by Maj. Geo. (Duff) Mitchell, MC,CD,UE,

Ontario's Glengarry County is studded with 20 bronze plaques along its highways and byways which give us fascinating glimpses of its early history as well as its Highland and Loyalist pioneers who settled there from 1784. Some of these plaques, however, are decades old and are based on one or two old records rather than on comprehensive research. Some bronze plaques shroud untold stories and unsung heroes. One such plaque is that memorializing the “MacLeod Settlement” It is found two miles east of Kirkhill on the old Dalkeith Laggan concession road. (now provincial #24). It is mounted on an impressive stone cairn erected by Clan MacLeod Society of Glengarry at Lot 18, 6th Concession, Lochiel Township. This lot was first granted to Alexander MacLeod (1769-1850), the youngest of the five organizers who shepherded 40 Highland families from Scotland to Canada in 1793-1794. (See appended text of plaque.) The MacLeod Settlement plaque was unveiled before provincial and local dignitaries on August 1St, 1965 by Alexander's 6th generation descendant. Provincial representatives included the late “Prof. G.F.G. Stanley, Kingston Archeological and Historic Sites Board,” (later New Brunswick's Lieutenant- Governor), who gave the principal address, and Hugh P. MacMillan of “Toronto Dept. of Public Records and Archives,” who made introductory remarks at the dedication ceremonyⁱ. Alexander MacLeod became recognized as a prime leader of Lochiel's “MacLeod Settlement” after being commissioned as a captain of the 2nd Regiment; Glengarry Militia, in the War of 1812. He was instrumental in founding the county's second Presbyterian congregation, and obtaining by 1820 a Gaelic-speaking, Church of Scotland minister for what later became St. Columba Church. But the plaque that memorializes Alexander's leadership neglects the heroic roles of four other men in establishing the MacLeod Settlement. This neglect can be traced to the source used for the wording on the plaque. It is based largely on Captain Alexander's unsuccessful petition for a leader's 1000-acre grant in 1838. By then he was the only surviving organizer of the five who had directed the MacLeod emigration. Hardship was the common lot of the Highland men and Women who emigrated to Glengarry, but few endured the misfortunes and setbacks that befell this MacLeod emigration. The survival of 36 out of the 40 families, who eventually reached their new Glenelg (later Kirldaill) in upper Lancaster (from 1818-Lochiel) Township, owes much to the experience and tenacity of all the expedition leaders, but especially two Loyalist comrades-in-arms whose remarkable contributions receive scant mention in Glengarry historiesⁱⁱ.

The two stalwarts, Archibald 'King' McGillivray (c1756-1836), my ancestor, and 'Big' Alexander MacLeod (1756-1836), had emigrated to New York colony, probably settling in the upper Hudson River valley with their kin as young men, before the American Revolution. When colonial discontent burst into full-blown rebellion both enlisted in the 71st Regiment of Foot (Fraser's Highlanders) soon after it reached New York from Britain in 1776. 'Big' Alex's father, Norman(d) MacLeod (c1733-1794), had also served in the British forces aboard Royal Navy ships blockading the St. Lawrence to prevent arms and supplies being smuggled to American rebels.ⁱⁱⁱ