I think Colin McKenzie of Ellsworth, Maine is a brother of my great grandfather Malcolm McKenzie. I’m not sure at this point but it does seem likely. It would be great to hear from a descendant or 2 of Colin McKenzie of Ellsworth but I am jumping way ahead in this story.
Colin McKenzie of Ellsworth
As far as I know Colin McKenzie of Ellsworth was born in or near Middle River, Victoria county, Nova Scotia. This is on Cape Breton Island. His marriage certificate is even more specific placing his residence and place of birth as Hunter’s Mountain which is between Baddeck and Middle River in Nova Scotia. But then other records say he was born in Scotland. So he was born in old Scotland or New Scotland. I suppose I’ll eventually get it straight.
Colin married Elizabeth Corbett of near-by Baddeck in 1869. Both they and their first born were still in Nova Scotia for the 1871 census. Daniel R. McKenzie was probably born in June of 1870 in Middle River or Baddeck. Some records says he was born in Maine but I don’t think so.
They moved to Ellsworth, Maine before the second was born. So sometime after 1871 census but before the birth of Colin Corbett McKenzie on 25 October 1874, they moved to Ellsworth. Additional children were Maud (b c 1884 ), Mina (b c 1886 ), and Jena (b c 1887). There could be other children I have not found yet.
Colin McKenzie of Ellsworth (the elder) became a merchant. At this point I lack details but it seems he was involved in some financial disputes and one reached the Maine Supreme Court in 1897.
Colin lived a long life and was still in Ellsworth at age 74 for the 1920 census. His daughter Mina lived with him.
Malcolm McKenzie and Colin’s family
So the reason for this story – My great grandfather Malcolm McKenzie lived in Nova Scotia, Boston, New Jersey, and New York City but we believed was originally from Nova Scotia. Several weeks ago, someone left a comment an an old post.
I sometimes talk about my genealogy here. In this old post I mentioned Malcolm McKenzie. Jessie thought she might be related. After many emails we are not yet certain but it is looking more and more likely.
We keep finding more about this family. We find this and subsequent generations Nova Scotia, New York, Boston, Maine and more places. We find the parents and maybe their parents as we move back to Scotland. It is complicated and fun.
Back to Colin
Colin McKenzie of Ellsworth is one child in this family. I am hoping that as a merchant, he may have left more of a trail than some of the other McKenzies in this family and that could shed some light on his brothers, sisters, parents and so forth.
If you know anything about this Colin McKenzie or may be related, please leave a comment. The worst that can happen is you may help us a bit and/or find some new cousins.
Daniel R,MacKenzie b at Hunter’s Mountain June 27, 1870 son of Colin MacKenzie and Elizabeth Corbett, marriage record is also there for 1869,
Info can be found on NSARM, Historical Vital statistic’s page!
Yes, I found both. This has been an exciting family to chase down. Are you related? Do you want to exchange more specifics via email?
Don’t know of any specific relation, but my mother’s first cousin was a colin ellsworth hunter, he was killed in a logging accident in British Columbia, in the 1930’s, there may be a relation between the Hunter’s and the MacKenzie’s! I’ll keep looking into it, My mother was a Maciver!
Interesting. It seems plausible given his birth but neither of us has evidence yet. I believe there was a Hunter family living on Hunters Mtn. I think it was a John Hunter. But I’ll have to look for that (I have an old map somewhere).
Thanks for the comment.
I found the map showing the Hunter Mountain area of Nova Scotia. The map is at http://novascotia.ca/natr/land/indexmaps/123.pdf. Just under “123” in the title of the map you’ll see the land of Alexander McKenzie (Colin’s father). It is a green rectangle on the map. The land of John Hunter is adjacent.
Thank’s for the map reference, as soon as I can find my book on middle river families, I’ll see if I can find any more info, I also have a copy of the A.F. Church map somewhere, it’s dated to 1864,
Hi Brian,
I bought the 2017 edition of the Middle River Book from the Middle River Historical Society. There is an undated mention (p 285) that Coly Hunter son of William and Margret Hunter of Hunter’s Mountain drown in the Fraser river, BC
Hello Jack, I stumbled across your blog tonight and was surprised by your post. It is quite possible that we may be related through the MacKenzie family you mention. My 2x great grandmother was a Mary MacKenzie of Hunter’s Mountain. She married a Norman MacLeod from Aberdeen, Cape Breton (near Whycocomagh). I have been trying to discover more about Mary’s family on Hunter’s Mountain and have decided that she was most likely a daughter of Alexander MacKenzie. She is quite possibly a sister of Colin MacKenzie as I believe that Alexander was Colin’s father as well. Alexander was married twice. I am not too sure about his first wife (Colin and Mary’s mother), but I think there is another connection to the MacLeod’s of Aberdeen through his second wife. I would be interested in comparing notes if you get this post and you think it is worth looking at. I have some records for most of my theories and I have been DNA tested as well. Looking forward to hearing from you. Email would be the best way for me.
Cheers,
John
Thanks, John. I had done a bit of work on Colin and his family several years back. I eventually gave up hope of placing him in my family. I still have what I found and will email after re-familiarizing myself with some of it.
Jack