At the beginning of our drive over the Cabot Trail we stopped at the Gaelic College, situated on the site of Norman MacLeod’s farm.
Norman was powerful leader, preacher, teacher and magistrate. He lead the group of farmers and ship builders for over 50 years.
Norman MacLeod decided to depart Scotland because he sought religious freedom that his country and Church of his day denied him. These widespread evictions were known as Highland Clearance.
July 1817 the ‘Frances Anne” set sail for Nova Scotia, already a thriving Highland community, mostly emigrants from Loch Broom. As the Highland Clearances were under way, another 150 followed Norman to Nova Scotia the following year.
During the Potato Famine, a huge split in the community occurred. In October 1851, 100 Gaelic Scots set sail out of St Anne’s Bay Nova Scotia. First to Australia and then on to New Zealand. When we visited New Zealand we came across an area called Nova Scotia. We saw Cape Breton Tartan in gift shops.
Fascinating story!
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