Be aware that there were three groups of McMartin Families. The McMartin of Killin - some of which moved into adjacent Balquidder and Callander and were all related. The McMartin of Lawers, Kenmore and the McMartin of Roro, Glenlyon - who were kin also to those of Killin. All three families had branches that immigrated in part to New York early on - with one of those founding Martintown in Ontario after US Independence.
More than one family from Glenlyon (or perhaps Callander) immigrated to Argenteuil, Quebec on the northside of the Ottawa. This land was poor, so often the families here crossed the Ottawa into Prescott, Osgoode or into Glengarry Stormont.
"In the beginning of the present century, JOHN MCMARTIN of Genlyon, Perthshire,
Scotland, decided to try his fortune in the New World. His wife having relatives at
the Bay of Chaleurs, on the north of New Brunswick, thither he went, and prepared
for himself and family a home. A year or two subsequently, learning that two of
his brothers, farmers in Scotland, were about emigrating to Canada, he decided to
seek with them, when they arrived, a more suitable place for agriculturists than could
be found near the Bay of Chaleurs. In that locality the inhabitants subsisted almost
wholly by fishing; but as this method of procuring a livelihood was not congenial to his tastes, and the land there was generally sterile, he gladly availed himself of a
chance to dispose of what he had purchased. This he exchanged with his wife s
uncles for land which they had received for service rendered the Government -md
which was situated in the County of Huntingdon, Quebec. On reaching Montreal
however, he learned that his estate in Huntingdon was in an unbroken wilderness
and that should he settle there, his nearest neighbour would be thirty miles distant.
At this time Major Murray was in Montreal, endeavouring to obtain Scotch set
tlers for his Seigniory on the Ottawa, and Mr. McMartin was induced to sell his land
in Huntingdon, and with his brothers take up his residence in the Seigniory. Accord
ingly in 1801, or the year following, he came hither, and purchased two lots on the
south side of the River Rouge which are now owned by the family of the late Geo.
Hyde. The inevitable log house and small clearing were here on his arrival, but in
a few years, about 1810, he built another house, which, with some alterations and
additions, is still standing and occupied by the family of Mr. Hyde. Mr. McMartin
added another lot to those which he first purchased, and with the help of his sons
cleared up the greater part of these three lots ; he died in 1847. Four of his sons
Finley, Duncan, Daniel and Martin, joined the Cavalry Company of Capt. McLean
in the Rebellion of 1837-38, and all remained in it, till advancing years induced them
to yield their places to younger men. Mr. McMartin had fifteen children, thirteen of
whom arrived at maturity ; eleven of them settled on the River Rouge ; the youngest
son, Martin, lived and died on the homestead. "
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Topic: McMartin Family (Read 2610 times)