With a database of over 100,000 records, you'll be amazed at the interconnectedness of the Lewis families in Quebec.

 

Croft Books Overview

Lingwick Crofts: Includes Lingwick-Gould, North Hill, Galson, Red Mountain, Victoria Rd, and Fisher Hill, with over 125 families documented over three to four generations. This includes those who stayed in Lewis and those cleared to the Eastern Townships.

 

Stornoway-Winslow Crofts: Contains over 91 families cross-linked with Lingwick crofts and future Croft Books (Tolsta, Dell, Whitton).

 

 

Hebrides.ca Publications - Cemetery Books

Our Cemetery Books serve as indexes for the Croft Books. They include grave information, parents, spouses, croft addresses, and origins of the families in Lewis.

 

Discover the rich heritage and complex family histories of the Lewis families in Quebec through our detailed Croft and Cemetery Books. Explore how these families maintained their connections and traditions, despite the challenges of relocation and cultural change.