[CHISHOLM] Chisholms
by Rowan Ainslie Chisholm
It is my understanding that the name Chisholm originated in Scotland. The
ancestral home of the Chisholms there is Erchless Castle, just north of
Loch Ness. I've also heard that the name Chisholm means "waterside meadow
good for raising cheese". In view of that, I thought it entirely
appropriate that my picture of Erchless Castle (taken from a tour bus--I
was unable to get closer at that time) had a large dairy cow in the front.
Anyhow, while I know that my Chisholms were originally from Scotland, I
haven't managed to trace them back further than Nova Scotia at this time.
The furthest ancestor I actually can prove at this time is Alexander
Chisholm born about 1811 in Elgin, Nova Scotia. He died 25 June 1885 in
River John, Nova Scotia and was buried in the Presbyterian Church yard. He
married Christy MacLean (1819, 16 Nov 1907 Nova Scotia for both).
>From what I've been able to glean, Alexander Chisholm had a brother named
Angus Chisholm. ("River John" by G. Lawson Gordon mentions that Alexander
and Angus came to River John together from Elgin in 1835.) Angus was born
1809 (presumably in Elgin), died 15 Apr 1846 and buried in Salem, River
John, Nova Scotia. He married Christena Ross. (1814/1815-24 Dec 1880).
Does anyone out there have a Chisholm family based in Elgin, Nova Scotia
with an Alexander and an Angus in this time period? Based on Scottish
naming patterns, I'm guessing that their father's name is probably either
Alexander or Simon. And based on the religion of the sons, he's probably
Church of Scotland. (That is NOT the same as Presbyterian, but later
merged with it.)
I've got downlines for Alexander AND Angus that I can trade for any
information that will push this back another generation.
Rowan Chisholm
Rowan Ainslie Chisholm
rainslie(a)nwlink.com
I'm the person your mother warned you about