Margaret Stewart DesBrisay
Born 27 Jul 1762 in Campbeltown, Kintyre, Scotland
Died 2 Mar 1851 in Charlottetown, Queens County, Prince Edward Island
A vivid account of the voyage in 1775 and subsequent shipwreck was left by Margaret's sister, Penelope
They sailed from Greenock in the last week of July in an English brig, the Elizabeth, chartered by her father with an English crew accompanied in addition to the family and servants by "several of my father's people who intended settling in the Colony, for he had two townships granted him by King George III. We had made ample provision for ourselves and added an additional supply of pork and oatmeal, sufficient to last two years Although I was only ten years old I felt very lonely on leaving dear old Scotlnd and the well beloved home that I shall never forget."
The weather during the voyage was "capricious' and an error in navigation brought the vessel to the north, instead of the south coast of the island where the ship was driven ashore in a heavy gale. Fortunately as it happened the ship soon broke up bringing wreckage and casks of beef oatmeal and flour on to the shore. Two encampments "one for our family and attendants, the other for the ship's company and emigrants" were erected and provided adequate protection. Her brothers attempted to penetrate the forest but because of the depth of snow and severe frost this was impossible.
They were saved by an Indian hunter who with snowshoes could travel travel 40 miles per day. He advised them of their position and told them he'd return in the Spring. A couple of weeks after the cries of geese announced the advent of Spring, the Indian appeared and conducted Peter Stewart in his canoe to Malpeque, 40 miles across the Island.
Penelope concludes by stating that it was towrds the end of June, eleven months after leaving Scotland, some five months of which were spent in frozen isolation, that a schooner arrived and took them to Charlottetown P.E.I.
They sailed from Greenock in the last week of July in an English brig, the Elizabeth, chartered by her father with an English crew accompanied in addition to the family and servants by "several of my father's people who intended settling in the Colony, for he had two townships granted him by King George III. We had made ample provision for ourselves and added an additional supply of pork and oatmeal, sufficient to last two years Although I was only ten years old I felt very lonely on leaving dear old Scotlnd and the well beloved home that I shall never forget."
The weather during the voyage was "capricious' and an error in navigation brought the vessel to the north, instead of the south coast of the island where the ship was driven ashore in a heavy gale. Fortunately as it happened the ship soon broke up bringing wreckage and casks of beef oatmeal and flour on to the shore. Two encampments "one for our family and attendants, the other for the ship's company and emigrants" were erected and provided adequate protection. Her brothers attempted to penetrate the forest but because of the depth of snow and severe frost this was impossible.
They were saved by an Indian hunter who with snowshoes could travel travel 40 miles per day. He advised them of their position and told them he'd return in the Spring. A couple of weeks after the cries of geese announced the advent of Spring, the Indian appeared and conducted Peter Stewart in his canoe to Malpeque, 40 miles across the Island.
Penelope concludes by stating that it was towrds the end of June, eleven months after leaving Scotland, some five months of which were spent in frozen isolation, that a schooner arrived and took them to Charlottetown P.E.I.
Read more about Margaret in mom's book.