The Norman MacLeod Heritage Series

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Reverend Norman MacLeod was born in Stoer, Northern Scotland, of crofter - fisherman parents, was schooled at the University of Edinburgh, and preached and taught for a few years in Scotland. He fell out of favour with the Church of Scotland and migrated to Pictou, NS in 1817 and moved, with a band of followers, to St. Ann’s in 1820. The property on which the Gaelic College is situated was granted to him and was the focus of his settlement. He remained here until 1851 in what had become a thriving community that he dominated with an iron hand as minister, teacher, magistrate and leader. He was loved and yet feared for his autocratic nature.

In 1850, near starvation struck the community in the wake of potato blight and crop-killing frosts and, at the age of 70, encouraged by a migrant son, he decided to move his flock to Australia. He built a ship on this site – “The Margaret” (named after his daughter), sold his property for sails for the ship and embarked on the 167 day voyage to Australia and later Waipu, New Zealand where they finally settled.

Six ships and nearly 800 souls followed as part of this migration which was truly one of the most remarkable migrations of that century.

There is stilll a Twinning Society between Waipu, New Zealand and St. Ann’s.

We invite you to trace this history on the property, in our museum and through our heritage display of oils and inks that depict this era.