John Gillis and Catherine Nicholson
John Gillis was born circa 1778 in Stencholl, on
the Isle of Skye. He married on Skye, Catherine
Nicholson born circa 1778 Skye daughter of Old
Donald Nicholson
and Catherine
MacArthur
of
Skye. Catherine Macarthur died on Skye, and Old Donald came to PEI
with his grown up children.
In 1803, John and Catherine emigrated with their
family and friends to Prince Edward Island on the Polly, settling in Orwell
Cove. Apparently they had one child who died on the voyage over - it was
said of the Polly that one person died, and one was born on the way over,
making her passenger list the same when they left, as it was when they
arrived.
According to Author Malcolm Macqueen, John Gillis
built the first school house in the area, and he was also the first Skyeman
to be buried in the new cemetery. For the Gillis origins on the Isle of
Skye, see Gillis
of Skye . For all of John and Catherine's children see John
Gillis of Orwell Cove.
We are descended from John and Catherine's first
son, Alexander Gillis who married Catherine Macdonald, daughter of John
of Kinloch Macdonald and Margaret Macdonald.
A.ALEXANDER GILLIS born c1804 married CATHERINE MACDONALD, of the Kinloch Macdonalds, d/o John Kinloch Macdonald and Margaret Macdonald of Skye. For all of their children, see John Gillis of Orwell Cove. We are descended from their son Donald Gillis who married Sarah Lamont.
Source: Gillis family archives, catalina@intergate.bc.ca
Source: A Dictionary of Settlers to Canada before Confederation ref
#3276
Source: Hebridean Pioneers by Malcolm Mcqueen page 74.